A Canadian pay-television pornography channel - which is pledging to show at least 50 per cent domestic content at night - has been approved by federal regulators this week, but it must now try to persuade cable and satellite companies to carry the service.
The digital channel, which is to be called Northern Peaks, was approved Wednesday by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, after Alberta-based Real Productions first applied for the licence in October of 2007.
In its application, the company said the proposed service would be "Canada's first adult video channel offering significant Canadian adult content." Northern Peaks will produce its own movies, in addition to events and series from Canada, the company told the regulator.
"During each broadcast year, the licensee shall devote not less than 50 per cent of the evening broadcast period to Canadian programming," say CRTC documents outlining the decision.
Before Northern Peaks will be given its licence, it must show the CRTC that at least one cable or satellite carrier has agreed to pick up the service. The channel has three years to find an agreement or risk losing the licence.
The channel is a Category 2 pay television service, meaning cable and satellite carriers are not required to pick up the channel and the company must negotiate with each carrier.
The CRTC said it did not receive any interventions at hearings held in May, meaning there were no other broadcasters or interest groups who registered their opposition to the bid.
According to the licence, Northern Peaks is restricted to certain genres, including: drama and comedy, long-form documentary, miniseries, theatrical feature films, game shows and human-interest programming. It will not carry any high-definition programming, according to company documents.
Based in Sherwood Park, Alta., Real Productions produces adult content for Starz, Playboy TV and HBO. "Northern Peaks' broadcast day will start at 6 a.m. and run a full 24 hours," the company told the CRTC in its application.
If it launches, Northern Peaks will be required to spend a minimum of 25 per cent of its subscriber revenues on Canadian programming, including at least $1-million in its first broadcast year. All programs must be close-captioned, as per CRTC rules.
In approving the licence, the CRTC also issued a reminder to cable and satellite companies that "due to the adult nature of the programming, this service shall only be distributed at the specific request of the subscriber." The carriers are not permitted to package the service so that customers must buy Northern Peaks to get other channels (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD)
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Originally posted by Eddie FamousIt will not carry any high-definition programming, according to company documents.
Booooo-urns.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Some Catholic bishop sounding off on this. I'm a bit surprised this is passed off as "news" rather than a letter to the editor. Misleading a bit.
I just found it amusing is all, and thought I'd pass it on.
I'd laugh if it's the same Catholic bishop who started whining and complaining when TELUS introduced pornographic content on their cellphones. Some people just don't like others having fun.
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Great episode this week. The Jim/Pam/fiance triangle rocks, and is nicely built up. Also, Carell was ON this week. And next week, US Rachel seems to be arriving...