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September 25, 2000
World Télémonde License Denied: Group considering review/appeal options
Ottawa, Ontario - In a majority vote decision, the Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has denied the application
for a national specialty service filed by World Television Network/Le
Réseau Télémonde Inc. (WTM), originally filed in December 1996
and presented at a public hearing on May 9th, 2000, in Kingston,
Ontario.
The application is for a national specialty service to provide
a variety of programming from around the world in original languages
subtitled in English, and French on a separate feed. The request
was for dual status basic service distribution at a subscriber
fee of 30 cents per month. The programming would include coverage
of cultural, political, economic, and social events, intended
to provide all Canadian viewers - English and French-speaking
- with perspectives, understanding and entertainment that currently
have very little exposure, if any, on North American Television.
The application received a record number of written interventions:
over 4,000. Supporters included independent producers, human rights
organizations, multicultural and ethnic associations, teacher
federations, university personnel, unions, mayors, MPPs,
MNAs,
Premiers, Federal MPs, and French Canadians in Montreal,
Gaspesie,
Winnipeg, Acadia and the Outaouais. They expressed their support
regarding the potential benefits of the service and acknowledged
that the service would add diversity to the Canadian broadcasting
landscape while building bridges between the regions of this country
and the world.
The Commission stated that the WTM proposed service "may have
the potential to add diversity to the broadcasting landscape,
however, the Commission has not been convinced that it is in the
public interest to grant the proposal the distribution status
the applicant requires for its implementation."
An opposing intervention was filed by the Canadian Cable Television
Association (CCTA). During the hearing, the commission asked the
CCTA that if the CRTC were to license a Canadian analog service,
requiring its members to bump a U.S. service to digital in order
to accommodate, the CCTA responded that "it has already taken
place," and that some "members have bumped U.S. services." The
CCTA further acknowledged that cable companies have regulations
as to what they can carry, and the priority under what must be
carried. "So, it is up to the Commission to establish the way
they wish to set the priorities."
A 13-page dissenting opinion was filed by CRTC Commissioner Stuart
Langford. In his opening paragraph he stated, "I disagree with
the majority and would have approved this application. To deny
it is to miss an opportunity to fulfill part of the legislated
mandate of this Commission regarding the identity and purpose
of the Canadian broadcasting service. It is an opportunity that,
once missed may not present itself again."
WTM and thousands of Canadians are of the view that its new service
would play a special role in enhancing the attainment of the objectives
of the Charter, the Broadcast Act and the Multiculturalism Act.
The WTM management team, headed by founder Dan Iannuzzi, is considering
a few of the options open to them including a possible CRTC review.
For those interested in reading the full decision and/or the transcript
of the official CRTC May 9 hearing, please click on http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/PROC_BR/Transcripts/2000/0509v01.htm.
For highlights of the nature of World Télémonde service, please
click on http://www.worldtelemonde.com
Headquartered in Ottawa, World Television Network/Le Réseau Télémonde
Inc.(WTM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Multimedia WTM Corporation,
an integrated communications enterprise trading on the Canadian
Dealing Network (CDN-Otc) under the symbol MWTM, and effective
October 2000, on CDNX.
-30-
For
more information:
Doreen Iannuzzi - Director, Communications
World Télémonde
Tel: 416 785-4300 / Fax: 416 785-7350
Email: worldtelemonde@corriere.com
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