Category 1 specialty channel

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A Category 1 specialty channel is a Canadian specialty television channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, must be carried by all digital cable and direct broadcast satellite providers that have the capability to do so. Canadian content levels on Category 1 channels are required to be at a minimum of 50 percent.

Like older specialty television services licensed prior to digital channel capacity expansion, Category 1 channels are protected as to format. They have been licensed to broadcast within defined formats which are not provided by or overly close to existing protected channels, and Category 1 formats are protected themselves from close direct competition from Category 2 channels, the junior category of digital channels which was introduced at the same time.

It is expected that, henceforth, most or all new Canadian specialty channels will be licensed as Category 2 channels.

[edit] Category 1 Channels

[edit] Notes

1 OUTtv was not the original Category 1 licensee, but took over the license originally awarded to PrideVision.

[edit] Defunct Category 1 channels

  • WTSN, one of the original Category 1 licensees, ceased broadcasting on September 23, 2003 for financial reasons. However, it is still technically a licensed service, as its owners have never formally surrendered the channel's broadcast license.
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