· web viewif you are submitting your internal policy as part of your application, submit as...

Application for the renewal of

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia broadcasting licence

All information with an * is required.

1. General information

1.1 Identification of the service

a. * Name of the service: The Weather Network/MétéoMédia

b. * Is the service national or regional?

National (X) Regional ( ) If regional, specify the service area(s):

1.2 Identification of applicantImportant notice: All information provided in this section will be displayed on the Commission website.

* Corporation (X) Other ( ) Specify :* Legal name of the entity who is authorized by the Commission to operate the service Pelmorex Weather Networks (Television) Inc. formerly Pelmorex Communications Inc.

* Name of the contact person representing the licensee: Paul Temple* Title of the contact person representing the licensee: Senior Vice President* Address: 2655 Bristol Circle* City/Town: Oakville* Province/Territory: Ontario* Postal code: L6H 7W1* Telephone: 905-829-1159 Fax: 905-829-5800* Email: [email protected] * Website: www.theweathernetwork.com & www.meteomedia.com

1.3 Sent by* Name: Paul Temple* Telephone: (905-829-1159) Ext: 1271* Email: [email protected]

1.4 Designated representativeI, _________________________, the applicant, hereby designate____________________ as my designated representative to complete, sign and file an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and to sign and file a reply with respect thereto

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.meteomedia.com/

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/

mailto:[email protected]

(if necessary) and I do hereby ratify, confirm and adopt as my own act, such application and all replies made thereto.

* Date:* At: Example: city, provinceSignature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):*Address of designated representative:* Title:* Telephone (999-999-9999): Ext:Fax (999-999-9999):* Email ([email protected]):

1.5 Declaration of the applicant or its designated representativeI, *________Paul Temple_____________________, solemnly declare that:

a. I am the designated representative of the applicant named in this application and as such have knowledge of all matters declared therein.

b. The statements made in this application or in any document filed pursuant to any request for further information by the Commission are (will be) to the best of my knowledge believed to be true in all respects.

c. The opinions and estimates given in this application or in any document filed pursuant to any request for further information by the Commission are (will be) based on facts as known to me.

d. I have examined the provisions of the Broadcasting Act and the broadcasting regulations and policies relevant to this application.

And I have signedSignature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):* Date: 2017-07-11

Witnessed bySignature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):* Name: Kurt Eby* Date: 2017-07-11* At: Oakville, Ontario

2. Ownership2.1 * Is the applicant part of a corporate group selected to participate in the Broadcasting Ownership Information Annual Filing (BOIAF) program?

Yes () No ( X)

If yes, provide the following information:

i. Name of the group that participates in the BOIAF program:

2APP – Doc2 Application form TWN-MM

ii. Date of the most recent annual filing (yyyy/mm/dd):

2.2 * Has the ownership information relating to the licensee and the legal entities forming part of its ownership structure, been filed and reviewed by the Commission within 12 months from the date of the current application?

(X) Yes ( ) No

If no, you must complete Appendix 2A – Ownership information.

2.3 * Name of any Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking (BDU) to which the service is related (if applicable):

Note: “related” means a programming undertaking to which a BDU controls more than 10%.

The applicant is NOT related to any Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking (BDU)

3. Obtaining a copy of the application* Submit a website address or an e-mail address where an electronic copy of the application may be requested:

Website: www.theweathernetwork.com/licencerenewal and at www.meteomedia.com/renouvellementdelicense

4. Other application(s) before the Commission* Are there other applications before the Commission regarding this service?

Yes () No ( X )

If yes, specify the application number(s) and provide a short description of the application(s) (e.g. technical amendment, amendment to conditions of licence, ownership transaction):

5. Application

5.1 Procedural request

The Rules of Practice and Procedure set out the process by which applications are processed by the Commission. They also allow an interested person to request that the Commission exercise a power under the Rules of Procedure or change the Rules of Procedure for a specific proceeding (sections 5 and 7). This is generally called a procedural request.

* Is the applicant requesting that the Commission make an exception to its Rules of Procedure in the treatment of this application?

Yes ( ) No ( X)


http://www.meteomedia.com/renouvellementdelicense

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/licencerenewal

If yes, please indicate which section of the Rules of Procedure you wish to vary, and provide a detailed rationale as to why this request should be granted:

5.2 Language of the programming* Indicate the language(s) of the programming broadcast on the service by completing the table below. Note that a "broadcast month" refers to the total number of hours devoted by the service to broadcasting during the aggregate of the broadcast days in a month. Percentages should be based on the total number of hours of programming broadcast by the service in a broadcast month.

The Weather Network MétéoMédia

Language % of total programming during each broadcast month

Language % of total programming during each broadcast month

English 100% French 100%

5.3 Programming schedule

* Provide a website address where the weekly programming schedule of the service can be viewed, including the different feeds or multiplexes as applicable:

www.theweathernetwork.com/licencerenewal/programming and

www.meteomedia.com/renouvellementdelicense/programmation

6. Compliance

6.1 Compliance over the current licence term

* Confirm that the service has been operated in compliance, over the licence term, with the conditions of its licence, the Broadcasting Act, and all applicable regulations of the Commission.

Yes (X) No ( )

If no, provide full details of any non-compliance during the licence term, including the reasons, any remedial action taken and, where applicable, the period of time expected before the service will be operating in compliance.

6.2 Compliance with standard conditions of licence

Confirm that you will abide by the appropriate standard requirements set out in Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-436 Standard requirements for television stations,


http://www.meteomedia.com/renouvellementdelicense/programmation

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/licencerenewal/programming

discretionary services, and on-demand services, 2 November 2016 (CRTC 2016-436), with the exception of the general programming requirements as set out in conditions of licence 6, 7, and 8, by selecting “Yes” or “No” below.

* Yes (X ) No ( )

Note: The Weather Network/MétéoMédia abide by standard COL #16 by way of provisioning secondary audio programming channels as set out and previously approved by the Commission in our current conditions of licence. The reasons why and how this is done is described below in our response to Q8.3.

If no, specify the conditions of licence, expectations and/or encouragements you propose to amend with a detailed rationale in support of any such amendments, including, where appropriate, financial evidence to support any exception to the standard requirements, and propose wording for alternative requirements as “APP - Doc4 -Appendix 1A - Conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements”.

6.3 Other conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements

Other than the standard conditions of licence listed above and any amendments that you intend to seek to those standard conditions of licence, list all other conditions of licence and commitments to which your service is currently subject. Indicate whether your service is prepared to continue to operate under these same terms and conditions during the next licence term.

If you are proposing to add to, delete or amend any of these existing conditions of licence, expectations, or definitions, provide a detailed rationale in support of these changes, and include, where appropriate, financial evidence to support any changes. Ensure that you indicate how these changes would be appropriate in light of the exceptional nature of this service.

Include in the required information in “APP - Doc4 -Appendix 1A - Conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements”.

We have completed and attached APP - Doc4 -Appendix 1A - Conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements” based on our application being approved as filed.

6.4 Broadcast of adult programming

* Do you broadcast or plan to broadcast adult programming on your service?

Yes ( ) No (X)

If yes, you are reminded that, as set out in Appendix 2 to CRTC 2016-436 licensees that broadcast adult programming are expected to provide their proposed internal policy on adult programming. If you are submitting your internal policy as part of your application, submit as “APP - Doc9 - Appendix 3 - Internal policy on adult programming”.


7. Financial operations

7.1 Canadian Programming Expenditures

Criterion c) in CRTC Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-629 , requires applicants to provide evidence that the service is making exceptional commitments to original, first-run Canadian programming in terms of exhibition and expenditures. In addition, in CRTC Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-86, the Commission announced its intention to impose Canadian Programming Expenditure (CPE) requirements on all licensed services. Given these policy determinations, please propose, with supporting rationale, a condition of licence relating to CPE for the prospective licence term that is based on the services’ historical spending.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia propose to continue its current CPE condition of licence of 44% of gross revenues as set out in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-438. Supporting rationale is provided in Supplementary Brief, Appendix 1, paragraphs 120 to 122 and from 163 to 166.

In addition, please provide your historical and projected spending on Canadian programming. If your commitments to Canadian-made programming were to change as a result of a requested change in wholesale rate or as a result of your service being renewed without mandatory distribution, please include revised CPE projections for the prospective licence term for such scenarios.

Submit the requested information in Excel format along with the application form and entitle the Excel document as follows: “APP - Doc10 - Appendix 4 – Nameofservice - CPE requirement”.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia’s historical and projected spending on Canadian programming has been filed as APP – Doc10 - Appendix 4 TWN-MM - CPE.

Also filed as part of the above appendix is The Weather Network/MétéoMédia’s projected spending on Canadian programming should The Weather Network/MétéoMédia be renewed without mandatory distribution

7.2 Projected annual revenues and expenses for the prospective licence term

In accordance with Canadian Accounting Standards, complete the summary of the projected annual revenues and expenses for the prospective licence term using the attached Excel document in Appendix 5.

Please provide the projections for two scenarios:

a) For the scenario in which your service is renewed with mandatory distribution further to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act and;

b) For the scenario in which your service is renewed without mandatory distribution.

Appendix 5 in confidential and abridged formats have been filed for both of the above scenarios.


http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-629.htm

In addition, if you are requesting a change in wholesale rate for your service, please include your proposed wholesale rate and provide additional projections for two scenarios:

a) For the scenario in which the proposed rate change is approved and;b) For the scenario in which the proposed rate change is denied.

No change in wholesale rate is proposed

Further, please comment on the impact that your requested change in wholesale rate may have on your business plan and your ability to meet your conditions of licence and other commitments.

Submit the requested information in Excel format along with the application form and entitle the Excel document as follows: “APP - Doc11 - Appendix 5 – Nameofservice - Financial projections”.

Not applicable, no change in wholesale rate is proposed.

7.3 Basic underlying assumptions for the financial projections

In the same Excel document, provide a detailed listing of all the basic underlying assumptions upon which the financial projections have been prepared in the specified field, including the methodology used to amortize program costs.

Appendix 5 in confidential and abridged formats have been filed with detailed listing of all the underlying assumptions upon which the financial projections have been made.

8. Social and consumer policy

8.1 Industry codes

* Is the licensee a broadcaster associate in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council?

Yes (X) No ( )

If no, please explain:

8.2 Closed captioninga. Paragraph 75 of Broadcasting and Telecom regulatory policy CRTC 2009-430 Accessibility

of telecommunications and broadcasting services, 21 July 2009 (the Accessibility Policy), states the following:

“when captions are available, the Commission expects broadcasters to provide viewers with a closed captioned version of all programming aired during the overnight period.”

* Accordingly, describe your plans for the licence term to ensure the provision to viewers of a closed captioned version of all programming aired during the overnight period.


The Weather Network/MétéoMédia’s current practice, which will be continued throughout the new licence term, is to closed caption all programming aired during the overnight period on all seven of our programming feeds. Overnight programming is typically pre-recorded and already includes captioning. However, if live programming is broadcast, usually during times of extreme weather, closed captioning staff are available on-site 24/7 to caption live-to-air programming.

b. * Submit a description of the monitoring system you will be putting in place in accordance with paragraphs 99-100 of the Accessibility Policy, and in CRTC 2016-436, condition of licence #22.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia use a variety of ways to monitor that closed captioning is included in the broadcast signal delivered to broadcast distribution undertakings. All seven of our The Weather Network/MétéoMédia’s programming feeds are monitored 24 hours a day by our Master Control Operators. A warning system has been set up to notify the Master Control Operator whenever captions are missing, providing the operator with a quick, visual cue when captioning may not be present. If captions are found to be missing, the problem is immediately reported to our closed captioning staff who are on site to review and/or re-caption programming content as required and/or to a broadcast technician depending on the nature of the problem.

The quality of closed captioning is monitored in several ways. For live-to-air programming, each control room at The Weather Network/MétéoMédia is operated by a Director/Technical Director with an assigned closed captioning staff member. The two individuals are in constant communication with one another to ensure the presence and quality of captions.

While captioning, each captioner is provided with two broadcast monitors, allowing them to simultaneously check their captions output on HD & SD signals as they caption. Items that are planned to air on multiple occasions are completed offline, allowing captioners the opportunity to review their work and ensure a 100% accuracy rate as per CRTC mandate.

c. * As directed in paragraph 101 of the Accessibility Policy, submit a description of the mechanisms and procedures that you will be putting in place regarding quality control of closed captioning, including procedures to ensure that closed captioning is present throughout the entire program. At a minimum, this description must set out the means by which the applicant intends to ensure that captioning errors are corrected before programming is rebroadcast.

In addition to the monitoring mechanisms described above in our response to Q8.2b, the mechanisms and procedures that The Weather Network/MétéoMédia currently have in place and will be continued throughout the next licence term regarding quality control of closed captioning, including correcting captioning errors before programming is rebroadcast, are set out below.

Since The Weather Network/MétéoMédia provide multiple national and regional programming feeds, containing predominantly live, unscripted programming, The Weather Network relies on a team of closed captioning staff to act as “re-speakers” using software to generate closed captioning for live programming. The Weather Network and MétéoMédia


have implemented specific mechanisms and procedures regarding the quality control of closed captioning as follows.

In the case of The Weather Network, we employ a full team of closed captioning staff (re-speakers) that is managed internally. As part of their daily workflow, the captioning staff review their transcripts to improve captioning quality. For programming that is going to be rebroadcast, we choose to caption offline to ensure full accuracy. Live-to-tape programming is monitored by the re-speaker and Director/Technical Director; if corrections are necessary, the content is replayed to the re-speaker for re-captioning. We have also employed full time staff to draft captioning reports to evaluate all captioners and a Team Lead assigned to manage the captioning team and work towards improving captioning quality and workflow efficiency.

Updates to the voice recognition software used by closed captioners are installed as they become available to ensure the most recent software is being used. Re-speakers continuously adapt and adjust their user profiles, matching their individual accents and speaking styles with a continuing evolving vocabulary library to improve accuracy rates.

Operations management meet monthly to evaluate new captioning options to improve quality and efficiencies. Additionally, a committee of senior management and operations staff meet quarterly to review closed captioning results and initiatives.

In the case of MétéoMédia, we employ a third party that uses professional re-speakers under much the same conditions. MétéoMédia follows similar evaluation, reporting and quarterly reviews as practised by The Weather Network.

d. In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-104, Navigating the Road Ahead – Making informed choices about television providers and improving accessibility to television programming, 26 March 2015, the Commission set out that:

at the time of their next licence renewals, each broadcaster will be expected to ensure that when programming with closed captioning on traditional platforms is made available on non-linear online platform, the closed captioning will be included. Describe how the applicant will fulfill this expectation; and

licensed broadcasters will be required to adhere to an annual reporting requirement relating to the provision of closed captioning on non-linear online platforms. The results of this reporting may be published in a report card format to keep Canadians abreast of progress. This requirement will be imposed by condition of licence.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia expect all its programming from its traditional platforms available to its non-linear platforms will include closed captioning by the end of this current broadcast year. Further, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia understand that it will be required to file an annual report relating to the provision of closed captioning on non-linear online platforms.

8.3 Audio description

* Pursuant to CRTC 2016-436, condition of licence #16, identify the measures the licensee has in place to ensure the effective implementation of audio description. Audio description refers to


announcers reading aloud the key textual and graphic information that is displayed on the screen during information programs.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia are unique among broadcasting licensees in their ability to use technology to simultaneous broadcast local customized weather information, in multiple formats, to a thousand communities across Canada. When key textual and graphic information, typically weather maps etc., are displayed by our on-air presenters, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia undertake a number of measures to ensure effective audio description of all content is made available.

First, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia teams work diligently to ensure that the on-air presenters effectively describe the weather forecasting and storytelling at all times. By its very nature, our on-air presenter’s job is to describe where weather systems are, ensuring that the exact location of weather systems and storms are named. The on-air presenters read out exact temperatures and facts to help our viewers understand the specific details of the weather information being provided.

To ensure the quality of our audio description, air checks are regularly done with all of our on-air presenters, as well as with our field reporters, focusing on ensuring the clarity and effectiveness of the described presentation.

In addition to the above, on a regular basis The Weather Network/MétéoMédia invites the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to work with our on-air presenters and critique their presentations, offering feedback and general guidelines, and explaining the challenges that visually impaired viewers have when trying to receive weather information. These sessions have helped immensely in improving the detailed presentation of our on-air presenters.

As noted above, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia’s proprietary technologies allow us to simultaneously present customized local and/or regional weather live-to-air to literally a thousand locations simultaneously, effectively making us a “channel of a thousand channels”. The complexity of our distribution network is more fully described in our Supplementary Brief, throughout paragraphs 91-100 as well as Appendix B to the Supplementary Brief. However, because of this localization of local weather information it is not yet technically or economically feasible to also simultaneously explain in an audio format the details of what is being visually presented.

To offset this, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia have, as part of its conditions of licence operated five Secondary Audio programming (“SAP”) Channels providing regional and/or national audio weather reports and relevant audio alerts when made available through the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination (“NAAD”) System by authorized emergency management officials. We have recently added a sixth SAP channel to ensure better coverage to serve MétéoMédia subscribers. The Weather Network/MétéoMédia propose to continue this practice throughout our licence renewal.

However, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia know that providing a more local experience is important for all of our viewers. Therefore, we have been developing an automated solution to


provide local information in an audio format during our Local Forecasts. This approach is now being tested in several markets on our HD feed. It involves an algorithm created and built by Pelmorex that takes the weather data for each area and creates a text summary of the local weather information being displayed. We then take that script and put it through an automated text-to-voice software program to provide an audio forecast for the appropriate area. This automated local voice recording is then made available on the SAP channels to accompany the Local Forecasts that air every 10 minutes of the hour. The audio forecast is updated every ten minutes to ensure that our viewers who are relying on audio description receive the same up-to-date weather information. The automated voice recording provides current conditions, short and long-term weather information, historical information and important weather warning information as well. Our hope is to continue testing this innovative approach to ensure the accuracy of the weather information being presented in audio format as well as to gain a better understanding all the operating and capital costs associated with expanding the program.

8.4 Described videoAs directed in CRTC 2016-436, the Commission set out the following expectations on licensees:

to display a standard described video logo and broadcast an audio announcement indicating the presence of described video before the broadcast of each described program (expectation #3a); and

to make information available regarding the described programs that they will broadcast (expectation #3b).

* Describe how you will fulfill these expectations.

On each of our seven programming feeds, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia display, at least once per hour, a described video logo with voice-over announcement to make viewers aware of audio weather reports available on our SAP channels during localized weather reports.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia also make additional information available regarding our SAP channel weather audio reports, which is posted on our The Weather Network/MétéoMédia websites. We reference the website URL in the hourly on-air broadcasts.

We propose to continue these practices throughout the next licence term.

8.5 Cultural diversity

a. * Describe how the proposed programming will reflect the presence of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities, in the communities served, in a manner that is accurate, fair and non-stereotypical.

The Weather Network/MétéoMédia believe in reflecting Canada’s diverse population both in our programming and in our workforce. We do and will continue to implement policies and undertake a number of ongoing activities to ensure the presence of visible minorities,


Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities, in the communities served by our programming is done in a manner that is accurate, fair and non-stereotypical. This includes a commitment to reflecting diversity of Canadians through interviews, features, news reports (look-lives, clips, voice overs etc.) opinions on the street and through a selection of experts within the mandate of our programming.

In the field, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia ensure our teams of video journalists and freelancers reflect these priorities.

Through our video journalists, we continue to provide localized weather coverage and weather warnings in remote, rural communities, including the far North. When our Video Journalists are in the field or building stories, they are reminded to ensure the stories they cover are representative of Canada’s multiculturalism. Our video journalists across Canada continue outreach to local cultural associations and First Nations. The goal is to maintain these relationships, to continue dialogue for story ideas, contacts and feedback. We have established specific criteria in the standards and expectations for Video Journalists relating to cultural diversity in their reporting: “Ensure the diversity of people in their region is reflected in news stories through the people being interviewed or by the story line”.

Diversity guidelines that were communicated to our Bureau teams across Canada will continue into our next licence term, specifically:

We will continue to reach out to a variety of community groups to join us for lives on location segments, including groups from the Canadian-Caribbean community, First Nations leaders, representatives from local governmental authorities on homelessness and mental health.

Two of our full time Video Journalists identify as First Nations. They are in tune with their communities and others, and keep a keen eye on weather related disasters and how that affects society’s most vulnerable designated groups.

Our network of freelance reporters is given similar, specific submission guidelines to be as inclusive as possible when conducting interviews with the public

In the studio, the same priorities of inclusiveness are applied. It is very important for The Weather Network/MétéoMédia to have a true representation, on-air, of Canada’s diverse cultures. It is always top of mind, when recruiting for on-air personalities, to ensure that this representation is met. The same goes for our on-air guests. We make sure that these guests are varied in their backgrounds and cultures and reflect Canada’s diversity. Camera/editors are tasked to “Continue to monitor and ensure that your visuals accurately represent Canada’s cultural diversity”.

Air checks with our on-air talent continue to play an important role, allowing The Weather Network/MétéoMédia to review their descriptive narratives. These air checks are conducted by our Content Producers and Executive Producer.

Our Executive Producer will continue to communicate the value of diversity during meetings held with programming employees.

As a result of these efforts, diversity in The Weather Network/MétéoMédia weather news stories will continue, exemplified by the following examples of editorial coverage reflecting cultural diversity from our current licence term:


Coverage of Hurricane Matthew’s devastating impacts on the Eskasoni First Nations community in Cape Breton

Feature story on the Indigenous weather legends depicted in the Capilano Park’s Totem Collection

Coverage and feature story on climate change leading to drinking water dangers for Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton

Feature story on Halifax based Bhangra group, a Sikh community group that dances at Peggy’s Cove to raise community spirit

Feature story on Emergency Management Office of Nova Scotia printing pamphlets in Arabic to keep Syrian refuges informed and included

Feature story on Winter 101 Classes for newly landed immigrants to help them prepare for their first harsh Canadian Winters

Feature story on South American sailors that travel between Halifax and Colombia and the weather and cultural differences they experience in their travels

Feature stories on EF2 tornado in Waywayseecappo First Nation community in Manitoba and how AlertReady public alerting system saved one family’s lives

Feature story on sightless consultant for AMI on how she uses innovative weather predictive tools to plan her 3-hour commute to work

Video Journalist in Vancouver, BC, visited with the Cowichan First Nations on Vancouver Island to feature their traditional clothing designed to be water proof in one of the rainiest areas of the country.

Interview series with several Canadian Paralympians on how they prepare for the weather, and dangers ahead of the Rio Paralympic games.

Coverage of National Aboriginal Day (June 21) in five markets (Halifax, Milton, Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg)

Editorial piece on Cree Nation evacuated in Manitoba due to wildfires Coverage and participation in RBC Kids Run for Mental Health Coverage and participation in Ride Don’t Hide, (The Weather Network/MétéoMédia

won an award for the PSA created for this event) Reportage à bord de l’expédition Canada C3 sur un des thèmes principaux de

discussion pendant le voyage : La réconciliation avec les peuples autochtones Rencontre dans leur village avec la communauté Innue Essipit qui vit en parfaite

harmonie avec sa voisine Les Escoumins Est-ce que les peuples autochtones sont plus vulnérables aux risques de catastrophe?

Reportage à Odanak dans la communauté abénaquise pour en discuter avec eux. Entrevue avec le rapper Algonquin Samian pour connaître la perception parmi la

communauté algonquine de l’expression « Été Indien » symbole de douceur au début de l’automne chez les Québécois

Reportage sur Charles Roberge de Lévis, malentendant, qui pratique depuis une dizaine d’année l’escalade de glace

Reportage sur l’impact des changements dans la météo pour les malvoyants; Notre journaliste a accompagné une malvoyante à travers les rues de Montréal après quelques jours de météo hivernale changeante et diverse

Reportage avec une néo-canadienne, réfugiée Syrienne arrivée récemment à Sherbrooke, qui s’initie aux plaisirs de l’hiver Canadien


b. * Describe any specific commitments to initiatives designed to ensure an accurate and fair reflection and portrayal of all minority groups.

In the next licence term, we will introduce new programming from and about Canada’s North. The content will air regularly on both The Weather Network and MétéoMédia and focus on reflecting their way of life back to our Northern viewers, as well as educating the rest of Canada on the weather and its impacts in the North.

Our reporting will investigate the impacts of global warming and changing weather patterns on Northern communities where historic high temperatures are altering the landscape and changing the way of life. This includes speaking with residents of Northern communities to share how their personal lives have changed with the climate. We will speak with municipal and government leaders about how they are preparing to address the impact of extreme weather events on city infrastructure. We will showcase communities, organizations and companies that are working to slow the progress and mitigate the impact of climate change. And we’ll continue to draw on content submitted directly from our Northern viewers who live and work in this extreme and changing climate every day. All the programming will also be made available on our digital platforms. This initiative is more fully addressed in our Supplementary Brief in paragraphs 85 through 90.

In addition to the above, The Weather Network/MétéoMédia will continue its practise of ensuring accurate and fair reflection and portrayal of all minority groups though the following initiatives: On a regular basis, we will invite the CNIB to our studios to meet our on-air Weather

Presenters and Content Producers. The purpose of these sessions is to continually reinforce with them the importance and necessity of descriptive narratives for our visually impaired viewers. We will invite visually impaired viewers to attend the sessions to explain real life challenges that viewers experience and provide input and examples of ways to improve our descriptive narrative.

We will continue to work with Accessible Media Inc. to provide training for all the on-air staff and Content Producers.

Our Programming Managers support diversity in the workplace and how this translates on-air. Human Resources continues to provide guidance to the hiring managers throughout the process to ensure that cultural diversity continues to be a priority. This includes any new managers that join the company.

Our Director of Programming will continue the partnership with the Broadcast Journalism Program at Seneca College and outreach initiatives to candidates directly. This is in line with our commitment to maintain outreach to members of the designated groups.

We will continue to have specific job responsibilities relating to diversity for our Programming management team who have a significant impact on the reflection of on-air portrayal. Some examples include:

Job accountability for our Director, Programming, The Weather Network & MétéoMédia: Increase quality and accuracy of closed captioning of The Weather Network and

MétéoMédia programming. Execute fair and consistent policies/procedures and fulfill Pelmorex’s commitment

to equity and diversity in the workplace.


Job accountability for our Executive Producer: Responsible for increasing diversity stories across the country and promoting on-

air reflection of the designated groups. Execute fair and consistent policies/procedures and fulfill Pelmorex’s commitment

to equity and diversity in the workplace. We will continue to build upon our current relationships with outreach agencies and

continue to recruit and retain those groups which are underrepresented, with a focus on Broadcasting talent. We have continued to partner with colleges and universities across Canada that specialize in broadcasting and media.

Human Resources will continue to send out on-air job postings to our 19+ designated group associations and education institutions. An example of these groups is listed below:

Aboriginal Organizations Execulink George Brown College Loyalist College Sault College University of Alberta: Aboriginal Studies University of Toronto: First Nations HouseMulticultural Organizations Maytree (Alis Montréal)Person with Disabilities Organizations Canadian Mental Health Organization Canadore College: Student Life Advisor CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Toronto Conestoga College: Disability Services Execulink George Brown: Disability Services Loyalist College: Disability Services Sheridan College St. Clair College: Disability Services The Coalition For Persons With Disabilities University of Toronto: Accessibility Services

8.6 On-air portrayal of ethnocultural minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities

Information relating to on-air presence and voice-overs is available in Public Notice CRTC 1994-69, Consultations Regarding On-air Job Categories to be Included in the Employment Equity Plans of Broadcasters, 10 June 1994 (CRTC 1994-69).

* Provide the total number and percentage of on-air employees, including voice-overs (full-time, part-time and temporary) from each designated group listed below, as well as the total number of ALL on-air employees who were employed in the last year, in which reports were submitted to Employment and Social Development Canada.


a. * Licensees are not required to provide data from each of the four job categories identified individually in CRTC 1994-69, but rather for the four categories identified in aggregate.

On-Air Employees Number PercentageWomen: 15 53.6%Indigenous peoples: 2 7.1%People with disabilities: 0 0%Visible minorities: 4 14.3%TOTAL number of ALL on-air employees:

28

b. * Describe in detail the specific initiatives undertaking over the past licence term that are designed to improve the on-air representation of members of the four designated groups.The Weather Network/MétéoMédia have taken great care during the past licence term to undertake a significant number of initiatives designed to improve the on-air representation of the four designated groups. Specific hiring initiatives included: Broad outreach to organizations and associations for persons with disabilities,

Aboriginal persons, and members of visible minorities Having the Vice President, People and Culture approve all new hires and promotions

to ensure our workforce reflects diversity Having Human Resources track employment equity metrics for reporting purposes

with team meetings to discuss findings on a quarterly basis Using Social Media engagement (LinkedIn etc.) to attract specific designated groups, Partnering with accredited colleges and universities, including schools such as

Sheridan College, Mohawk College and other educational institutions, to facilitate internships, co-ops and permanent roles, with specific focus on Cultural Diversity groups

Providing Scholarship funds for designated groups Keeping diversity top of mind when screening all applications interested in on-air

opportunities Using Internships and co-op students from designated groups with the goal that these

students may fill a future opportunity within Pelmorex Our Director of Programming continues to partner with the Broadcast Journalism

Program at Seneca College in an effort to continue to build upon this relationship to attract and retain future broadcasters. New for 2016, our Director has been invited to sit on the Advisory Committee for both their Broadcasting Radio and Television program and Journalism program. The Committee meets three or four times per year making recommendations on new program offerings and where the curriculum should be headed

Tasking each Video Journalist across Canada with representing and soliciting feedback from their communities. As part of their job descriptions, one of their key responsibilities is, “Attends public events to increase the presence/visibility of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia in the community and participate in company social media initiatives”


We give our viewers and the public at large a number of venues to express their opinions on how we might improve the on-air representation of members of the four designated groups on our programming. Our viewers and the public at large can provide feedback via: Our popular social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook) and our websites (both The Weather

Network and MétéoMédia) A dedicated full-time Bilingual Consumer Experience Coordinator, responds to viewer

voicemails and emails received from our audience across Canada. We review every email that comes in and if it involves an issue to be fixed or a suggestion, we share it with Programming for resolution and feedback

We continue to sponsor and attend a number of community events in support of the designated groups. These events are promoted on-air, which gives designated group associations the opportunity to reach a large audience

Our employees are encouraged to obtain feedback from our viewers and public at large in all their interactions with the public and community in-person, and through social media

8.7 Employment equity

Information relating to employment equity is available in Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 Implementation of an employment equity policy, , 1 September 1992, and in, Public Notice CRTC 1997-34, Amendments to the Commission's Employment Equity Policy 2 April 1997.

The Commission requires responses to questions regarding Employment Equity on behalf of the licensee as a whole, with reference to all of its employees in aggregate, that is, total employees of all undertakings for which the licensee holds licences.

a) * Is the licensee subject to the Employment Equity Act (applicable to federally regulated employers with 100 or more employees)?

Yes (X) No ( )

If yes, do not complete the remainder of this section.

If no, proceed to question b).

b) * Outline examples of any measures (including hiring and training, apprenticeship programs, work arrangements, etc.) that you have or will put in place to address the equitable representation of the four designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities).

Answer questions c. to e. if the licensee has between 25 and 99 employees

c) * How do you or will you communicate details of your employment equity policies to managers and staff?


d) * Have you assigned or will you assign a senior level person to be responsible for tracking progress and monitoring results?

Yes ( ) No ( )

e) * What financial resources have you or will you put in place to promote employment equity in the workplace.

9. Request for documents to be designated as confidentialSections 30 to 34 of the Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-958 , Implementation of new Rules of Practice and Procedure, 23 December 2010, set out a process by which parties to Commission proceedings may file information on the record of a public proceeding in confidence.

A party filing information can “designate” it as confidential at the time it is filed with the Commission (section 31) if it falls into one of the following categories:

a. Information that is a trade secret; b. Financial, commercial, scientific or technical information that is confidential and that is

treated consistently in a confidential manner by the person who submitted it; orc. Information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected:

i. To result in material financial loss or gain to any person;ii. To prejudice the competitive position of any person; or

iii. To affect contractual or other negotiations of any person.

At the time that the party files the information it designates as confidential, it must provide an abridged version of the document along with an explanation of how the information falls into a category of information listed in section 31. The party must provide a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest (section 32(1)).

The confidential version of the document must be filed separately and must be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” on each page. If the document is filed electronically, each file containing confidential information must include “CONFIDENTIAL” in the file name.

The abridged version of the document and the reasons for the designation of information as confidential will be placed on the public record of the proceeding.

Another party or the Commission can request that the confidential information be disclosed, and the party who designated the information as confidential can reply to the request.Please consult the Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961 , 23 December 2010Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, for complete process for filing confidential information.

* Are you requesting for information to be designated as confidential?


Yes (X) No ( )

If yes, provide a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest:

Pelmorex is submitting NOT WEB - App-Doc11-Appendix 5 TWN-MM - Financial projections (“Appendix 5”) as part of this application in confidence with the Commission pursuant to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure and Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961.

Appendix 5 contains projected annual returns for The Weather Network/MétéoMédia based on the assumption that our request for mandatory basic distribution is denied and its basic monthly subscriber fee is not regulated, in which case the annual return and financial statements of the undertaking will be treated as confidential commencing with the broadcast year during which the undertaking’s basic monthly subscriber fee is no longer regulated. [ See Note 1 of Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961]

Disclosure of this financial information, which consists of an analysis of the impact that a denial of this application would have on the rates, subscriber penetration expectations, revenues and expenditures of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia, would provide BDUs with strategic information regarding Pelmorex’s business plans, costs and revenues in a distribution environment that would not otherwise be publicly available.

In the event that our application to have the distribution order extended is denied by the Commission, the BDUs with whom we will have to negotiate carriage arrangements will be fully aware of sensitive commercial information relating to the operation of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia and the commercial terms under which we expect future carriage that could be used by them to the detriment of Pelmorex. If such financial information were disclosed, it would cause direct and specific harm to Pelmorex.

Given the importance of ensuring that distribution undertakings and specialty services negotiate carriage arrangements on equitable terms, it would further the public interest for the Commission to refuse to disclose this financial information.

Pelmorex also believes that the level of detail provided in Appendix 5 for which we are requesting confidentiality is neither necessary nor relevant to the ability of interested parties to comment on the merits of our application and request for continue distribution as part of the basic service.

Pelmorex therefore requests that the Commission neither publish nor reveal this confidential information to any other person. An abridged version of Appendix 5 has been included with the application filed today. Should the Commission, however, refuse to grant our request for confidentiality, Pelmorex requests that, in accordance with the Commission’s standard practice, Pelmorex be permitted to either re-submit a revised version of our application containing no confidential information or have the confidential information returned to it by the Commission.


10. Documents to be appended to the application and naming conventions of electronic documents

Documents should be submitted in an accessible format (Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2015-242).

The following documents may be submitted as separate electronic documents using the naming convention specified below.

Table 1 - Naming convention for the electronic documents

Document Electronic File Name Appended(Yes or No)

Confidential(Yes or No)

The Covering Letter (if any) APP - Doc1 - Cover Letter Yes No

The Application Form APP - Doc2 - Application form Yes No

Appendix 1 APP - Doc3 - Appendix 1 - Supplementary brief Yes No

Appendix 1AAPP - Doc4 - Appendix 1A – Conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements

Yes No

Appendix 2ANOT WEB - APP – Doc5 – CONFIDENTIAL - Appendix 2A - Ownership information

No

Appendix 2A APP – Doc5 – ABRIDGED VERSION - Appendix 2A – Ownership information No

Appendix 2B APP – Doc6 – Appendix 2B – Control statement and agreements No

Appendix 2C APP – Doc7 – Appendix 2C – Corporate documents No

Appendix 2D NOT WEB - APP – Doc8 – CONFIDENTIAL – Appendix 2D - Business arrangements and related documents

No

Appendix 2D APP – Doc8 – ABRIDGED VERSION – Appendix 2D – Business arrangements and related documents

No

Appendix 3 APP – Doc9 – Appendix 3 - Internal policy on adult programming (if applicable)

No

Appendix 4 APP – Doc10 – Appendix 4 – CPE requirement Yes No

Appendix 5 APP – Doc11 – Appendix 5 – Name of service - Financial projections No

Appendix 5NOT WEB – APP – Doc11 – CONFIDENTIAL – Appendix 5 – Name of service - Financial projections

Yes Yes


Appendix 5APP – Doc11 – ABRIDGED VERSION - Appendix 5 – Name of service - Financial projections

Yes No

Appendix 6 APP – Doc12 – Appendix 6 - Tangible benefits No

Each confidential document

NOT WEB - APP - Doc# - CONFIDENTIAL - "brief description of the document"

No

Abridged version of each confidential document

APP - Doc# - ABRIDGED VERSION - "same description of document for which confidentiality is requested"

No

Additional documents APP - Doc# - "brief description of the document" No

***End of document***
