Whereas, pursuant to subsection 10(3) of the Broadcasting Act , a copy of the proposed Broadcasting Distribution Regulations , substantially in the annexed form, was published in the Canada Gazette , Part I, on July 12, 1997, and a reasonable opportunity was given to licensees and other interested persons to make representations to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with respect thereto; Therefore, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, pursuant to subsection 10(1) of the Broadcasting Act , hereby makes the annexed Broadcasting Distribution Regulations . Hull, Quebec, December 8, 1997

Interpretation

1 The definitions in this section apply in these Regulations.

Act Act means the Broadcasting Act . (Loi) adult programming service adult programming service means a programming service that provides programming devoted to depicting explicit sexual activity. (service de programmation pour adultes) affiliate affiliate means (a) in respect of a distribution undertaking, a person that controls the licensee, or that is controlled by the licensee or by a person that controls the licensee; and

(b) in respect of a television station, one that has an affiliation agreement with another television station. (affiliée) affiliation agreement affiliation agreement means an agreement between one or more television stations and another television station according to which programs provided by the latter station are broadcast by the one or more stations at a predetermined time. (contrat d’affiliation) allowable contribution to local expression allowable contribution to local expression means (a) in the case of a licensed area the majority of the population of which resides in a metropolitan market, any contribution to local expression; and

(b) in the case of a licensed area the majority of the population of which does not reside in a metropolitan market, the sum of (i) any contributions to local expression that are directed to community programming for distribution on the licensee’s own community channel, and (ii) any other contributions to local expression up to the amount of the contribution referred to in subparagraph (i). (contribution à l’expression locale admissible)

AM station AM station means a station that broadcasts in the AM frequency band of 525 to 1 705 kHz. It does not include a carrier current undertaking or a transmitter that only rebroadcasts the radiocommunications of another station. (station AM) anglophone market anglophone market , in respect of a licensed area, means a market that is not a francophone market. (marché anglophone) Atlantic provinces Atlantic provinces means Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. (provinces de l’Atlantique) authorized non-Canadian programming service authorized non-Canadian programming service means a programming service that is authorized for distribution by the Commission and is included in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-399, dated June 30, 2011 and entitled List of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution , as amended from time to time. (service de programmation non canadien approuvé) available channel available channel [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] basic band basic band [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] basic monthly fee basic monthly fee [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] basic service basic service means a package of programming services that is distributed by a licensee in a licensed area for a single fee and that consists of (a) in the case of a terrestrial distribution undertaking that distributes programming services on a digital basis, the programming services that are distributed in accordance with section 17 or a condition of its licence;

(b) in the case of a terrestrial distribution undertaking that distributes programming services on an analog basis, the programming services that are required to be distributed under section 41 or a condition of its licence, and any other services that are included in the package; and

(c) in the case of a DTH distribution undertaking, the programming services that are distributed in accordance with section 46 or a condition of its licence. (service de base) broadcast week broadcast week means a period of seven consecutive days beginning on a Sunday. (semaine de radiodiffusion) broadcast year broadcast year means the period beginning on September 1 in a calendar year and ending on August 31 of the following calendar year. (année de radiodiffusion) cable distribution undertaking cable distribution undertaking means an undertaking that distributes broadcasting to subscribers predominantly over closed transmission paths. (entreprise de distribution par câble) Canadian production fund Canadian production fund means the Canada Media Fund or its successor. (fonds de production canadien) Canadian programming service Canadian programming service means a programming service (a) that originates entirely within Canada; or

(b) that is provided by a licensed programming undertaking. (service de programmation canadien) Category A service Category A service means (a) in respect of a licence that was issued before September 1, 2011, (i) a pay television service, other than a Category C service or a service that was designated as a Category 2 service by the Commission before that day, or (ii) a specialty service, other than a Category C service or a service that was designated as a Category 2 service by the Commission before that day; and

(b) in respect of a licence that is issued during the period beginning on September 1, 2011 and ending on August 31, 2018, a Canadian programming service that is designated as a Category A service by the Commission. (service de catégorie A) Category B service Category B service [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 1] Category C service Category C service means (a) a Canadian programming service that is designated as such by the Commission; or

(b) a pay television service or a specialty service that is subject to the conditions of licence set out in (i) the appendices to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-562-2, dated May 25, 2012 and entitled Conditions of licence for competitive Canadian specialty services operating in the genres of mainstream sports and national news – Definition of broadcast day for mainstream sports services , as amended from time to time; or (ii) the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-436, dated September 23, 2015 and entitled Revised standard conditions of licence for Canadian discretionary services operating as national news services , as amended from time to time. (service de catégorie C)

Category 1 service Category 1 service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Category 2 service Category 2 service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] channel channel [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Class 1 licensee Class 1 licensee [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Class 2 licensee Class 2 licensee [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Class 3 licensee Class 3 licensee [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] clock hour clock hour means a period of 60 minutes beginning on each hour and ending immediately before the next hour. (heure d’horloge) commercial message commercial message means an advertisement that is intended to sell or promote goods, a service or an activity, directly or indirectly, or an announcement that mentions or displays in a list of prizes the name of the person selling or promoting those goods or that service or activity. (message publicitaire) community access television programming community access television programming means programming produced by an individual, group or community television corporation residing within the licensed area of a cable distribution undertaking. (programmation d’accès à la télévision communautaire) community-based digital undertaking community-based digital undertaking means a programming undertaking that is licensed as a community-based digital undertaking and whose programming service is distributed on a digital basis. (entreprise communautaire numérique) community-based low-power television station community-based low-power television station means an analog or digital over-the-air programming undertaking that is licensed as a community-based low-power television station. (station de télévision communautaire de faible puissance) community channel community channel means the channel of a distribution undertaking that is used by a licensee or by a community programming undertaking for the distribution of community programming within a licensed area of the distribution undertaking. (canal communautaire) community programming community programming means, in relation to a licensed area, programming that is produced (a) by the licensee in the licensed area or by members of the community served in the licensed area;

(b) by the licensee in another licensed area or by the members of the community served in that other licensed area and that is relevant to the community referred to in paragraph (a);

(c) by another licensee in a licensed area or by the members of the community served in that licensed area and that is relevant to the community referred to in paragraph (a); or

(d) by a person licensed to operate a network for the purpose of producing community programming for distribution by the licensee on a community channel. This definition includes community access television programming and local community television programming. (programmation communautaire) community programming undertaking community programming undertaking means a television programming undertaking operated by a not-for-profit organization that is licensed to operate a community channel. (entreprise de programmation communautaire) community television corporation community television corporation means a not-for-profit corporation that resides within a licensed area, that is incorporated by or under the laws of Canada or of a province and of which (a) the primary activity is to produce local community television programming or to operate a community channel that is reflective of the community it represents;

(b) board members are drawn from the community; and

(c) all board members are entitled to participate and vote at an annual meeting. (société de télévision communautaire) comparable comparable , in respect of two or more programming services, means that not less than 95% of the video and audio components of those programming services, exclusive of commercial messages and of any part of the services carried on a subsidiary signal, are the same. (comparable) contribution to community programming contribution to community programming means a contribution made by a licensee toward the creation and distribution of community programming. (contribution à la programmation communautaire) contribution to local expression contribution to local expression means a contribution to (a) community programming for distribution on the licensee’s own community channel;

(b) community programming for distribution on a community channel in another licensed area or an exempt area, that is operated by the licensee or by an affiliate; or

(c) locally reflective news programming. (contribution à l’expression locale) contribution to locally reflective news programming contribution to locally reflective news programming means a contribution that is made by a licensee to a television station that is designated by the Commission to receive contributions from broadcasting distribution undertakings for the creation of locally reflective news programming. (contribution aux émissions de nouvelles reflétant la réalité locale) control control means, in respect of a programming undertaking, any situation by which de facto control is achieved, whether directly through the ownership of securities, or indirectly through a trust, agreement or arrangement, through the ownership of a body corporate or otherwise. (contrôle) customer customer means a person who is liable for payment for programming services that are distributed by a licensee and that are received directly or indirectly by one or more subscribers. It does not include the owner or operator of a hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises. (client) demarcation point demarcation point , in respect of the wire that is used by a distribution undertaking for the distribution of programming services to a subscriber, means (a) if the subscriber’s residence or other premises are a single-unit building, (i) 30 cm outside the exterior wall of the subscriber’s premises, or (ii) any point to which the licensee and the customer or subscriber have agreed; and

(b) if the subscriber’s residence or other premises are located in a multiple-unit building, (i) the point at which the wire is diverted to the exclusive use and benefit of that subscriber, or (ii) any point to which the licensee and the customer or subscriber have agreed. (point de démarcation)

digital radio station digital radio station means a station that broadcasts in the frequency band of 1 452 to 1 492 MHz (L-Band) using a digital transmission system. (station de radio numérique) digital service area digital service area means a service area for a licensed digital radio station that is identified in the broadcasting certificate that is issued for that station by the Minister of Industry under paragraph 5(1)(a) of the Radiocommunication Act . (zone de desserte numérique) discretionary basis discretionary basis means, in respect of the distribution of a programming service, its distribution as other than part of the basic service or the first-tier offering for a fee that is in addition to that charged for the basic service or the first-tier offering. (base facultative) discretionary service discretionary service means a programming service that is not included in basic service, other than (a) an on-demand service;

(b) an audio programming service;

(c) a pay audio service;

(d) a specialty audio service;

(e) a non-Canadian programming service; or

(f) the programming service of a television station. (service facultatif) distant television station distant television station means (a) in relation to a subscriber of a DTH distribution undertaking, a licensed television station that has a Grade B official contour or noise-limited bounding official contour that is more than 32 km from the area in which the subscriber’s residence or other premises are located; and

(b) in relation to a terrestrial distribution undertaking, a licensed television station other than a local television station, regional television station or extra-regional television station. (station de télévision éloignée) DTH distribution undertaking DTH distribution undertaking means a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution undertaking. (entreprise de distribution par SRD) DTH eligible satellite service DTH eligible satellite service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] DTH pay-per-view service DTH pay-per-view service means the pay-per-view service provided by a person licensed to carry on a direct-to-home pay-per-view television programming undertaking. (service à la carte par SRD) educational authority educational authority means a body that is (a) an independent corporation, within the meaning of section 2 of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences) ; or

(b) a provincial authority, within the meaning of section 2 of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences) . (autorité éducative) educational radio programming service educational radio programming service means a radio programming service that provides the programming described in the definition of independent corporation in section 2 of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences) . (service de programmation de radio éducative) educational television programming service educational television programming service means a television programming service that provides the programming described in the definition of independent corporation in section 2 of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences) . (service de programmation de télévision éducative) election period election period means (a) in the case of a federal or provincial election or of a federal, provincial or municipal referendum, the period beginning on the date of the announcement of the election or referendum and ending on the date of the election or referendum; or

(b) in the case of a municipal election, the period beginning two months before the date of the election and ending on the date of the election. (période électorale) emergency alert message emergency alert message [Repealed, SOR/2007-164, s. 1] English major ownership group English major ownership group means a major ownership group that provides its programming primarily in English. (groupe de propriété principal de langue anglaise) ethnic Category A service ethnic Category A service [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 1] ethnic station ethnic station [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] exempt Category B service exempt Category B service [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 1] exempt discretionary service exempt discretionary service means a discretionary service that is offered by an exempt programming undertaking that meets the criteria set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Order CRTC 2015-88, dated March 12, 2015 and entitled Exemption order respecting discretionary television programming undertakings serving fewer than 200,000 subscribers , as amended from time to time. (service facultatif exempté) exempt programming service exempt programming service means a programming service that is offered by an exempt programming undertaking. (service de programmation exempté) exempt programming undertaking exempt programming undertaking means a programming undertaking the operator of which is exempted from any or all of the requirements of Part II of the Act in an order made by the Commission under subsection 9(4) of the Act. (entreprise de programmation exemptée) exempt third-language service exempt third-language service [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 1] extra-regional television station extra-regional television station , in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, means a licensed television station that has (a) a Grade A or Grade B official contour, digital urban official contour or noise-limited bounding official contour that does not include any part of the licensed area; and

(b) a Grade B official contour or noise-limited bounding official contour that includes any point located 32 km or less from the local head end of the licensed area. (station de télévision extra-régionale) first-tier offering first-tier offering means a package of programming services that is distributed by a licensee in a licensed area for a single fee and that consists of (a) in the case of a terrestrial distribution undertaking that distributes programming services on a digital basis, the programming services that are distributed in accordance with section 17.3 or a condition of its licence; and

(b) in the case of a DTH distribution undertaking, the programming services that are distributed in accordance with section 46.3 or a condition of its licence. (premier volet facultatif) FM station FM station means a station that broadcasts in the FM frequency band of 88 to 108 MHz. It does not include a carrier current undertaking or a transmitter that only rebroadcasts the radiocommunications of another station. (station FM) format format , in respect of a video programming service, means analog, standard definition or high definition. (format) 4 + 1 package of programming services 4 + 1 package of programming services means a package that consists of the programming services of (a) four non-Canadian television stations that are each affiliated with a different commercial network; and

(b) one non-commercial non-Canadian television station. (bloc de services de programmation 4 + 1) francophone market francophone market , in respect of a licensed area, means a market in which, according to the most recent population figures published by Statistics Canada, French is used as the mother tongue by more than 50% of the total population of all cities, towns and other municipalities that are situated in whole or in part within the licensed area. (marché francophone) high definition high definition means a television signal that consists of at least 1,280 vertical lines of resolution and 720 horizontal lines of resolution. (haute définition) high definition service high definition service means a programming service that provides any amount of its programming in high definition and includes a high definition version of a programming service. (service haute définition) high definition version high definition version means (a) in respect of a discretionary service or a programming service that is distributed under paragraph 17(1)(g), the version of that service that is authorized by a condition of licence;

(b) in respect of an authorized non-Canadian programming service, the version of that service that has the following characteristics: (i) not more than 14 hours — over the course of a broadcast week — of the video and audio components are different from the analog or standard definition version of the programming service, excluding commercial messages and any part of the programming service that is carried on a subsidiary signal, and (ii) the video and audio components that are different from the analog or standard definition version of the programming service are broadcast in high definition; and

(c) in respect of a Canadian television station, the version of that television station that contains any amount of programming in high definition. (version haute définition) House of Commons programming service House of Commons programming service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Independent Local News Fund Independent Local News Fund means the fund referred to in Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-224 entitled Policy framework for local and community television . (fonds pour les nouvelles locales indépendantes) independent production fund independent production fund means a production fund, other than the Canadian production fund, that meets the criteria set out in the Appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-343 entitled Policy Framework for Certified Independent Production Funds . (fonds de production indépendant) inside wire inside wire means the wire that is used by a distribution undertaking for the distribution of programming services that is located inside a building or, in the case of an externally wired multiple-unit building, outside the building, and that extends from the demarcation point to one or more terminal devices inside a subscriber’s residence or other premises. It includes the outlets, splitters and faceplates that are attached or connected to the wire but does not include a secured enclosure that is used to house the wire and that is attached to the exterior wall of a subscriber’s residence or other premises, an amplifier, a channel converter, a decoder or a remote control unit. (câblage intérieur) licence licence means (a) in the case of a discretionary service or a programming service that is distributed under paragraph 17(1)(g), a licence to carry on a discretionary programming undertaking, a pay television programming undertaking or a specialty programming undertaking;

(b) in the case of an on-demand service, a licence to carry on an on-demand programming undertaking, a pay-per-view programming undertaking or a video-on-demand programming undertaking;

(c) in the case of a television station, a licence to carry on a television station; and

(d) in any other case, a licence to carry on a distribution undertaking. (licence) licensed licensed means licensed by the Commission under paragraph 9(1)(b) of the Act. (autorisé) licensed area licensed area means an area for which a licensee has been licensed to carry on a distribution undertaking. (zone de desserte autorisée) licensee licensee means a person who is authorized by a licence or a regional licence to carry on one or more distribution undertakings. (titulaire) local AM station local AM station means, in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, a licensed AM station that has its principal studio located within 32 km of the local head end of the licensed area. (station AM locale) local community television programming local community television programming means, in relation to a licensed area, programming that is reflective of the community served in the licensed area and that is produced (a) by the licensee in the licensed area, by the members of the community served in the licensed area or by a community television corporation residing in the licensed area; or

(b) by another licensee in a licensed area within the same municipality as the licensee referred to in paragraph (a), by the members of the community served in that licensed area or by a community television corporation residing within that licensed area. (programmation locale de télévision communautaire) local digital radio station local digital radio station means, in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, a licensed digital radio station that has a digital service area that includes any part of the licensed area. (station de radio numérique locale) local FM station local FM station means, in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, a licensed FM station that has a 500 µV/m official contour that includes any part of the licensed area. (station FM locale) local head end local head end means (a) in respect of a radiocommunication distribution undertaking, its transmitter site; and

(b) in respect of any other terrestrial distribution undertaking, (i) the specific location at which it receives the majority of the programming services that it distributes in a licensed area that are provided by local television stations or, if there are no local television stations, by regional television stations, or (ii) if the majority of programming services are not received at one specific location, the specific location in the licensed area that has been designated by the licensee and authorized by the Commission as the licensee’s head end for that licensed area. (tête de ligne locale)

Local Programming Improvement Fund Local Programming Improvement Fund [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 1] local radio station local radio station means a local AM station, a local FM station or a local digital radio station. (station de radio locale) local television station local television station , in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, means a licensed television station that (a) has a Grade A official contour or digital urban official contour that includes any part of the licensed area; or

(b) if there is no Grade A official contour or digital urban official contour, has a transmitting antenna that is located within 15 km of the licensed area. (station de télévision locale) locally reflective news programming locally reflective news programming means programming from category 1 or 2(a) set out in item 6, column 1, of Schedule I to the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (a) the subject matter of which relates specifically to the market that a television station is licensed to serve;

(b) that portrays an onscreen image of that market; and

(c) that is produced by the station’s staff or by an independent producer specifically for the station. (émissions de nouvelles reflétant la réalité locale) major ownership group major ownership group means an ownership group that is set out in the schedule. (groupe de propriété principal) metropolitan market metropolitan market means the census metropolitan area — within the meaning of the Statistics Canada document entitled Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2016 — of Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver. (marché métropolitain) new programming service new programming service means a programming service that has not been previously distributed in Canada and includes, but is not limited to, a high definition version or a new multiplex of an existing programming service. (nouveau service de programmation) non-Canadian programming service non-Canadian programming service means a programming service that is not a Canadian programming service. (service de programmation non canadien) non-Canadian television station non-Canadian television station means a television station that has a transmitter site located outside Canada. (station de télévision non canadienne) official contour official contour means a service contour for a licensed television station, licensed AM station or licensed FM station, that is identified in the broadcasting certificate that is issued for that station by the Minister of Industry under paragraph 5(1)(a) of the Radiocommunication Act . (périmètre de rayonnement officiel) on-demand service on-demand service means a pay-per-view service, a video-on-demand service or any other programming service that provides programs that are accessed individually at the request of a subscriber. (service sur demande) operator operator means (a) in relation to a licensed programming undertaking, the person that is licensed to carry on the programming undertaking; or

(b) in relation to an exempt programming undertaking, the person that carries on the exempt programming undertaking. (exploitant) ownership group ownership group means a person that controls one or more persons that carry on one or more licensed or exempt programming undertakings and all persons that carry on those programming undertakings. (groupe de propriété) Part 2 eligible satellite service Part 2 eligible satellite service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] Part 3 eligible satellite service Part 3 eligible satellite service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] pay audio service pay audio service means the programming service provided by a person licensed to carry on a pay audio programming undertaking. (service sonore payant) pay-per-view service pay-per-view service means a scheduled programming service that is provided to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis. (service à la carte) pay television service pay television service means the programming service, other than the pay-per-view service, provided by a person licensed to carry on a pay television programming undertaking. (service de télévision payante) programming service programming service means a program that is provided by a programming undertaking. (service de programmation) public affairs programming service public affairs programming service [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] radiocommunication distribution undertaking radiocommunication distribution undertaking means a distribution undertaking, other than a DTH distribution undertaking, that distributes programming services predominantly by means of radio waves. (entreprise de distribution de radiocommunication) regional licence regional licence means a licence issued by the Commission that authorizes the licensee to carry on distribution undertakings in two or more licensed areas. (licence régionale) regional television station regional television station , in relation to a licensed area of a distribution undertaking, means a licensed television station — other than a local television station — that has a Grade B official contour or noise-limited bounding official contour that includes any part of the licensed area. (station de télévision régionale) related programming undertaking related programming undertaking means a programming undertaking of which a licensee or an affiliate of that licensee, or both, controls more than 10%. (entreprise de programmation liée) relay distribution undertaking relay distribution undertaking means a distribution undertaking that receives the programming services of programming undertakings and distributes them only to one or more other distribution undertakings. (entreprise de distribution par relais) religious programming service religious programming service means a programming service that provides programming in which the dominant themes are religion, religious teachings or the human spiritual condition. (service de programmation à caractère religieux) restricted channel restricted channel [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] service area service area means an area for which a community-based digital undertaking or a community-based low-power television station has been licensed. (zone de service) share share means a share in the capital of a corporation and includes a security that is convertible into a share at all times at the option of the holder. (action) Small Market Local Production Fund Small Market Local Production Fund [Repealed, SOR/2017-160, s. 1] specialty audio service specialty audio service means a programming service provided by a person licensed to carry on a specialty audio programming undertaking. (service sonore spécialisé) specialty service specialty service means the programming service provided by a person licensed to carry on a specialty programming undertaking. (service spécialisé) standard definition standard definition means a television signal that consists of fewer lines of horizontal or vertical resolution than does a high definition version of a television signal. (définition standard) station station means a radio or television programming undertaking that is licensed as a radio or television station or that provides its programming service by way of a transmitting antenna, or a radiocommunication distribution undertaking that rebroadcasts, by way of a signal that is not encrypted, the programming service of a radio or television programming undertaking. (station) subscriber subscriber means (a) a household of one or more persons, whether occupying a single-unit dwelling or a unit in a multiple-unit dwelling, to which service is provided directly or indirectly by a licensee; or

(b) the owner or operator of a hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises to which service is provided by a licensee. (abonné) subscription television system subscription television system means an undertaking that distributes encrypted programming services by low-power transmitters using the conventional VHF or UHF television bands. (système de télévision par abonnement) television pay-per-view service television pay-per-view service means the pay-per-view service that is provided by a person licensed to carry on a pay-per-view programming undertaking. (service de télévision à la carte) terrestrial distribution undertaking terrestrial distribution undertaking means a distribution undertaking — other than a DTH distribution undertaking or a relay distribution undertaking — that is (a) the holder of a terrestrial distribution licence or terrestrial distribution regional licence issued on or after September 1, 2011; or

(b) for the remainder of the term of a licence that was issued before September 1, 2011, (i) the holder of a Class 1 licence or Class 1 regional licence, (ii) the holder of a Class 2 licence or Class 2 regional licence, or (iii) the holder of a Class 3 licence or Class 3 regional licence. (entreprise de distribution terrestre)

third-language service third-language service means a programming service that provides at least 90% of its programming over the broadcast week in one or more languages other than English or French, exclusive of secondary audio programming and subtitles. (service en langue tierce) unrelated programming undertaking unrelated programming undertaking means a programming undertaking that is not a related programming undertaking. (entreprise de programmation non liée) unserved community unserved community [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 1] video-on-demand service video-on-demand service means the programming service provided by a person licensed to carry on a video-on-demand programming undertaking. (service de vidéo sur demande) wholesale rate wholesale rate means the monthly fee that is payable by a licensee to a programming undertaking to receive a programming service. (tarif de gros)

SOR/2001-75, s. 3

SOR/2002-322, s. 1

SOR/2003-29, s. 1

SOR/2003-217, s. 1

SOR/2003-458, s. 1

SOR/2007-164, s. 1

SOR/2009-234, s. 1

SOR/2011-148, s. 1

SOR/2012-151, s. 12

SOR/2012-194, s. 1

SOR/2013-137, s. 1

SOR/2015-239, s. 1

SOR/2017-160, s. 1

SOR/2018-28, s. 1

Application

2 These Regulations apply to persons licensed to carry on a distribution undertaking, other than a person licensed to carry on

(a) a subscription television system;

(b) a relay distribution undertaking; or

(c) an undertaking that only rebroadcasts the radiocommunications of one or more other licensed undertakings.

PART 1 General

Prohibition

3 A licensee shall not distribute programming services except as required or authorized under its licence or these Regulations.

Transfer of Ownership

4 (1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section. associate associate , when used to indicate a relationship with a person, includes (a) a partner of the person; (b) a trust or an estate in which the person has a substantial beneficial interest or in respect of which the person serves as a trustee or in a similar capacity; (c) the spouse or common-law partner of the person; (c.1) a child of the person or of their spouse or common-law partner, including a child adopted in fact by the person or by the spouse or common-law partner; (c.2) the spouse or common-law partner of a child referred to in paragraph (c.1); (d) a relative of the person, or of the spouse or common-law partner referred to in paragraph (c), if that relative has the same residence as the person; (e) a corporation of which the person alone, or the person together with one or more associates as described in this definition, has, directly or indirectly, control of 50% or more of the voting interests; (f) a corporation of which an associate, as described in this definition, of the person has, directly or indirectly, control of 50% or more of the voting interests; and (g) a person with whom the person has entered into an arrangement, a contract, an understanding or an agreement in respect of the voting of shares of a licensee corporation or of a corporation that has, directly or indirectly, effective control of a licensee corporation, except when the person controls less than 1% of all issued voting shares of a corporation whose shares are publicly traded on a stock exchange. (liens) common-law partner common-law partner , in respect of a person, means an individual who is cohabiting with the person in a conjugal relationship, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year. (conjoint de fait) common shares common shares means the shares that represent the residual equity in the earnings of a corporation, and includes securities that are convertible into such shares at all times at the option of the holder and the preferred shares to which are attached rights to participate in the earnings of the corporation with no upper limit; (actions ordinaires) person person includes an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, an association, a corporation, an estate, a trust, a trustee, an executor and an administrator or a legal representative of any of them. (personne) voting interest voting interest , in respect of (a) a corporation with share capital, means the vote attached to a voting share; (b) a corporation without share capital, means an interest that entitles the owner to voting rights similar to those enjoyed by the owner of a voting share; (c) a partnership, a trust, an association or a joint venture means an interest or right in the assets of it that entitles the owner to receive a share of its profits, to receive a share of its assets on dissolution and to participate directly in its management or to vote on the election of the persons to be entrusted with the power and responsibility to manage it; and (d) a not-for-profit partnership, trust, association or joint venture, means a right that entitles the owner to participate directly in its management or to vote on the election of the persons to be entrusted with the power and responsibility to manage it. (intérêt avec droit de vote) voting share voting share means a share in the capital of a corporation, to which is attached one or more votes that are exercisable at meetings of shareholders of the corporation, either under all circumstances or under a circumstance that has occurred and is continuing, and includes any security that is convertible into such a share at all times at the option of the holder. (action avec droit de vote)

(2) For the purposes of this section, control of a voting interest by a person includes situations in which (a) the person is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of the voting interest; or (b) the person, by means of an arrangement, a contract, an understanding or an agreement, determines the manner in which the interest is voted, but the solicitation of proxies or the seeking of instructions regarding the completion of proxies in respect of the exercise of voting interests is not considered to be such an arrangement, contract, understanding or agreement.

(3) For the purposes of this section, effective control of a licensee or its undertaking includes situations in which (a) a person controls, directly or indirectly, other than by way of security only, a majority of the voting interests of the licensee; (b) a person has the ability to cause the licensee or its board of directors to undertake a course of action; or (c) the Commission, following a public hearing of an application for a licence, or in respect of an existing licence, determines that a person has such effective control and sets out that determination in a decision or public notice.

(4) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall obtain the prior approval of the Commission in respect of any act, agreement or transaction that directly or indirectly would result in (a) a change of the effective control of its undertaking; or (b) a person who, alone, or together with an associate, (i) controls less than 30% of the voting interests of the licensee, having control of 30% or more of those interests, (ii) controls less than 30% of the voting interests of a person who has, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee, having control of 30% or more of those interests, (iii) owns less than 50% of the issued common shares of the licensee, owning 50% or more of those shares but not having, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee, or (iv) owns less than 50% of the issued common shares of a person who has, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee, owning 50% or more of those shares but not having, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee.

(5) A licensee shall notify the Commission within 30 days after the occurrence of any act, agreement or transaction that, directly or indirectly, results in a person who, alone, or together with an associate, controls less than (a) 20% of the voting interests of the licensee, having control of 20% or more but less than 30% of those interests; (b) 20% of the voting interests of a person who has, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee, having control of 20% or more but less than 30% of those interests; (c) 40% of the voting interests of the licensee, having control of 40% or more but less than 50% of those interests but not having, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee; or (d) 40% of the voting interests of a person who has, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee, having control of 40% or more but less than 50% of those interests but not having, directly or indirectly, effective control of the licensee.

(6) A notification referred to in subsection (5) shall set out the following information: (a) the name of the person or the names of the person and the associate; (b) the percentage of the voting interests controlled by the person or by the person and the associate; and (c) a copy or a complete description of the act, agreement or transaction.



SOR/2001-357, s. 5

SOR/2006-109, s. 1

SOR/2012-151, s. 13

Offer of Basic Service

4.1 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall offer its basic service to its subscribers and to prospective subscribers.

SOR/2015-239, s. 2

Distribution of Basic Service

5 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence or these Regulations, a licensee shall provide a subscriber with its basic service or, if offered, its first-tier offering, if it provides the subscriber with a programming service other than

(a) an on-demand service; or

(b) an exempt programming service, other than an exempt discretionary service.

SOR/2013-137, s. 2

SOR/2015-239, s. 3

Majority of Canadian Programming Services

6 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall ensure, in respect of each of analog and digital technology, that a majority of each of the video and audio programming services that are offered to a subscriber are devoted to the distribution of Canadian programming services.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), each programming service of one of the following types counts as a single video programming service regardless of the number of channels on which that programming service is distributed by a licensee in a licensed area: (a) pay television service; and (b) on-demand service. (c) and (d) [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 4]

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), each analog service, standard definition service and high definition service of the following types of programming service counts as a single video programming service: (a) licensed television station; (b) discretionary service; (c) programming service that is distributed under paragraph 17(1)(g); (d) authorized non-Canadian programming service; and (e) non-Canadian television station.



SOR/2001-334, s. 1

SOR/2003-217, s. 2

SOR/2011-148, s. 2

SOR/2015-239, s. 4

Alteration or Deletion of Programming Service

7 Subject to section 7.2, a licensee shall not alter the content or format of a programming service or delete a programming service in a licensed area in the course of its distribution except

(a) as required or authorized by a condition of its licence or under the Simultaneous Programming Service Deletion and Substitution Regulations .

(b) for the purpose of complying with subsection 328(1) of the Canada Elections Act ;

(c) for the purpose of deleting a programming service to comply with an order of a court prohibiting the distribution of the service to any part of the licensed area;

(d) for the purpose of altering a programming service to insert a warning to the public announcing (i) any danger to life or property if the insertion is provided for in an agreement entered into by the licensee with the operator of the service or the network responsible for the service, or (ii) an imminent or unfolding danger to life if there is no agreement with the operator of the service or the network responsible for the service;

(e) for the purpose of preventing the breach of programming or underlying rights of a third party, in accordance with an agreement entered into with the operator of the service or the network responsible for the service;

(f) for the purpose of deleting a subsidiary signal, unless the signal is, itself, a programming service or is related to the service being distributed; or

(g) for the purpose of inserting a commercial message, if the insertion is in accordance with an agreement between the licensee and the operator of a Canadian programming service or the network responsible for that Canadian programming service and that agreement pertains to commercial messages directed at a target market of consumers.

SOR/99-423, s. 1

SOR/2003-217, s. 3

SOR/2007-164, s. 2

SOR/2009-234, s. 2

SOR/2011-148, s. 3

SOR/2014-202, s. 3

SOR/2015-240, s. 6

Commercial Messages

7.1 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee that alters the audio content or audio format of a programming service under paragraph 7(a) or (g) shall ensure that every commercial message complies with the technical requirements set out in ATSC Recommended Practice A/85: Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television , published by the Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc., as amended from time to time.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee that distributes an authorized non-Canadian programming service shall ensure that every commercial message complies with the technical requirements set out in ATSC Recommended Practice A/85: Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television , published by the Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc., as amended from time to time.

SOR/2012-57, s. 3

Emergency Alerts

7.2 (1) The following definitions apply in this section. issuing authority issuing authority means any person who is authorized by a Canadian governmental authority — including the federal Department of the Environment, federal and provincial government departments and agencies that are responsible for emergency management and public safety, and municipal authorities — to issue warnings to the public, and to the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System, announcing danger to life or property. (autorité compétente) National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System means the alert message aggregation system established and operated by Pelmorex Communications Inc. (système d’agrégation et de dissémination national d’alertes)

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall implement, by no later than March 31, 2015, a public alerting system that alters without delay a programming service being distributed by the licensee in a licensed area in order to insert any alert that it receives — in a form including both text and audio content — from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System that (a) announces an imminent or unfolding danger to life; and (b) is designated by the applicable issuing authority for immediate broadcast or distribution in the licensed area.

(3) The licensee shall insert the alert in all programming services that it is distributing to subscribers whose residence or other premises are located in an area that is targeted by the alert.

(4) The licensee shall take all reasonable measures to ensure that the alerts are in conformity with the specifications and recommended practices set out in the document entitled National Public Alerting System Common Look and Feel Guidance , produced at the request of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Public Alerting Working Group of Senior Officials Responsible for Emergency Management with the support of Defence Research and Development Canada, Centre for Security Science, Canadian Safety and Security Program, and in consultation with the public-private Common Look and Feel Working Group, as that document is amended from time to time.

SOR/2014-202, s. 4

Accessibility of Programming

7.3 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall make available to its subscribers such equipment, software or other technology that will allow any individual who is blind, visually impaired or who has fine motor skills disabilities to identify and have access to its programming services — including programs with described video — if that equipment, software or other technology is available for purchase by the licensee and is compatible with its distribution system.

SOR/2015-239, s. 5

Prohibited Programming Content

8 (1) No licensee shall distribute a programming service that the licensee originates and that contains (a) anything that contravenes any law; (b) any abusive comment or abusive pictorial representation that, when taken in context, tends to or is likely to expose an individual or group or class of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability; (c) any obscene or profane language or pictorial representation; or (d) any false or misleading news.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), sexual orientation does not include the orientation towards a sexual act or activity that would constitute an offence under the Criminal Code .

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(c), material is obscene if it has as a dominant characteristic the undue exploitation of sex or the combination of sexual content with one or more of the following subjects, namely, crime, horror, cruelty and violence.

SOR/2011-148, s. 4

Undue Preference or Disadvantage

9 (1) No licensee shall give an undue preference to any person, including itself, or subject any person to an undue disadvantage.

(2) In any proceedings before the Commission, the burden of establishing that any preference or disadvantage is not undue is on the licensee that gives the preference or subjects the person to the disadvantage.

SOR/2001-75, s. 4(F)

SOR/2009-234, s. 3

Non-disclosure

9.1 (1) A licensee that is distributing programming services of a licensed programming undertaking or that is negotiating terms of carriage with such an undertaking, or with an undertaking otherwise authorized to operate by reason of a Commission decision approving the issuance of a licence under paragraph 9(1)(b) of the Act, for its programming services, including new programming services, shall sign and provide to the other licensee or to the operator of the undertaking otherwise authorized an agreement that (a) reproduces the non-disclosure provisions; and (b) contains its consent to comply with the non-disclosure provisions for the benefit of the other licensee or the operator of the undertaking.

(2) A licensee that is distributing an exempt discretionary service of an exempt programming undertaking or that is negotiating terms of carriage with an exempt programming undertaking for an exempt discretionary service, including any new programming service that is an exempt discretionary service, shall sign and provide to the operator of the exempt programming undertaking an agreement that (a) reproduces the non-disclosure provisions; and (b) contains its consent to comply with the non-disclosure provisions for the benefit of the operator of the exempt programming undertaking.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the non-disclosure provisions are those provisions set out in the Appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-578, dated October 31, 2013 and entitled Standard clauses for non-disclosure agreements .

SOR/2014-206, s. 4

SOR/2015-239, s. 6

Inside Wire

10 (1) A licensee that owns an inside wire shall, on request, permit the inside wire to be used by a subscriber, by another licensee, or by a broadcasting undertaking in respect of which an exemption has been granted, by order under subsection 9(4) of the Act, from the requirement to obtain a licence.

(2) The licensee that owns an inside wire may charge a just and reasonable fee for the use of the wire.

(3) The licensee that owns an inside wire must not remove it from a building if a request for the use of the wire has been made and is pending under subsection (1), or while the wire is being used in accordance with that subsection.

SOR/2000-356, s. 1

Information To Be Submitted to the Commission

11 (1) On or before November 30 of each year, a licensee shall submit to the Commission a statement of accounts, on the annual return of broadcasting licensee form, for the 12-month period ending on the previous August 31.

(2) At the request of the Commission, a licensee shall respond to (a) any complaint or request for resolution of a dispute filed by any person or any request for information regarding programming originated or distributed by the licensee or regarding the licensee’s technical operations, subscribership, financial affairs or ownership; and (b) any request for information regarding the licensee’s adherence to the conditions of its licence, the Act, these Regulations, industry standards, practices or codes or any other self-regulatory mechanism of the industry.

(3) [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 5]

SOR/2011-148, s. 5

Dispute Resolution

12 (1) If there is a dispute between the licensee of a distribution undertaking and the operator of a licensed programming undertaking or an exempt programming undertaking concerning the carriage or terms of carriage of programming originated by the programming undertaking — including the wholesale rate and the terms of any audit referred to in section 15.1 — one or both of the parties to the dispute may refer the matter to the Commission.

(2) [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 6]

(3) The Commission may require the parties to engage in mediation before the Commission accepts a referral of the matter for dispute resolution.

(4) If the Commission accepts a referral of a matter for dispute resolution, the parties to the dispute are required to participate in a mediation with a person appointed by the Commission.

(5) [Repealed, SOR/2012-151, s. 14]

(6) When the Commission accepts a referral of a matter for dispute resolution, information provided by a party for the purposes of the dispute resolution may not be used by the other party to the dispute for any other purpose except with the prior consent of the party providing the information.

(7) During the dispute resolution process, the person appointed under subsection (4) may require additional information from the parties.

(8) A person appointed under subsection (4) may refer a matter to the Commission if a party does not comply with a request under subsection (7), and the Commission may require the additional information or attendance at a meeting in order to discuss the matters in dispute.

(9) If the dispute relates to the rates, terms or conditions, or any combination of them, surrounding a programming service that is being distributed in the absence of a commercial agreement and the matter proceeds before the Commission for dispute resolution, the licensee shall submit to having the dispute resolved in accordance with the procedural requirements established by the Commission in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2013-637, dated November 28, 2013, and the rates, terms and conditions established by the Commission will apply as of the day on which the programming service was first made available to the distributor in the absence of a commercial agreement.

(10) If the dispute relates to the rates, terms or conditions, or any combination of them, surrounding a new programming service that is being distributed in the absence of a commercial agreement and the matter proceeds before the Commission for dispute resolution, the parties will be bound by the rates, terms and conditions established by the Commission for the duration of the contractual term established by the Commission.

(11) Despite subsections (9) and (10), the parties may reach an agreement with respect to rates, terms or conditions that differ from those established by the Commission.

SOR/2011-148, s. 6

SOR/2012-151, s. 14

SOR/2015-91, s. 3

13 An agreement that is reached after dispute resolution must be in writing and be signed by all parties.

14 If no agreement is reached by the parties, the person appointed under subsection 12(4) must submit a report to the Commission concerning all unresolved matters within the period established by the Commission.

15 The Commission may, after accepting a referral of a matter for resolution under section 12, render a decision concerning any unresolved matters, including the wholesale rate.

Obligation During Dispute

15.01 (1) During any dispute between a licensee and a person licensed to carry on a programming undertaking or the operator of an exempt programming undertaking concerning the carriage or terms of carriage of programming services or concerning any right or obligation under the Act, the licensee shall continue to distribute those programming services at the same rates and on the same terms and conditions as it did before the dispute.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a dispute exists from the moment that written notice of the dispute is provided to the Commission and served on the other undertaking that is party to the dispute and ends when an agreement settling the dispute is reached by the concerned undertakings or, if no such agreement is reached, when the Commission renders a decision concerning any unresolved matter.

SOR/2012-151, s. 15

Obligation to Programming Undertakings Regarding Distribution Without Agreement

15.02 A licensee who distributes a new programming service with respect to which it has no commercial agreement shall abide by the rates, terms and conditions established by the operator of the concerned programming undertaking until a commercial agreement is reached between the parties or the Commission renders a decision concerning any unresolved matter.

SOR/2012-151, s. 15

Audit Access by Programming Services

15.1 A licensee shall give access to its records to any Canadian programming undertaking that receives a wholesale rate for its programming services to enable the programming undertaking to verify subscriber information for its programming services in accordance with the terms prescribed in Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2014-473, dated September 12, 2014 and entitled Provisions governing the timeframes and modalities for the conduct of audits of subscriber information held by broadcasting distribution undertakings .

SOR/2011-148, s. 7

SOR/2014-206, s. 5

Account Stacking

15.2 If a licensee is required to pay a wholesale rate for a Canadian programming service that it provides to a single subscriber at two or more separate dwellings or other premises that are owned or occupied by the same subscriber, the licensee shall remit the wholesale rate to the Canadian programming undertaking for each dwelling or other premises served.

SOR/2011-148, s. 7

SOR/2017-160, s. 2(F)

Notice of Channel Realignment

15.3 A licensee shall not realign the channel number on which a Canadian programming service is distributed unless, at least 60 days before the proposed effective date of the realignment, the licensee sends a written notice indicating the intended date of the realignment and the channel number on which the programming service will be distributed to each of the operators of the programming services whose channel placements will be affected by the channel realignment.

SOR/2011-148, s. 7

Cancellation Requested by Subscriber

[SOR/2015-232, s. 1]

15.4 (1) The following definitions apply in this section. business day business day means a day other than a Saturday or a holiday. (jour ouvrable) cancellation request cancellation request means a request to cancel the programming services of one licensee and replace them with the programming services of another licensee. (demande d’annulation)

(2) The current licensee of a subscriber shall accept a cancellation request that is made to it by the subscriber or by a prospective licensee on behalf of the subscriber.

(3) The current licensee and the prospective licensee shall coordinate with each other to cancel and replace the programming services with a view to minimizing any service disruption to the subscriber.

(4) Unless the licensees otherwise agree, cancellation and replacement of the programming services shall occur within two business days after the day on which the cancellation request is made.

SOR/2012-37, s. 1

Cancellation Requested by Customer

15.5 (1) A licensee shall accept a request that is made to it by a customer for the cancellation of all programming services that it provides to the customer.

(2) The cancellation shall occur on the day on which the request is received by the licensee.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a cancellation request as defined in subsection 15.4(1) that is made by a customer who is also a member of a household that is provided with the programming services for which the request is made.

SOR/2015-232, s. 2

PART 2 Terrestrial Distribution Undertakings

Application

16 Except as otherwise provided in these Regulations or under a condition of licence, this Part applies to the digital distribution of programming services by licensees that hold a licence to operate a terrestrial distribution undertaking.

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

Basic Service

16.1 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall not distribute as part of its basic service any programming services other than those referred to in section 17.

SOR/2015-239, s. 7

17 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) to (5) or under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall distribute the following services in each licensed area as part of its basic service, in the following order of priority: (a) the programming services of all local television stations that are owned and operated by the Corporation; (b) the educational television programming services that are received by the licensee over the air or by some other method, the operation of which is the responsibility of an educational authority designated by the province in which the licensed area is located; (c) the programming services of all other local television stations that are not being distributed under paragraph (a) or (b); (d) the programming services of any regional television station that is owned and operated by the Corporation, unless the licensee is distributing, in accordance with paragraph (a), the programming services of a local television station that is owned and operated by the Corporation and that broadcasts in the same official language as the regional television station; (e) the programming services of all regional television stations that are not being distributed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (d), except to the extent that the licensee is distributing, under paragraph (a), (c) or (d), the programming services of an affiliated television station or one that is a member of the same ownership group; (f) if they are provided to the licensee by the programming undertaking and are not being distributed in accordance with paragraph (a) or (d), the programming services of at least one television station that broadcasts in English and at least one that broadcasts in French that are owned and operated by, or that are affiliates of, the Corporation; and (g) the programming services of a programming undertaking that the Commission has required, under paragraph 9(1)(h) of the Act, to be distributed as part of the basic service.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall distribute the following services in each licensed area as part of its basic service: (a) the programming services of the community channel if the licensee elects to distribute community programming under paragraph 20(1)(d), or the programming services of a community programming undertaking if one is licensed in the licensed area; and (b) a programming service that consists of the proceedings of the legislature of the province in which the licensed area is located if the licensee elects to distribute that programming service, unless the programming undertaking that provides that programming service agrees in writing to its distribution on a discretionary basis.

(3) If a licensee receives programming services that are identical, it is required to distribute only one of them under subsection (1).

(4) If the programming services of two or more television stations rank equally in the order of priority set out in subsection (1), a licensee shall, unless the operators of the stations agree otherwise in writing, give priority to the programming services of those stations that have studios that are located in the province in which the licensed area is located or in the National Capital Region, as described in the schedule to the National Capital Act , in the order of the proximity of their main studios to the local head end of the licensed area.

(5) The licensee’s obligation to distribute the programming services of a local television station or a regional television station under subsection (1) also includes the obligation to distribute the digital programming service of that television station that is received by direct feed if the programming service of the local television station or regional television station is also received over the air by the licensee in its licensed area.

(6) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may, in addition to the programming services required under subsections (1) to (5), distribute the following services as part of its basic service in the licensed area: (a) the programming services of no more than 10 licensed television stations, including those stations whose programming services are required to be distributed under subsection (1); (b) a 4 + 1 package of programming services that originates (i) in the same time zone as that in which the licensee’s local head end is located, or (ii) if no such package originates in that time zone, in any other time zone; and (c) the programming service of any local radio station.

(7) A licensee that distributes a programming service under this section may also distribute the high definition version of that programming service.

SOR/2002-322, s. 2

SOR/2003-217, s. 5

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 8

SOR/2017-160, s. 3

17.1 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall not charge a customer more than $25 per month for the distribution of its basic service.

SOR/2015-239, s. 9

First-tier Offering

17.2 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may offer its first-tier offering to its subscribers and prospective subscribers.

SOR/2015-239, s. 9

17.3 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, if a licensee offers a first-tier offering it shall distribute the following services in each licensed area as part of that offering: (a) the programming services that are required to be distributed under subsections 17(1) to (5); and (b) the programming service of at least one Canadian programming undertaking that is in addition to those distributed under paragraph (a).

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may, in addition to the programming services required under subsection (1), distribute as part of the first-tier offering in the licensed area any non-Canadian programming service that may be distributed under subsection 17(6).

SOR/2015-239, s. 9

SOR/2017-160, s. 4

Access for Television Programming Services

[SOR/2002-322, s. 3; SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

18 (1) The following definitions apply in this section. ethnic Category A service ethnic Category A service means, in respect of a licence that was issued before March 12, 2015, a programming service that is designated as an ethnic Category A service by the Commission or named in paragraph 138 of Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, dated October 30, 2008 and entitled Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services . (service ethnique de catégorie A) general interest television pay-per-view service general interest television pay-per-view service means a television pay-per-view service whose programming is selected — unrestricted by any condition of licence — from any of the categories set out in item 6, column I, of Schedule I to the Pay Television Regulations, 1990 (service de télévision à la carte d’intérêt général)

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in sections 23 to 27 or under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall distribute (a) if the licensee is operating in an anglophone market, (i) each English-language Category A service whose operator is authorized to provide the service to all or part of the licensed area, (ii) at least one English-language general interest television pay-per-view service, and (iii) to the extent that such a programming service is available, at least one French-language discretionary service for every 10 English-language programming services that it distributes; (b) if the licensee is operating in a francophone market, (i) each French-language Category A service whose operator is authorized to provide the service to all or part of the licensed area, (ii) at least one French-language general interest television pay-per-view service, and (iii) to the extent that such a programming service is available, at least one English-language discretionary service for every 10 French-language programming services that it distributes; and (c) the ethnic Category A service of a programming undertaking that is authorized to provide that programming service to all or part of the licensed area if (i) the licensee was distributing the service in the licensed area on October 30, 2008, or (ii) according to the most recent population figures published by Statistics Canada, 10% or more of the total population of all cities, towns and other municipalities situated in whole or in part within the licensed area is of one or a combination of the ethnic origins to which the service is intended to appeal.

(3) For the purposes of subparagraphs (2)(a)(iii) and (b)(iii), (a) the definition discretionary service in section 1 does not include a programming service that the licensee is required to distribute under paragraph 9(1)(h) of the Act; and (b) the analog or standard definition programming service and the high definition service together count as a single programming service.

(4) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall distribute (a) the programming service of a community-based low-power television station to the subscribers of the distribution undertaking whose residence or other premises are located within the service area of that station; and (b) the programming service of a community-based digital undertaking to the subscribers of the distribution undertaking whose residence or other premises are located within the service area of that undertaking.

(5) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee fulfils its obligations under this section and section 19 by distributing either the standard definition programming service or the high definition version of that programming service.

SOR/2001-75, s. 5

SOR/2001-334, s. 3

SOR/2002-322, s. 4

SOR/2003-217, s. 6

SOR/2003-458, s. 2

SOR/2006-11, s. 1

SOR/2007-222, s. 1

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 10

18.1 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

Access for Unrelated Programming Undertakings

19 (1) The following definitions apply in this section. exempt distribution undertaking exempt distribution undertaking means a distribution undertaking the operator of which is exempt under Broadcasting Order CRTC 2014-445, dated August 29, 2014 and entitled Terms and conditions of the exemption order for terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings serving fewer than 20,000 subscribers , as amended from time to time. (entreprise de distribution exemptée) independent programming undertaking independent programming undertaking means a programming undertaking for which no licensee of a distribution undertaking or operator of an exempt distribution undertaking, or an affiliate of the licensee or operator, holds, directly or indirectly, an interest or right in the assets. (entreprise de distribution indépendante) related exempt programming undertaking related exempt programming undertaking means an exempt programming undertaking that is not an unrelated exempt programming undertaking. (entreprise de programmation exemptée liée) unrelated exempt programming undertaking unrelated exempt programming undertaking means (a) an exempt programming undertaking of which the licensee or an affiliate, or both, controls 10% or less; or (b) an exempt programming undertaking of which the licensee or an affiliate, or both, controls more than 10% but less than 15% and whose programming services the licensee was distributing on October 30, 2008. (entreprise de programmation exemptée non liée)

(2) For the purposes of subsection (3), the definition discretionary service in section 1 does not include any of the following: (a) a programming service that the licensee distributes under section 18; (b) an adult programming service; (c) an exempt programming service, other than an exempt discretionary service; (d) a programming service that the licensee is required to distribute under paragraph 9(1)(h) of the Act.

(3) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall distribute in its licensed area (a) to the extent that such programming is available, at least one English-language discretionary service of an independent programming undertaking for each English-language discretionary service of a related programming undertaking that it distributes in the area; and (b) to the extent that such programming is available, at least one French-language discretionary service of an independent programming undertaking for each French-language discretionary service of a related programming undertaking that it distributes in the area.

(3.1) to (4) [Repealed, SOR/2015-239, s. 11]

(5) A licensee that distributes one or more programming services of related exempt programming undertakings in a licensed area shall also distribute an equal number of programming services of unrelated exempt programming undertakings in the licensed area.

(6) Subsection (5) does not apply to the distribution of an exempt discretionary service of a related exempt programming undertaking.

SOR/2003-217, s. 7

SOR/2006-11, s. 2

SOR/2007-248, s. 1

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2012-151, s. 16

SOR/2013-137, s. 3

SOR/2015-239, s. 11

19.1 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

Television Programming Services that May Be Distributed

20 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may, in addition to the programming services required under sections 17 to 19, distribute in its licensed area (a) the programming service of any regional television station that is not distributed by the licensee in the licensed area under section 17 or of any extra-regional television station; (b) any on-demand service, the operator of which is authorized to provide the service to all or part of the licensed area, that is not distributed by the licensee in the licensed area under section 18; (c) any discretionary service that is not distributed by the licensee in the licensed area under section 18 or 19; (d) subject to section 30, community programming; (e) the programming service of any non-Canadian television station that is received over the air at the local head end, other than (i) a religious programming service, and (ii) the programming service of a non-Canadian television station that began operation after January 1, 1985; (f) any authorized non-Canadian programming service — including, subject to section 22, a 4 + 1 package of programming services; (g) subject to section 21, the programming service of any distant television station; (h) the programming service of any licensed television station that provides its programming services by direct feed and that is not distributed by the licensee in the licensed area under section 17 or otherwise under this section; (i) the programming service of any exempt programming undertaking; (j) any programming service that promotes a programming service distributed by the licensee and that meets the criteria set out in paragraph 27 of Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-74, dated July 5, 2007 and entitled Previews and promotional channels ; (k) subject to section 21, an educational television programming service whose operation is the responsibility of an educational authority designated by a province other than the province in which the licensed area is located; and (l) any programming service — including, subject to section 22, a further 4 + 1 package of programming services — that is authorized under a condition of its licence.

(2) A licensee that distributes a programming service under subsection (1) may also distribute the high definition version of that programming service.

SOR/2002-322, s. 5

SOR/2003-217, s. 9

SOR/2006-11, s. 3

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 12

SOR/2017-160, s. 5

Distribution of Distant Television Stations

21 (1) Except as otherwise provided in a condition of its licence, which condition takes effect on or after September 1, 2011, a licensee shall obtain the consent of the operator of a distant television station to distribute its signal before the licensee makes the signal available to its subscribers.

(2) The licensee is not required to obtain the consent of the operator of the distant television station if the signal is required to be distributed as part of the licensee’s basic service under section 17 or under a condition of its licence.

SOR/2003-217, s. 10

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

Distribution of Non-Canadian Television Stations

22 Except as otherwise provided in a condition of its licence, which condition takes effect on or after September 1, 2011, a licensee shall not distribute a 4 + 1 package of programming services that originate outside the time zone in which the licensee’s local head end is located unless the licensee also distributes to its subscribers the programming services of at least one television station from each English major ownership group that originate in the same time zone.

SOR/2003-217, s. 11

SOR/2006-174, s. 1

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

Distribution and Linkage

23 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, all authorized non-Canadian programming services, other than the programming services of non-Canadian television stations, and all discretionary services that are offered by a licensee in a licensed area shall be offered as follows: (a) during the period beginning on March 1, 2016 and ending on November 30, 2016, either on a stand-alone basis or in packages of up to 10 programming services; and (b) on or after December 1, 2016, both on a stand-alone basis and in packages of up to 10 programming services.

(2) In addition to the packages required under subsection (1), a licensee may offer any programming services that are not distributed as part of its basic service in packages of more than 10 programming services.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the licensee may offer either or both of the following: (a) packages that consist of programming services that are chosen by the licensee; and (b) packages that consist of programming services that are chosen by the subscriber.

(4) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence or these Regulations, a licensee shall not, on or after December 1, 2016, distribute a programming service or package of programming services such that, in order to obtain that service or package, a subscriber is required to subscribe to an additional programming service or package of programming services.

SOR/2003-29, s. 2

SOR/2003-217, s. 12

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 13

SOR/2016-16, s. 1

24 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence or these Regulations, a licensee may only distribute an authorized non-Canadian programming service on a discretionary basis.

SOR/2003-217, s. 13

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 13

25 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall not distribute an adult programming service in a package such that a subscriber is required to subscribe to that service in order to obtain any other programming service.

(2) A licensee that distributes an adult programming service shall fully block the reception of both the audio and video portions of the service to subscribers who request that they not receive the service in either unscrambled or scrambled mode.

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2015-239, s. 13

26 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may only distribute the following religious programming services on a discretionary basis: (a) a limited point-of-view discretionary service; (b) an exempt discretionary service; (c) an authorized non-Canadian programming service.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall not distribute a programming service referred to in subsection (1) in a package of programming services that is chosen by the licensee unless all of the services in the package are those referred to in that subsection and they are distributed on a discretionary basis.

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2013-137, s. 4

SOR/2015-239, s. 13

SOR/2017-160, s. 6

SOR/2018-28, s. 2

27 (1) In this section, principal language means a language in which 40% or more of the programming of a programming service is provided over the course of a broadcast week.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the definition third-language service in section 1 includes a programming service that is named in paragraph 138 of Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, dated October 30, 2008 and entitled Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services .

(3) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall, for each non-Canadian third-language service that it offers to its subscribers, offer — to the extent that such a service is available — at least one Canadian third-language service in the same principal language.

(4) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall, for each non-Canadian third-language service that it distributes to its subscribers as part of a package of programming services that is chosen by the licensee, distribute in that package — to the extent that such a service is available — at least one Canadian third-language service in the same principal language.

SOR/2003-217, s. 14

SOR/2003-458, s. 3

SOR/2006-11, s. 4

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2012-4, s. 1

SOR/2014-32, s. 1

SOR/2015-239, s. 13

27.1 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

Audio Programming Services that May Be Distributed

28 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee may distribute in any licensed area (a) any audio Canadian programming service of a licensed programming undertaking or exempt programming undertaking; (b) any audio non-Canadian programming service that is received over the air at the local head end; (c) any international radio service that is operated or funded by a national government or its agent; and (d) any audio programming service that is authorized under a condition of its licence.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall, for each specialty audio service of a related programming undertaking that it distributes in a licensed area, distribute the lesser of (a) five specialty audio services of any unrelated programming undertakings, and (b) the number of specialty audio services of any unrelated programming undertakings that are available for distribution in the licensed area.



SOR/2003-217, s. 15

SOR/2003-458, s. 5

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

Access by Pay Audio Programming Undertakings

[SOR/2003-458, s. 6; SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

29 (1) In this section, unrelated pay audio programming undertaking means (a) a pay audio programming undertaking of which the licensee or an affiliate, or both, controls 10% or less; or (b) a pay audio programming undertaking of which the licensee or an affiliate, or both, controls more than 10% but less than 30% and whose programming services the licensee was distributing on October 30, 2008.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), if a licensee distributes in a licensed area the programming service of a pay audio programming undertaking other than an unrelated pay audio programming undertaking, the licensee shall distribute in the licensed area the programming service of at least one unrelated pay audio programming undertaking.

(3) A licensee is not required to distribute in a licensed area the programming service of an unrelated pay audio programming undertaking that is delivered to the licensee in a format that is technically incompatible with the licensee’s method of signal distribution.

SOR/2003-217, s. 16

SOR/2003-458, s. 7

SOR/2009-234, s. 4

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

29.1 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

29.2 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

29.3 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

Community Channel

30 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3) or under a condition of its licence, if a licensee elects to distribute community programming under paragraph 20(1)(d) in a licensed area, the licensee shall not distribute, on the community channel in the licensed area, any programming service other than the following: (a) community programming; (b) a maximum of two minutes during each clock hour of announcements promoting broadcasting services that the licensee is authorized to provide; (c) a public service announcement; (d) an information program funded by and produced for a federal, provincial or municipal government or agency or a public service organization; (e) the question period of the legislature of the province in which the licensed area is located; (f) an announcement providing information about the programming that is to be distributed on the community channel; (g) a commercial message that mentions or displays the name of a person who sponsored a community event or the goods, services or activities sold or promoted by the person, if the mention or display is in the course of, and incidental to the production of, community programming relating to the event; (h) an oral or written acknowledgement, that may include a moving visual presentation of no more than 15 seconds per message, contained in community programming that mentions no more than the name of a person, a description of the goods, services or activities that are being sold or promoted by the person, and their address and telephone number, if the person provided direct financial assistance for the community programming in which the acknowledgement is contained; (i) an oral or a written acknowledgement contained in community programming that mentions no more than the name of a person, the goods or services provided by the person and their address and telephone number, if the person provided the goods or services free of charge to the licensee for use in connection with the production of the community programming in which the acknowledgement is contained; (j) a still image programming service as described in Public Notice CRTC 1993-51, dated April 30, 1993 and entitled Exemption order respecting still image programming service undertakings , if the service is produced by the licensee or by members of the community served by the licensee and does not contain commercial messages, other than commercial messages that are contained within the programming service of a licensed radio station; and (k) the programming of a community programming undertaking.

(2) At least 75% of the time for promotional announcements broadcast in each broadcast week under paragraph (1)(b) shall be made available for the promotion of the community channel and for the promotion, by Canadian programming undertakings other than related programming undertakings, of their respective services.

(3) A maximum of 25% of the time for promotional announcements broadcast in each broadcast week under paragraph (1)(b) may be made available for the promotion of the services of related programming undertakings, services distributed on a discretionary basis, packages of programming services, FM services and additional outlets and for the distribution of information on customer services and channel realignments.

(4) Whenever a licensee is not distributing community programming on the community channel in a licensed area, or is distributing on that channel community programming that has no audio component, the licensee may distribute on that channel the programming service of a local radio station, other than an educational radio programming service whose operation is the responsibility of an educational authority.

(5) If a licensee provides time on the community channel in a licensed area during an election period for the distribution of programming of a partisan political character, the licensee shall allocate that time on an equitable basis among all accredited political parties and rival candidates.

(6) A licensee that distributes commercial messages or acknowledgements on the community channel under paragraph (1)(g), (h) or (i) shall ensure that those messages and acknowledgements comply with the technical requirements set out in ATSC Recommended Practice A/85: Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television , published by the Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc., as amended from time to time.

SOR/2003-217, s. 17

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2012-57, s. 4

SOR/2015-239, s. 14

31 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall devote at least 60% of the programming distributed on the community channel in the licensed area in each broadcast week to the distribution of local community television programming.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee (a) shall devote at least 50% of the programming distributed on the community channel in each broadcast week to community access television programming; (b) [Repealed, SOR/2017-160, s. 7] (c) shall, if one or more community television corporations are in operation in a licensed area, make available to them up to 20% of the programming distributed on the community channel in each broadcast week for community access television programming; and (d) shall, if one or more community television corporations are in operation in a licensed area, make available to each of them, on request, not less than four hours of community access television programming in each broadcast week.

(3) The time allocated to the distribution of alphanumeric message services is excluded from the calculation of the programming requirement under this section.

SOR/2001-75, s. 8

SOR/2003-29, s. 3

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2017-160, s. 7

32 (1) In this section, direct programming expense means an expenditure for the production or acquisition of programming, including (a) expenditures on volunteer training and volunteer program development and community outreach, but excluding expenditures related to technology, sales, promotion and administration as well as general expenses; and (b) expenditures related to the acquisition of programming produced by community-based digital undertakings, community-based low-power television stations or community television corporations.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall direct at least 50% of its direct programming expenses in a broadcast year to community access television programming.

(3) Except in the final year of the term of its licence, a licensee may defer up to 5% of the amount of direct programming expenses required to be directed in a given broadcast year under subsection (2) to the following broadcast year.

(4) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, the licensee shall direct to direct programming expenses for its community channel at least the following percentages of any contributions to community programming that are allowable contributions to local expression made by either the licensee or an affiliate: (a) 60%, for the broadcast year beginning on September 1, 2017 and ending on August 31, 2018; (b) 65%, for the broadcast year beginning on September 1, 2018 and ending on August 31, 2019; (c) 70%, for the broadcast year beginning on September 1, 2019 and ending on August 31, 2020; and (d) 75%, for each successive broadcast year beginning on September 1, 2020.



SOR/2001-334, s. 4

SOR/2003-217, s. 18

SOR/2011-148, s. 8

SOR/2017-160, s. 8

32.1 [Repealed, SOR/2011-148, s. 8]

33 (1) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall (a) keep, in a form acceptable to the Commission, a program log or record of the programs that are distributed on the community channel in each licensed area and retain it for a period of one year after distribution of the programs; and (b) enter into the program log or record each day the following information for each program: (i) the title of the program, (ii) its date of distribution, time of commencement and completion, and duration, including the announcements and commercial messages referred to in paragraphs 30(1)(b) and (g), (iii) a brief description of the program, including a statement as to whether it is local community television programming, (iv) the name of the distribution undertaking for which the program was produced and the name of the producer, (v) a statement that indicates whether the program constitutes community access television programming and, if so, (A) the party that has been provided with access and whether that party is a community television corporation, and (B) the name of the individual requesting access, their role in the origination and production of the program and their relationship, if any, with the licensee, (vi) the time of commencement of an announcement or commercial message referred to in paragraphs 30(1)(b) and (g), respectively, its duration and, in the case of a commercial message, the name of the person selling or promoting goods, services or activities, (vii) a statement that indicates whether the program was broadcast with closed captioning, audio description or described video, (viii) a statement that indicates whether the program is an original first-run program, a previously broadcast program or a repeat program, and (ix) the language of the program.

(2) A licensee shall retain a clear and intelligible audiovisual recording of each program distributed on the community channel in each licensed area for a period of (a) four weeks after the date of distribution of the program; or (b) eight weeks after the date of distribution of the program, if the Commission receives a complaint from a person regarding the program or, for any other reason, decides to investigate, and so notifies the licensee before the end of the period referred to in paragraph (a).

(3) If, before the end of the relevant period referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or subsection (2), the Commission requests from a licensee a program log, a record or a clear and intelligible audiovisual recording, the licensee shall, without delay, furnish the log, record or recording to the Commission.

(4) The following definitions apply in this section. original first-run program original first-run program means a program that is broadcast for the first time on the community channel and that has not already been broadcast on another community channel. (émission originale en première diffusion) previously broadcast program previously broadcast program means a program that is broadcast for the first time on the community channel and that has already been broadcast on another community channel. (émission déjà diffusée) repeat program repeat program means a program that has already been broadcast on the community channel. (émissio