Overview Of Licensing Process For Specialty Channels In Canada

Copyright 2008, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on Communications, June 2008

Consistent with similar experiences around the world, cultural diversity and rapidly-evolving consumer trends have spawned a proliferation of applications for specialty programming services in Canada. However, as this brief overview illustrates, there are a number of complex considerations which must be taken into account before deciding to pursue a specialty programming services licence from Canada's broadcasting regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Moreover, the CRTC has recently held an extensive hearing which addressed in part the policy and regulations surrounding specialty channels in Canada. At the time of writing, the CRTC's decision has not yet been released.