The CRTC last week denied HDTV Networks Inc.’s application for a licence to operate a national, English-language high-definition conventional television service. "HDTV Networks sought to launch a television station that would be the Canadian equivalent of a superstation," said Michel Arpin, the CRTC’s vice-chairman of broadcasting, in a news release. "The programming strategy associated with such a station is inconsistent with the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and the commission’s policies. We have never granted a licence for such a conventional television station in the past and did not find any compelling reason to do so at this time." In its superstation approach the would-be broadcaster was asking for a licence for a national network and only committing to offer two hours of local programming per week in each of the eight markets it wanted to serve. By comparison, conventional stations currently offer 22 hours of local programming per week.

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