National Geo maps out Canuck launch

World brief

By VARIETY STAFF

National Geographic Channels Intl. and its joint venture partner Alliance Atlantis Communications have been granted four licenses by the Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission to launch channels in 2001.

These include a National Geographic web and an Adventure One channel in French and English. They will go out to an estimated 1.5 million homes by the fourth quarter of 2001.

"This is a strong beginning for NGCI in Canada," said president and CEO David Haslingden. "Over the next several years, digital distribution is expected to reach over 6 million subscribers as the country continues to switch from analog to digital systems, which is great news for the channel."