TORONTO – At least one Canadian broadcaster is opposing Rogers’ request to carry the digital multicast signals of a U.S. broadcaster.
In a letter to the CRTC, the S-VOX Group of Companies recommended that the Commission use a process similar to the one used when it considers adding non-Canadian linear services to the eligible satellite lists. Specifically, applications should be required to include at least as much information, S-VOX said.
“In S-VOX’s opinion, there should be no difference in regulatory treatment between digital multicast services being proposed by Canadian BDUs and non-Canadian services being sponsored for entry into this country”, S-VOX’s letter reads. “Both can be expected to have the same negative impact on licensed Canadian services and therefore both should be subjected to the same competitiveness test.”
S-VOX also urged the Commission to consider “the precedent-setting nature of the approach that it takes” with regards to Rogers’ application, which asks the CRTC to amend its regional broadcasting licences in order to be able to distribute the multicast service ThinkBright and Well Television that is transmitted as part of the digital signal of WNED-TV Buffalo.
“It is to be expected that other U.S. broadcasters will be watching closely to see how easy it is to get widespread carriage in Canada”, S-VOX’s letter continued.
