OTTAWA – The CRTC’s much anticipated decision on which, if any, of the 2005 pay television applicants will receive a license will be announced this morning, www.cartt.ca has learned.
Early in 2005, an application by former Alliance Atlantis executive George Burger for a new pay television license kicked off the whole proceeding. The Commission called for other applications and received three others from Quebecor Media’s Archambault Group, an all-Canadian bid from Channel Zero (Movieola, Silver Screen Classics) and one from former WIC owners, the Allard family.
Burger’s Spotlight TV application is backed by Lawrence Tanenbaum’s Insight Sports, which owns – among other media assets – GolTV, World Fishing Network and Casino and Gaming Television. Bell ExpressVu purchased a minority position in Spotlight, as well last year.
It’s been widely rumoured in the industry that the applications from Quebecor Media for an English and French service and the one from Spotlight are likely to get some sort of approval. It’s not known – but considered unlikely – that they will get an analog license.
The incumbent pay operators, Corus Entertainment and Astral Television, vehemently opposed any new pay TV licenses on the grounds of the CRTC’s long-standing policy of genre protection for analog cable channels in Canada.
Cartt.ca covered the overall issue as well as the hearings held last fall extensively. Click on any link here for additional background.
As well, surf back here later today for more on this story after the decision is announced at 11 a.m. ET.
