TVA NETWORK TO GO COAST-T-COAST
By Adnews Staff
The TVA Network in Quebec is going national. Currently, the French-language TV service is available only in Quebec, but the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the network for nationwide distribution this week. The CRTC decision requires that large and medium-sized cable companies, direct-to-home satellite companies and multipoint distribution system firms broadcast the TVA Network without further cost to subscribers. This ruling is for companies with more than 2,000 subscribers. The CRTC is strongly encouraging smaller companies to carry the TV service and will help the firms ease their financial burden. In order to get the license, TVA had to agree to broadcast at least six special events annually that reflect the French-language reality outside Quebec. It must include a weekly 30-minute show on the life of Francophones elsewhere in Canada and its has to reinvest at least 43% of surplus profits from operations outside Quebec.