OTTAWA – The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association has asked the CRTC to let its members drop FM radio from their carriage requirements.
Specifically, the association wants the Commission to repeal section 22 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, which currently require all cable systems to carry every local FM radio signal in their regions on their cable plant.
The CCTA says that so few people actually listen to the radio via cable that it’s a waste of bandwidth that could be put to better use… carrying high definition TV for example. MSOs could, if they wished, still carry the stations as digital services, if the stations desired – and deals were done.
“As we move to into a world of satellite radio, digital music on television, this whole FM on cable model has become very archaic,” CCTA president Michael Hennessy told www.cartt.ca about the application.
“Early in the days of FM, it made sense. It doesn’t any more. When you think about finding the most efficient uses of capacity in big centres, that policy gobbles up a lot of capacity that can be better used for video purposes.”
In some larger centres, cablecos have to find slots for 30 to 40 FM signals, meaning some are either not carried at all or are placed on impaired cable frequencies, to the benefit of no one.
“For me this was an easy one,” added Hennessy, “but it will be interesting to see the response. I just think that the penetration of the service is so low, there just isn’t any economic harm to getting those out of the analog space.”
“Repealing section 22 of the BDU Regulations will allow cable operators to allocate capacity more efficiently, thereby providing new distribution opportunities for other programming services. Should cable operators opt to distribute some Canadian audio programming services, the distribution of these services in a discretionary digital package would also provide greater profile for the services and increased ease of use for cable customers,” says the application.
It also points out that cable’s satellite competitors are not forced to carry the FM stations (although they do carry many radio signals) and as part of the submission, says the CRTC should act on this in order to “reduce the regulatory asymmetry” between cable and its competitors.
A Strategic Counsel study submitted with the CCTA’s application estimates that only 4% of cable customers listen to FM radio over their analog cable wire, split and hooked into their stereos, and not many more than that are even aware they can get radio via cable.
“As such, removing the must-carry requirement will not have any significant impact either on a cable operator’s existing base of subscribers or on the audience shares for the stations currently distributed,” adds the application.
When contacted by www.cartt.ca, The Canadian Association of Broadcasters reserved comment until the Commission calls for public comments on the issue.
– Greg O’Brien
