The Fight Network takes global expansion to Francophone Canadians

A shrinking pool of advertising dollars, the always tough battle for distribution, and competition from the Internet hasn't deterred three broadcasters from applying to launch two French-language services and yet another news channel in Toronto. The public hearing begins September 24 in Gatineau, Que.Toronto-based The Fight Network Inc. hopes to expand its popular English-language service, which is seen in nearly 10 million homes in Canada and the UK, to even more viewers with the launch of a new national French language specialty channel. Le Réseau des Combats would serve primarily Quebec, New Brunswick and Manitoba and broadcast news, fights (live or archived), variety shows and movies, interviews and analysis, which will be offered in high definition format. In addition, The Fight Network Inc. proposes that 20% of broadcasting during the year will be derived from category 7 programming, which are theatrical feature films on TV.George Burger, president and CEO, The Fight Network, says the channel will likely be launched in February or April of next year, assuming the licensing process doesn't drag on for long. However, he says it's too early to predict the number of subscribers who will sign up for the new channel."Our hope is to build it up to a level that will be equal to the rest of Canada and part of the reason for that-even though it is a smaller market-there is a very strong appetite for fight sports in Quebec especially."In September last year, The Fight Network launched an ambitious plan to expand its operations internationally. In June, it kick-started its expansion into the US market, appointing cable TV veteran Nory LeBrun as its executive VP of US affiliate sales and marketing. The channel's goal is to reach 40 million subscribers in the US over the next years as part of a larger plan to reach 100 million homes worldwide by 2012.The network currently has a channel in the UK and is discussing joint venture agreements with potential partners in the Netherlands and Germany. Burger says it is also seeking carriage in Australia and New Zealand. However, he could not be specific about when the network's programs will be operational in these locations."These are relatively long sales circles. Getting carriage for a channel requires a lot of work, but I think that typically from the time that you start trying to get into the market, until reaching some successes, usually it's six months to a year," he says. As the company mulled expanding internationally, it occurred to the leadership that they need to tap into the French market in Canada and Burger says that this will likely give the network an opportunity to launch into other Francophone programming in the future.Clovys, Rogers covet new channelsQuebec-based Clovys Media Corporation has also applied for a licence to operate a national French language channel that will mostly carry urban music and black culture. If approved, the channel will be called Chaîne Ethnoculturelle Clovys Entertainment Channel. In the already crowded Toronto area market, Rogers Broadcasting Limited is hoping to operate a category 2 specialty channel that will be known as CITY News (Toronto). The channel will offer a mix of local news, traffic, sports, business, weather and entertainment information, which will be derived from Rogers' TV stations OMN and Citytv, including radio news undertakings. Programs on this channel will not be broadcast live and Rogers will limit ads to 12 minutes per broadcast hour.The three proposed channels will be considered as part of Public Hearing CRTC 2008-9, which will also be reviewing seven other applications, including ones for new VOD services. The deadline for interventions is August 21. The applications include:• The Fight Network Inc.: Category 2 specialty French language channel to operate nationally.• CTV Limited: To acquire analog assets of the specialty channels MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic. In addition CTV Limited hopes to acquire the assets of the category 1 specialty programming Razor and category 2 programs MuchLoud, MuchMoreRetro, MuchVibe and PunchMore from CTV subsidiary 4358350 Canada Inc.• Le5 Communications Inc.: To acquire assets of commercial radio programming from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc.• Clovys Media: Licence to operate category 2 French language specialty channel across Canada.• VidéOptique Inc.: Licence to operate a regional VOD service in 12 locations in Quebec.• Rogers Broadcasting Limited: Licence to operate an English language category 2 specialty channel in the Toronto area.• Northwoods Broadcasting Limited: To acquire assets of nine radio stations in Ontario from Fawcett Broadcasting Limited, a Northwoods subsidiary.• Access Communications Co-operative Limited: Licence to operate a regional VOD service in Saskatchewan.• 3937844 Canada Inc.: Licence to convert CKKY, a radio station in Wainwright, AB from AM to FM.• Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd.: Licence to carry on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership in Vernon and Enderby, B.C.

The Fight Network takes global expansion to Francophone Canadians

News | 07/23/2008 8:46 pm EDT

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