CRTC approves digis

The CRTC has approved a host of new digital channels and the results are good news for fans of horses or cricket. The picks include three channels about all things equestrian – The Horse Channel and both English and French versions of Equestrian Planet – and two digitals about cricket, both put forward by Asian Television Network

Telelatino Network, meanwhile, won approval for Soccer Television and RCS Television, a sports channel dedicated to rugby, cricket (again) and soccer (again). Cookie Jar Entertainment also won licences for its branded French and English educational channels.

Other new channels include the National Lacrosse Network and the environmentally themed Smart Living Television.

All are Category 2 digitals, which enjoy fewer protections under the CRTC such as genre protection but are not subject to the same Cancon requirements as Cat 1s.

ACT names French nominees

The Alliance for Children and Television in Montreal has announced the nominees for is 2006 Awards of Excellence and on June 1 will honor the 10 best shows for young viewers in French Canada from the past two years.

Seventeen programs are in the running, though two – Radio-Canada’s Oniva! and VRAK’s Une grenade avec ça? – are nominated twice. VRAK leads among broadcasters with five nominated shows, followed by Télé-Quebec with four. Other nominees include Image Entertainment’s Walter, seen on both TV5 and VRAK, and Spectra Animation’s second season of Kid Paddle. ACT will also give a grand prize to the best overall show.