Category 2 specialty channel

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A Category 2 specialty channel is a Canadian specialty television channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, may be carried, optionally, by all digital cable television and direct broadcast satellite providers.

Unlike both older specialty television services licensed prior to digital channel capacity expansion, and Category 1 channels, Category 2 channels are not protected as to format. They are licensed to broadcast within defined formats which are not provided by or overly close to an existing protected channel, but their formats are not protected themselves and need not protect other Category 2 channels. Also unlike Category 1 and analog specialty services, a Category 2 channel does not have guaranteed cable carriage rights, but must directly negotiate carriage with cable distributors.

Category 2 channels may include subscriber-only adult entertainment channels.

It is expected that most or all Canadian cable and satellite specialty channels will henceforth be licensed as Category 2 channels.