Vision TV looks for packaging partner as Catholic channel bids again for carriage

Vision TV wants to create an all-religion digital tier, but first it needs the CRTC to change the rules that prohibit single-faith services from being packaged with multi-faith channels like itself. If approved, digital subscribers could purchase a package that includes Vision’s three newly licensed services (Wisdom, Celebration, and The Christian Channel), and About God, a Category 2 channel licensed to Lethbridge-based Covenant Communications Ltd. Rounding out the package would be Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), a foreign channel that Covenant has asked to be authorized for carriage in Canada. Vision TV president and CEO Bill Roberts says an all-encompassing package of religious channels would be more enticing to consumers. "(If the linkage rules aren’t changed), distributors will only have a package of two services (the single-faith channels, EWTN and About God) to offer and perhaps a second package of ‘balanced’ services. This would be unfortunate not only for distributors, for our services and perhaps the other services in question, but for consumers as well," Roberts writes in an intervention to the regulator. The CRTC turned down a 1997 request to allow EWTN into Canada, since there was no Canadian single or limited point-of-view discretionary religious service with which it could be linked (CCR, March 26, 1997). Canada’s religious broadcasting policy prohibits foreign-owned religious networks from being carried unless they are packaged with Canadian services. EWTN’s addition to the eligible foreign satellite services list is not being opposed because as a single-faith network it is not totally or partially competitive with Vision, Roberts points out. "While EWTN will provide full-time religious programming and thus could be considered to be competitive with both Vision TV and The Christian Channel, we note that the programming will be totally Roman Catholic. Neither of our channels devote or will devote more than a percentage of their schedules to Roman Catholic programming. Moreover, both of our channels will provide balance whereas, EWTN will not," he writes. No other service being considered for carriage, aside from the Portuguese-language general interest specialty channel RTP International (RTPi), received as much support from consumers as EWTN. The CRTC received 5,575 letters and a petition with 1,281 signatures supporting EWTN’s entry into the Canadian market. In contrast, only three consumers wrote in opposition to EWTN. A petition with 15,374 signatures and 4,257 letters were sent to the CRTC in support of RTPi, which was opposed by 20 consumers and 15 industry groups or associations. Alternative to "Culture of Death" In a typical letter of support, Albert and Terry Ethier of Saskatoon, SK, say EWTN would be refreshing in what they label the current ‘Culture of Death’ viewing options. EWTN would be "a unique and positive alternative to stations that are presently available," they write. Elizabeth Albrecht, of Lac La Biche, AB, tells the CRTC that she discontinued cable because "there were so many channels and very few programs that did not include violence, obscenity, blasphemy, sleazyiness, sexuality." She writes that she will not re-subscribe to cable or satellite until EWTN is available. While Vision sees EWTN as a worthwhile packaging partner, it is opposing Family Net, one of the 29 foreign television services currently being considered by the CRTC to be added to the eligible services list. Although Family Net is described as a programming service for the whole family covering health and family-oriented shows, Vision says a review of its program schedule reveals that it is a competitor to not only Vision TV, but also its recently licensed The Christian Channel. Over 60 per cent of Family Net’s programming overlaps with the same programming genres as Vision TV’s, Roberts states.

Vision TV looks for packaging partner as Catholic channel bids again for carriage

Broadcast | April 11, 2001

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