CRTC calls for national OTA HDTV applicants

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Seven months after XM Radio Canada owner John Bitove applied for a license for a new national over-the-air digital/high definition television license, the CRTC today called for other applicants. Bitove’s HDTV Networks has asked for a broadcasting licence for an over-the-air digital/HD television programming undertaking to serve Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. But, the CRTC doesn’t hand out licenses normally without calling for competitive bids and Monday made that call. When Bitove went public with his application back in December, he said: “Canadians are drastically falling behind in HDTV technology and it is critical that...