MISSISSAUGA – The Canadian Satellite Users Association (CSUA) will be changing its name to the Canadian Broadcast Distribution Association, effective next week.
The new name, and acronym – CBDA – better reflects the work mandate of the association over the recent years.
“The mandate has shifted from a focus solely on the satellite distribution networks to all the distribution platforms available to broadcasters to deliver their signals,” said Chris Bell, chairman of CSUA. “The expanding mandate has attracted interest from non-satellite distributors with both Rogers and Telus members of the association, “ added Gordon Lee, vice-chair.
“The annual conference sponsored by the CSUA, Canadian Digital Broadcast Summit has also grown to include a wide range of topics of interest to the broadcasting industry,” said Bell. The CBDA will continue its role of looking at interoperability issues across multiple distribution platforms and seeking holistic end-to-end solutions.
“It will continue to welcome joint work with other trade and professional associations and take care not to duplicate any industry efforts already in progress. The satellite distribution platform will remain a key priority with the CBDA because of its important role to all Canadian broadcasters.”
Another key role of the association is to facilitate the exchange of information 
on technical operational matters and providing education on topical issues.
The CSUA was founded in 1989 to represent the interests of Canadian broadcasters in the area of satellite distribution. The early years saw the association involved in annual regulatory hearings with several successful decisions that kept satellite rates at reasonable levels, says the press release.
The CSUA has also supported competition in the Canadian satellite market subject to conditions that ensured sufficient capacity was always available to Canadian broadcasters. “The CSUA had a leadership role in the important work of CDTV Inc. with the deployment of Digital TV in Canada. CBDA will continue that work with the Digital TV Working Group that was formed after the wind up of CDTV,” adds the release. That group was profiled here by Cartt.ca.
The CBDA will also continue the Broadcast Technology Scholarship which this year provided $5,000 each to five engineering students as way to raise the profile of broadcasting engineering.
The membership includes private and public broadcasters, specialty, pay, pay per view and education broadcasters. Both of Canada’s Direct to Home service providers. Rogers and Telus are also members of the CBDA.
This year’s Canadian Digital Broadcast Summit will be held on January 21 and 22, 2008 at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre. Full conference details can be found by clicking the ad on this site or at www.csua.ca.
