The CRTC also found XXL to unfairly impede on Canadian adult broadcaster AOV TV, whose CEO said has almost the same content as is shown on his channel. Both XXL and AOV use content from Vivid Entertainment, Peach Productions and Adam & Eve.
In order for a foreign station to be approved for Canadian network sponsorship, the CRTC deems it must not compete with an existing Canadian channel and must adhere to CRTC content standards. Adult content must be broadcast at certain times and must not negatively depict women or perpetuate stereotypes.
However, the CRTC cited its reason had nothing to do with its content or its competition with AOV. Videotron's Isabelle Dessureault said it would have been too tough to have all of XXL's content screened by provincial regulators, and therefore could not guarantee that its content abided by CRTC standards.
"We did not have assurances from [Videotron] that [XXL] would comply with Canadian laws," CRTC spokesman Denis Carmel said.
Dessureault said she will continue the search for a French-language Playboy-inspired of channel.