Fantasy sports enthusiasts have reason to rejoice.
Fight Media has been given approval to operate a fantasy sports TV channel, allowing viewers to create, trade and discuss players on imaginary teams.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the application for a broadcast licence to operate a specialty channel called The League.
Fight Media’s flagship programs would consist of studio call-in and talk shows to allow viewers to discuss their fantasy picks and drafts, the CRTC said Wednesday in a news release.
Viewers would also be provided with real-time fantasy statistics and fantasy pool standing and rankings.
However, the new channel won’t be able to devote a lot of time to live professional sports. A condition of the licence is not more than 10% of all programming during the broadcast month be comprised of live event professional sports programming, the CRTC said.
The CRTC said the national, English-language specialty channel must be operational at the earliest possible date and no later than 48 months from the date of its decision.
It would be up to individual broadcasters to pick up The League for broadcast.
Fight Media is controlled by Leonard Asper, son of the late Izzy Asper, founder of CanWest Global.
