TORONTO – Bell ExpressVu has thrown its support behind Spotlight Television Inc., which is one of the applicants vying for a new pay television license.
The DTH company has filed a note of support for Spotlight’s application to the CRTC and has acquired the right to obtain a minority interest in Spotlight.
The arrangement shouldn’t be surprising since Kilmer Enterprises (the company backing Spotlight) and Bell Canada Enterprises already hold some broadcast partnerships. For example, Kilmer-owned Insight Sports is a part owner of the NHL Network along with Bell Globemedia division TSN and several Canadian NHL teams.
As well, Kilmer’s controlling shareholder is Lawrence Tanenbaum, who heads up Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, owners of Leafs TV and Raptors TV – two channels which Bell owns a 15.4% stake.
Back to the press release. In January, the CRTC called for applications for a national general interest pay TV license, after having received Spotlight’s application.
As reported by www.cartt.ca last month, the Commission has now received five new apps which want to compete with the existing players: Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (which holds the western Canadian pay-TV monopoly) and Astral Media’s The Movie Network (which has the east).
A public hearing will be held on October 24, 2005, to consider the five applications submitted to date.
“Coast-to-coast-to-coast delivery and a national marketing platform are two key elements in immediately establishing Spotlight as an outstanding national pay TV service,” said George Burger, in a release. Burger is the former Alliance Atlantis executive who is president and CEO of Spotlight Television Inc. “Bell ExpressVu is the leading provider of digital television services in the country and the ideal partner to assist in quickly establishing Spotlight as a high value entertainment option for Canadian consumers.”
“As the driving force behind the transition to digital television in Canada, Bell ExpressVu supports the opportunity to deliver more choice to consumers interested in a superior TV experience,” added ExpressVu president Gary Smith.
