APTN has received regulatory permission to change the way its television shows are broadcast, creating a new channel dedicated to Indigenous-language content in the process.
At the moment, APTN broadcasts three regional feeds (APTN West, East and North) and a national high-definition feed. The feeds offer different programming at different times.
This week, regulator the CRTC approved in full APTN’s application to drop the feeds in favour of running two channels.
The first channel, APTN, will use just one broadcast schedule nationwide and feature programming in English or French.
A second channel, APTN Languages, “will focus on Indigenous-language programming,” the broadcaster said in a press release.
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“Indigenous broadcasters are important to the broadcasting system,” the CRTC said in its decision.
“The public record showed that APTN’s application received support from a range of interested parties who generally submitted that it would enhance APTN’s service and further contribute to the preservation and promotion of Indigenous languages and cultures.”
The CRTC said APTN had proposed 100 hours of Indigenous-language programming each week, which the regulator characterized as “a significant increase in Indigenous-language programming across Canada.”
APTN’s chief executive officer, Monika Ille, said the network had “a fundamental role to play in protecting and revitalizing our languages.”
APTN said more information will follow about the new channel lineup. The CRTC said APTN’s conditions of service will change to allow the new format from September 1 this year.
