OTTAWA — The federal broadcast regulator opened the door to more foreign-language programming Thursday, saying it will reflect the new Canadian reality.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission unveiled a new policy for assessing applications for third-language television channels.

The move could have far-reaching implications --beginning with the Italian state broadcaster RAI, which has so far struggled unsuccessfully to break into the Canadian market.

"This applies to RAI but it also applies to Asian television -- to Chinese television, to Portuguese television,'' said Heritage Minister Liza Frulla.

"This is not a decision for RAI -- it is a decision for the future for all third-language services.

"Because we know the population is changing, it's much more multilingual so the CRTC is now foreseeing the future.''

The agency opened the door to foreign-language stations -- provided cable consumers buy them in cable packages that include Canadian-based programming in that language.

Frulla scoffed at suggestions Canadians might need to subscribe to dozens of additional stations just to get RAI.

It simply means Canadians who want RAI will also need to subscribe to Toronto-based Telelatino, she suggested.

"I'm very satisfied by the CRTC decision,'' she said.

"It's a decision that gives the right balance between protecting our own industry but also give access to a third-language service.''

The CRTC says that from now on: "general interest foreign third-language services'' offered via satellite "will generally be approved, subject to packaging and programming rights.''

Previously, applications were assessed on competitive issues -- whether services were already offered in the language of the new applicant. A proposed new entrant couldn't "be partially or totally competitive with Canadian speciality or pay services.''

The CRTC has been reviewing its regulations since summer, when controversy erupted after it rejected an application from RAI.

At the same time, it approved nine other applications, including Qatar's Al-Jazeera, Romanian Television International, German T-V, T-V Chile and CineLatino.