Toronto (ECN) - Oh Canada, indeed! Federal regulators have given the go-ahead to a new pornography channel that will feature at least 50 per cent domestic content.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved Alberta-based Real Productions’ application on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
The digital pay-television service, classified as Category 2, will be dubbed Northern Peaks – gotta love those porn puns.
If Real Productions has its way, Alberta will become the Canadian version of California’s San Fernando Valley, where nearly 90 per cent of all legally distributed porn films in the United States are filmed or produced.
Real Productions currently has the largest collection of Canadian adult-themed content in the country. The company boasts a library of more than 200 film titles and 75 television episodes.
"I think as Canadians there is a bit of a tiredness in seeing all American stuff," said Shaun Donnelly, president of Real Productions, in an interview with Reuters.
"There is always that thrill for something that is local and you get the sense that these are people you can meet at the supermarket."
Although the CRTC only required that 15 per cent of Northern Peaks’ content be Canadian, the channel agreed to stream "not less than 50 per cent of the broadcast day and not less than 50 per cent of the evening broadcast period to Canadian programming," according to the license.
Content will include long-form documentaries, dramatic series, feature films, game shows, mini-series, sitcoms and made-for-TV movies.
"We want to be Canada's adult channel and I think to do that, 15 percent wouldn't cut it," said Donnelly.
The CRTC licence will only go through once Real Productions signs a contract with at least one licensed distributor (apparently all five major Canadian cable and satellite carriers are interested in hosting the channel).
Until the station makes its grand, er, unveiling on the small screen, viewers can catch Webdreams on Showcase. The series debuts its third season on Sept. 5 and follows Canadian porn actors, directors and producers as they make ground in the world of online adult entertainment.
