Excellent.

Huh.
That is my second excellent today.:^) 
I am still mellow from celebrating my birthday with my twin this past weekend, I freely admit as a Canadian evangelical I am pleased to see this CRTC ruling. From where I sit, it is a hopeful outcome for Canadian religious broadcasting.

Romping around the CRTC site is not my idea of a good time, the wording is government speak, the rulings take forever, and the CRTC doesn’t always act in the best interest of consumers. This is a ruling all evangelical consumers would be well served to read.

The Miracle Channel and Crossroads (two evangelical TV channels in Canada) both applied for expansion in Alberta. 
While some may see this as an east/west divide, favoritism, or a turf war; media needs to be about serving the demographic that wants this kind of programming with equilibrium. Crossroads will be accountable to Alberta viewers, contrary to what some Miracle Channel fans may believe. 
While Crossroads does carry some Prosperity Gospel programming, (so does VisionTV - it’s about who pays for air time),  it is a far more accountable and transparent operation, more experienced, and has shown a flexibility and sensitivity in entering the marketplace. Crossroads went to the CRTC with a solid plan for it’s Alberta expansion.

Application

Among the applications received were applications from Crossroads Television System (Crossroads) for broadcasting licences to operate over-the-air English-language religious television programming undertakings to serve Calgary and Edmonton. The Commission also received applications from The Miracle Channel Association (MCA) for broadcasting licences to operate English-language transitional digital religious television programming undertakings to rebroadcast the programming of CJIL-TV Lethbridge in Calgary and Edmonton. Crossroads, which operates as a non-share capital corporation, currently provides “family values” and religious programming to the Ontario communities of Hamilton, Burlington, St. Catharines, Toronto, London and Ottawa through its over-the-air service CITS-TV Hamilton and its transmitters in London and Ottawa. MCA operates as a not-for-profit organization, with a significant portion of its revenues derived from fundraising. CJIL-TV Lethbridge and its transmitters at Bow Island and Burmis offer a variety of religious programming, including station-produced programs and programming from independent producers.

The complete ruling can be read here.

The Commission approves applications by Crossroads Television System for broadcasting licences to operate English-language religious television programming undertakings to serve Calgary and Edmonton. The Commission also denies applications by The Miracle Channel Association for broadcasting licences to operate English-language transitional digital religious television programming undertakings to rebroadcast the programming of CJIL-TV Lethbridge in Calgary and Edmonton.

The CRTC is responsible for weighing the ability of the Edmonton and Calgary market to bear the weight of more programs without negative economic impact.

The CRTC looks at providing diversity, integrity and strength in a market.

The CRTC mandate for religious programming in Canada is clear. (see 6-7-8, Assessment of the Applications)

Overall, the Commission is of the view that Crossroads has solid plans for religious, balance and local programming and for ensuring fair reflection of all religions, based on its experience with its CITS-TV service. Specifically, the Commission is satisfied with Crossroads’ description of how it will achieve balance within its programs and with how its balance and other programming will be reflective of audiences in Calgary and Edmonton. The Commission has also taken special note of the commitments by Crossroads with respect to local programming and funding to support the Alberta independent production community.

Crossroads is well aware of the difficulties The Miracle Channel has had with compliance in creating it’s presence in the Alberta market,  and is setting up a multi-disciplinary compliance committee to ensure programming is reviewed and compatable with regulations. The licence will expire in 2011.

The Miracle Channel (Lethbridge) was licenced in 1995, Crossroads (Burlington) began in 1962.

The Miracle Channel
Crossroads