TORONTO – Pity the poor public relations people who had to type with blinding speed to get today’s tit-for-tat press releases on satellite radio out the door as fast as possible.
First the appeal announcement, then the denouncement, then another one, then the denial of a purchase attempt, and finally, sticking by what was said.
And kudos to whomever at Canadian Satellite Radio came up with MUCHmonopoly. Made us laugh. By the end, they must have been getting tired, though. The last release is but one sentence. Here are all the statements from Tuesday, complete with their release times, in reverse order.
CSR stands by its comments regarding CHUM/Astral Media Appeal – 18:47
TORONTO – "We stand by the comments made in our media release earlier today," said John I. Bitove, CSR chairman and CEO.
CHUM Limited Responds to CSR Statement Following the CHUM Limited/Astral Media Inc. Notice of Appeal – 17:55
TORONTO – CHUM Limited issued the following in response to the statement released by Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) on the Notice of Appeal to the Governor in Council filed today by CHUM Limited, Astral Media Inc., CHUM Radio, CJRT-FM, Fairchild Radio Group Ltd., O.K. Radio Group Ltd., Newcap Inc., Larche Communications inc., Aboriginal Voices Inc., Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd., Evanov Radio Group Inc. and Radio-Nord Communications Inc. in regards to the recent CRTC Subscription Radio Decisions.
"Although a Confidentiality Agreement exists between CHUM Limited and CSR concerning our discussions, in order to correct the record, Mr. Bitove leaves us no choice but to comment on his false statements. Like other Canadian Broadcast groups, CHUM was approached by CSR and its financial advisors to explore CHUM’s possible interest in acquiring a minority stake in CSR. CHUM did not accept the CSR offer, nor did we ‘try to buy a majority interest’ in CSR, as alleged by Mr. Bitove," said Jay Switzer, President and CEO, CHUM Limited.
"Mr. Bitove’s comments, construing CHUM/Astral Media’s appeal as an attempt to acquire a monopoly in subscription radio, are completely untrue and misleading. Had the CRTC imposed conditions of licence on CSR and the other U.S. supported satellite service that are consistent with the broadcasting policy for Canada, CHUM/Astral Media would not have filed its appeal," stated Switzer.
"As to the other inaccuracies in the CSR statement, they will be dealt with during the appeal process. We, like the many other groups who have filed appeals, look forward to CSR’s response to the appeals," continued Mr. Switzer.
Canadian Satellite Radio supports multiethnic Canadian broadcasters – 17:24
CHUM misguided in Appeal
TORONTO – Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) responded today to comments from CHUM/Astral Media regarding multiethnic programming. Multiethnic programming has always been the cornerstone of CSR’s philosophy and it represents 20 per cent of CSR’s channel offering in its original application. Prominent multiethnic broadcasters commented today on the subscription radio decision:
"This is a stepping stone for ATN Canada, and a tremendous opportunity, for Canadian controlled and Canadian produced South Asian Radio broadcasting," said Shan Chadrasekar, president & CEO Asian Television Network International. "It has the potential of reaching 300 million listeners across North America. We appreciate this opportunity, and shall draw upon our experience in South Asian programming in North America gained over the past three Decades."
Frank Alvarez, president CIRV Radio International: "CSR’s Mosaic Channel will help to establish Canada, the most culturally diverse country in the world, as a leader in ethnic satellite radio broadcasting. Through this unique offering, CSR will provide the first-ever national and continental reach for Canada’s multilingual broadcasters, delivering a full reflection of our diversity to a broad North American audience."
Telelatino Network Inc.: "This may prove to be one of the biggest steps forward in Canadian multicultural broadcasting," said Aldo Di Felice, president of Telelatino Network Inc.
As part of CSR’s licence, the company has committed to contributing $35 million for Canadian Talent Development (CTD) focussed on the growth of independent Canadian music, comedy and entertainment industry; half of that amount will be granted to Canada’s Francophone talent. Total spending on original Canadian programming is expected to be approximately $70 million throughout the first licensing term.
CSR estimates that it will invest $100 million in satellite radio and infrastructure in Canada within the first seven-year licensing period.
Satellite radio Appeal smacks of MUCHmonopoly – 14:36
TORONTO, July 12 /CNW/ – Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) issued the following statement today in response to CHUM/Astral Media’s filing of an Appeal to Cabinet in regards to the subscription radio decision:
"CHUM thought our technology was so exciting that they tried to buy a majority interest of Canadian Satellite Radio but I refused," said John I. Bitove, CSR chairman and CEO. "Now, when they couldn’t have another MUCHmonopoly, they purport to represent Canadian culture. We believe Canadian music lovers deserve choice and diversity and that independent artists should be allowed to bring their brand of music throughout rural and urban North America. We welcome competition from the few closely held media firms but this Appeal smacks of monopoly.
"As expected, many of the broadcasters listed as signatories to today’s CHUM/Astral Appeal to Cabinet are the same broadcasters that are mentioned as possible contributors to CHUM/Astral’s original subscription radio application," said Bitove. "All of today’s comments were previously raised before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CRTC deliberated the subscription radio Decision for two years and received approximately 1,000 submissions from the public. The CRTC issued a unanimous (5-0) Decision supporting our application and carefully balancing the needs of consumers, artists and the regulator and Canadian broadcasting system.
"CHUM/Astral Media’s original proposal to the CRTC ignores independent artists, blatantly ignores rural Canadians and plans to compete directly with established radio broadcasters," said Bitove. "CHUM/Astral received a licence, like us, and now they are trying to circumvent the CRTC process in order to achieve another media monopoly, this time for subscription radio."
Multiethnic programming is a cornerstone of CSR’s philosophy and it represents 20 per cent of CSR’s channel offering in its original application. CSR has announced programming agreements with CIRV FM (Portuguese), Telelatino and the Asian Television Network.
"It is absolutely outrageous that they are suggesting that we are ignoring French language, ethnocultural and/or aboriginal programming," said Bitove. "This is an out-and-out fabrication and clearly CSR is committed to promoting diversity and great programming of Canada to North America."
CHUM Limited and Astral Media Inc. joined by CHIN Radio, CJRT-FM Inc., Fairchild Radio Group Ltd., O.K. Radio Group Ltd., Newcap Inc., Larche Communications Inc., Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc., Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd., Evanov Radio Group Inc. and Radio-Nord Communications Inc. File Notice of Appeal on Satellite Radio Decisions – 10:21
TORONTO – CHUM Limited and Astral Media Inc joined by Radio 1540 Limited (CHIN Radio Television International), CJRT-FM Inc. (Jazz.FM91), Fairchild Radio Group Ltd., O.K. Radio Group Ltd., Newcap Inc., Larche Communications Inc., Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc., Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd., Evanov Radio Group Inc. and Radio-Nord Communications Inc. announced today the filing of a Notice to Appeal to the Governor in Council to set aside Decision CRTC 2005-246 and Decision CRTC 2005-247 (the "Decisions") in which the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the CRTC) granted licences to operate satellite subscription radio undertakings to Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. and SIRIUS Canada Inc.
The appellants are broadcasters serving large and small markets, English and French language, ethnic and aboriginal audiences. In their Notice of Appeal, the broadcasters argue that the conditions of licence outlined in the Decisions to licence U.S. supported satellite services are inconsistent with the broadcasting policy for Canada outlined in Section 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act, and in particular:
1. Section 3(1)(f), which requires broadcasting undertakings to make "maximum use, and in no case less than predominant use, of Canadian creative and other resources, in the creation and presentation of programming";
2. Section 3(1)(d), which states that the Canadian broadcasting system should "through its programming and the employment opportunities arising out of its operations, serve the needs and interests, and reflect the circumstances and aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children, including equal rights, the linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society and the special place of aboriginal peoples within that society"; and
3. Section 3(1)(a), which states that the "Canadian broadcasting system shall be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians".
"Irrespective of CHUM and Astral Media’s interests as licensees, we do not believe that the regulatory framework created by these decisions allows for a sustainable broadcasting system", said Paul Ski, Executive Vice President Radio, CHUM Limited. "The low threshold of Canadian content requirements imposed on the U.S. supported satellite licensees is a dramatic departure from historical broadcasting precedent. If allowed to stand, this will inevitably cause significant harm to not only Canadian artists and radio broadcasters, but to the Canadian broadcasting system as a whole."
"With the very low level of French-language programming (2.5%) and no specific expectations regarding ethnocultural and/or aboriginal services, it is hard to understand how these decisions reflect Canada’s linguistic duality and cultural diversity," said Jacques Parisien, President of Astral Media Radio.
The appellants believe the decisions present potential implications for more than just audio services as at least one of the U.S. parents of the satellite licensees has announced its intention to begin providing video services. This establishes a precedent for the entire audio visual sector in Canada as new wireless entertainment devices emerge.
A full appeal will be filed with the Privy Council before the July 31,2005 deadline.
This is the third appeal filed against the ruling following the appeal launched by a coalition of French-language cultural groups, including ADISQ, APFTQ, ARRQ, la SARTEC, SOCAN, SODRAC, la SPACQ and UDA and another broad-based coalition of English-language culture and labour organizations including Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, CRIA, CIRPA, ACTRA, Writers Guild, Directors Guild and member groups of the Canadian Labour Congress.
