CRTC approves The Anime Channel
Just to squash that far-reaching sense of chronic pessimism and victimization that seems to be reaching every crevice of this constantly paranoid fandom, the CRTC has approved YTV's application for The Anime Channel.
The station will run a minimum of 65% anime, and a maximum of 35% of other "anime-related" content. The license will expire in 2013.
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Actually, it's a minimum of 65% of actual anime. The 85% refers to the amount of programming drawn from different categories, and the 35% is for anime-related programming, but not anime itself.
Changed the post a bit for clarity.
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In the formal write-up for the approval, the CRTC stated:
"The applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations......."
What exactly does that mean? I know we probably won't be seeing this until much later in the year (at the earliest), but does this imply that they've already got rights to air several shows lined up, et cetera? Or am I getting my hopes up, and is this just something that gets said in every approval (ie. "We won't need more than the set 36 months to get this station going")?
Anyways, I'll admit I'm pretty shocked - I too was pretty pessimistic (though hopeful) and had the attitude that the CRTC was the devil and out to get us...now I'm kinda feelin' the love
First: Yay! I'm glad to hear it's been approved.
Darrenm: I suspect that they're mainly looking into shows that would be appropriate to air on TAC and setting things up for the station to go on air.
I'm not sure how it works exactly but, since YTV does air some anime now that could appeal to the TAC audience, it's probably easy for them to air certain properties on both stations (or even move certain propeties to TAC after a couple runs on YTV). At the very least, they've probably secured the rights for those programs that can work on TAC.
Maybe we'll see some Case Closed on TAC? Did YTV ever run through all of the episodes they had the rights to air?
I really hope they're looking into things that have never aired here on TV, and I'd love to see some subtitled content :)
Ouran High School Host Club, anyone?
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This is certainly a nice development.
If YTV's in charge, it may actually become a thing of envy to American anime fans (and those of us Canadians still stuck with analogue cable). I trust YTV to run a channel that will actually get more than a handful of viewers a lot more than ADV and Funi's ability to do so combined.
Maybe, if it is successful here, American digital cable/satellite service providers will choose to carry it.
The biggest thing that might work against it is if YTV fills it with repeats of shows that they've already aired, like Dragonball. But they seem to have some sense about choosing anime. I highly expect to see Case Closed appear, if only for the shows they had liscenced, but it would work well as a daily show.
Based upon YTV's current makeup, I also expect that the programming day may be age related. The mornings will be shows for younger viewers such as Pandalion, afternoons would be shows such as Pokemon and likely Zatch Bell, and the evenings would be shows such as Ghost In The Shell and the like, with the evening shows repeated overnight.
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Don't quote me on this, but I think you may have misunderstood that statement. I think the CRTC is stating that before the station may begin broadcasting, YTV will need to inform them in writing that they are ready. Only after this has occurred, will the licence be granted.
writerpatrick: The station is for viewers 18 and older. I highly doubt that shows suitable for much younger audiences (like Pokemon) would be aired on TAC. Those kinds of shows are better suited to YTV.
zee: The beginning of the linked page on the CRTC website specifically says that it has been approved. Later, it does mention that YTV will have to meet certain requirements before TAC can start broadcasting, but it still remains that the station has been approved.
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Just thought I'd mention that way-back-when the application was first submitted I e-mailed Gary Mavarra and he said that everything was still fluid and that the station wouldn't start for about a year after the license is approved, if it got approved. Since it's just the end of January now, perhaps we'll see TAC launch in time for the Fall line-up, maybe in September or October? Or maybe Jan. 01 2008?
Either way, since TAC is aimed at an adult audience and YTV already has some can-con issues, chances are the afternoons might have some PG-13+ content in there and the evenings (and maybe mornings during school days?) will have content aimed at an older audience... (being digital cable, though, it should have a 'parental block' option with it so that younger kids that stay at home during the day don't get into the channel... )
I'm thinking Ghost in the Shell might be moved to TAC, since on YTV it's at the graveyard shift of 1:30am anyway.. and repeats of stuff is probably inevitable, but I doubt TAC would flood their timeslots with it since the point of an 18+ almost-24/7 anime channel would be to get anime to the viewing audience that can't be aired on YTV... So I'm thinking that if they want to get anything in a repetative timeslot, it should be Detective Conan (Case Closed).
Also, given that Tenjo Tenge's dvd sales went up after it started airing on G4, chances are the same would happen to other animes currently available on dvd if the shows are good... which might be an interesting incentive for Bandai Entertainment (since last I hear they were in the red when it comes to profit). Personaly, I'd like to see Galaxy Angel, Mars Daybreak, Gundam, and possibly Love Hina on TAC (if they air the original Gundam, and it goes well, they might just air Z Gundam as well, and then we might just get ZZ dubbed... Personaly, I have trouble watching the first intro and ending theme on the original Gundam because of the retro-ness, but the second opening and ending is decent, and the story itself is good regardless of the animation, which is actualy decent too... ).
I think between Bandai, Funi, ADV, and Geneon, there's enough 18+ (or at least 14+) shows that people will want to watch and hasn't hit the airwaves yet (or at least the Canadian airwaves) for TAC to have a nice, full lineup of watchable content. Don't think the problem of airing repeats will be too big.
From Geneon, I'd like to see Trigun, Patlabor, and maybe Black Lagoon... (seeing Last Exile might be interesting too).
From ADV, I was interested in watching Full Metal Panic, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, and chances are if they're getting ADV titles they'll probably get Neogenesis Evengelion, Air Gear, and possibly Coyote Ragtime Show as well...
From Funi, I'd like to see Burst Angel, Case Closed, Gunslinger Girl, and Kiddy Grade.
And whoever does it, I'd like to see Rurouni Kenshin on TV! (who has it, so by the way? Media Blasters?)
This is great news! =D I'm really happy that the application has been approved.
What I'm hoping for is that YTV will air some of the shows that were fairly popular yet they didn't accquire during their "Keep it Wierd" years, such as Yu Yu Hakusho & Rurouni Kenshin. I'd also like to see some of the older Gundam series from Bandai, as well as other Bandai titles such as Wolf's Rain, Arjuna & My-Hime. A "retro" block would be pretty cool too, with older series such as Ranma 1/2 & Macross.
At any rate, the shows that can be accquired now seems to be almost limitless. The potential that this channel has is pretty big. It makes me wonder how much of an impact TAC will have...
Did YTV ever run through all of the episodes they had the rights to air?
YTV didn't finish airing all of their accquired Case Closed episodes. I believe they've aired 20 out of the 26 (Correct me if I'm wrong).
And whoever does it, I'd like to see Rurouni Kenshin on TV! (who has it, so by the way? Media Blasters?)
Yes, Media Blasters has the license for the Rurouni Kenshin TV series.
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This is a bit of a suprise, actually.
Call me an optimistic pessimist, but I didn't expect this to go through. Not because the CRTC is an evil being, but because of the a) potential lack of cancon (though that has presumably been resolved) and b) because of the fact that I honestly didn't think the fanbase was this big. Make no mistake, I knew it was big, just not THIS big.
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YTV didn't finish airing all of their accquired Case Closed episodes. I believe they've aired 20 out of the 26 (Correct me if I'm wrong).
Close Conan was ordered for 26(Correct) but YTV only aired 24. Which lead me to believe he would make a return on YTV/TAC.
On this topic. No Comment, Seriousilly, not surprised or really doutbful...
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More relvently, I haven't been here in a long time. Are YTV and Funimation still on bad terms? Or on bad terms with any licensing company or studio?
I think it's safe to say that FUNi has very strong ties with both Razer and Chorus at this time and that it's doubtful this will change in the near future.
I suppose it is in the realm of possibility that an anime company could be hard to negotiate with (ADV perhaps) but I personally find it doubtful.
lanisatu: oops, what I said before was replying to the quote darrenm pulled from the approval:
"The applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations......."
The channel's definitely been approved. I meant that I don't think YTV has actually said that they're ready to commence operations. They are going to have to tell the CRTC when they are ready to do so before the station can go up and running, officially.
As far as I know, a station needs to air at least 30% can-con within a broadcasting year. However, the application says 'no more than 35% anime-related programming', and as far as I know, there isn't much 'anime-related' programming out there to begin with, besides live-action movies or series based on anime... so the 35% of 'anime-related' programming might be original shows they're doing to help build the can-con in there, in which case, supplimented with animes dubbed in Canada, they might just have enough without having to mess around with their schedule too much...
On an off-beat note, would the 'Beasties' series and the new 'Transformers' movies count as 'anime-related' because of their connection to anime?
zee: ah, I see. That makes more sense.
CyberDramon: As far as I can tell -- category 2 specialty stations don't have the usual Canadian content requirement. So I don't think that's an issue.
I think you're getting way ahead of yourself with the Transformers movie. It hasn't even aired in theatres yet (and won't be until July)! I don't know what they're considering "anime related" but I suspect that something in the Transformers franchise would be a possibility. But hasn't Beasties aired enough on YTV? Give some newer properties a chance. Or just different properties.
I'm all for Ranma 1/2 airing on TAC (for a slightly "older" property). Among other things :)
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I'm all for Ranma 1/2 airing on TAC (for a slightly "older" property). Among other things :)
That should be a requirement! Hopefully they will run that one, but what I really want to see them air is Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku!
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Well holy fcuking christ. I never really expected this to go through, though I hoped it would.
Hopefully we'll get a good number of Bandai shows. My-HiME, Wolf's Rain, and Planetes would be excellent.
Besides that, I hope we get some Right Stuf, CPM, and Anime Works titles. Geneon's already strong with Tech TV and Funi has it in good with Razer, so I expect less programming from them. I'd really like to see Shingu, Shadow Star Narutaru, and Boogiepop Phantom on the station.
Looking at the bright side, DVD sales may potentially skyrocket in Canada, making our Best Buys look more like the US.
As for that 35% anime-related content, I'd be perfectly happy if they started making an anime-related news show, perhaps similar to X-Play, Reviews on the Run, or Electric Playground. I'd defintely watch a show like that. I also foresee a show similar to the UK's Japanorama (Youtube it, watch all three parts to the second season's first episode about otaku).
And I'd rather have Maison Ikkou on than Ranma. I've been watching Ranma for around two or three years in the anime club I'm in, and it suffers from Takahashi-syndrome greatly. Maison Ikkou doesn't suffer as much from what I've heard, and I love her one shots.
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I think much of the can-con will be shows dubbed in Vancouver, but I expect there will be a fair amount of news-related and talk shows to fill up the can-con.
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Well, with Geneon and Funi both working with other stations, I think I can scratch Burst Angel, Gunslinger Girl, Kiddy Grade, Trigun, Patlabor, Black Lagoon, and Last Exile off my list...
Which still leaves Gundam, Galaxy Angel, Mars Daybreak, Full Metal Panic, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, (hopefully) Rurouni Kenshin, and maybe Love Hina?
O, and looked around and found this:
Appendix 2 to Public Notice CRTC 2000-171
The following terms and conditions of licence are applicable to all Category 2 services, except where an authorization which represents a change from or addition to these terms and conditions is included in the decision granting a particular licence.
Conditions of licence for specialty television services
For English- or French-language (or both) services only:
7. Subject to paragraph 5:
In the first year of operation, the licensee shall devote not less than 15% of the broadcast day and of the evening broadcast period, to the broadcast of Canadian programs.
In the second year of operation, the licensee shall devote not less than 25% of the broadcast day and of the evening broadcast period to the broadcast of Canadian programs.
In the third year of operation, and in each year thereafter, the licensee shall devote not less than 35% of the broadcast day, and of the evening broadcast period, to the broadcast of Canadian programs.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2000/PB2000-171.htm
Now if I'm reading this right, it means that within the first year of launching, there only needs to be 216 minutes of can-con within a broadcast day... (now I'm assuming that a 24-minute program + commercials to come up to that half an hour counts as '30 minutes of can-con programming' in this case), which means that for the first year there only needs to be about 3 1/2 - 4 hours of 100% can-con a day? So you take about 6 half-hour animes dubbed in Canada and 1 anime-related 100% can-con program and that fills up the 15% daily can-con requirement, right?
Yeah, sounds about right.
I wouldn't count FUNimation out completely. Razer isn't exactly working with them exclusively, and there's likely a lot of titles in FUNi's library that they'll never go for. It would be ridiculous if Fruits Basket, Beck, and Mushi-shi aren't at least considered for the station.
Actually, no, those shows had better damn well air on The Anime Channel. They also need to get Berserk, Midori's Days, and Rurouni Kenshin from Media Blasters!
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Had no idea what 'Mushi-shi' was, since I can't find it on Funi's site, so went to Funi's ANN entry. Funi licensed Suzuka? Oo The manga for that was pretty good, at least... might be interesting to see the anime. 'Spiral' seems kinda interesting too.
Note: When Mr. Maavara replied to my e-mail a long time ago, he said 'I will convey your programming concerns to our team. Thank you for your interest.' Now given that everything is probably still fluid, and that YTV listens to their viewers when it comes to shows, maybe we should all e-mail Mr. Maavara with our opinions and shows we'd like to watch? (I will be doing that later today, most likely, or tomorrow after enough research has been done to list shows, sequels, which companies they've been licensed by, and maybe a small review or *at least* why I'd want to watch them.)
Remember, his e-mail address can be found here: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2006/n2006-10.htm#14
I think I can scratch Burst Angel, Gunslinger Girl, Kiddy Grade, Trigun, Patlabor, Black Lagoon, and Last Exile off my list...
Geneon only has the license to the third Patlabor movie. The TV series and the OVA's are owned by Central Park Media. (Well, provided they don't declare bankruptcy before TAC launches.)
I wouldn't worry about TAC's relationship with the big anime companies. Hell, I'm sure that even ADV will cooperate with them soon enough. What I'm really hoping for they can get talking with the small "boutique" anime companies like CPM and Animego so that we can see such series like Now and Then, Here and There, the aforementioned Patlabor, and, well, potentially all of Animego's catalogue.
Here's what I want to see:
Pokémon
Digimon (Seasons 1&2+5)
Monster Rancher
Medabots
Shaman King
Yu-Gi-Oh!
SD Gundam Force
I like childish shows.
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It would be nice to see some Hayao Miyazaki and other anime movies on TAC, as well as Blue Gender, s-CRY-ed, and Paranoia Agent.
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