GATINEAU – This sounds something like the Spike TV debate.
In January this year Discovery Wings changed its name to The Military Channel and significantly altered its programming. Soon after, the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association asked for a change in the eligible satellite list to reflect the switch.
The CCTA has submitted that the Commission’s current authorization to distribute Discovery Wings extends to The Military Channel. The U.S. channel is owned by Discovery Communications.
On Monday, however, the CRTC issued a call for comments on the CCTA’s request to alter the list. The channel remains on the digital lineups of Canadian BDUs Cogeco and Rogers, while the decision is pondered.
While Discovery Wings was all about aviation, The Military Channel is focused on armed forces and military conflict around the world. The change was made because Discovery Wings just wasn’t producing ratings or enough subscribers on either side of the border.
The cable industry, broadcasters and the Commission only recently wound up a similar – if more complicated – fight over Spike TV, which was placed on the eligible list years ago as The Nashville Network (showing country line-dancing and Dukes of Hazzard reruns) and gradually morphed into “the first network for men” showing movies, CSI repeats and original shows like MXC.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters wanted Spike removed, saying it had changed so much that it was too competitive with other Canadian specialty services. However, in January the Commission decided to keep the channel eligible here.
In that decision though, the Commission noted that any foreign approved service which undergoes such a major re-branding has to be re-approved (or rejected). “Where a service undergoes such fundamental changes as occurred in this case, so that it is no longer the same service as was approved for distribution by the Commission, the distribution of that service similarly requires the approval of the Commission,” says Monday’s call for comments.
The kicker, though, is that the CRTC says it’s going to look at whether or not The Military Channel is competitive not only with existing channels, but also with any of the unlaunched category two digital services. According to Commission records, Dieter Kohler, owner of Wild TV, holds a license for The Armed Forces Network, for example.
“The Commission further invites comments on whether or not The Military Channel is competitive with one or more Canadian pay and specialty services, including unlaunched Category 2 services, and if so, what measures might be adopted in respect of the service,” says the Commission.
Comments are due October 19th.
