OTTAWA – Look for a number of new TV stations from the likes of Rogers and the CBC to hit the Canadian airwaves.
The CRTC approved five applications from Rogers this week for national, English-language Category 2 channels. Specifically:
– The Competition Channel, which will air reality-based programming, including competition-based reality and do-it-yourself makeover programs;
– Contessa, which will feature programming on relationships, lifestyle, beauty, trends and style, and focus on the interests and needs of working women aged between 25 and 54 years;
– Epic TV which plans to show classic television programming;
– Luxury Living featuring all things that can bring a…
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OTTAWA – Community-based campus radio station CKLN has received a temporary reprieve after appealing a CRTC decision revoking its broadcast license.
After filing a motion with the Federal Court of Appeal just days before it was scheduled to go off the air, Federal Judge Carolyn Layden-Stevenson granted the station a stay on the CRTC’s decision to shut it down. This allows it to remain on-air pending determination of CKLN’s application for leave to appeal.
Located on the Ryerson University campus in Toronto, the radio station had its licence pulled by the CRTC last month after determining that the broadcaster breached numerous regulations…
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OTTAWA – Three major actors in the Canadian broadcasting sector say they are bullish on the future of the system in the face of new technologies and changing consumer TV viewing behaviour.
CBC/Radio-Canada, Astral Television Networks and Shaw Media said they have taken steps to ready themselves for new consumer content consumption behaviour resulting from new mobile technologies and other emerging platforms. They noted they did this even in the face of a significant advertising downturn resulting from the global financial recession.
During a panel moderated by former Global TV News anchor Kevin Newman, representatives from the three companies…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC says it has gotten the message loud and clear from Canadians regarding TV commercials that need to lower the volume.
It’s launching a public consultation, after receiving hundreds of complaints, that will seek possible technical and regulatory measures to ensure commercials are not perceived to be louder than the programs they accompany.
"Loud ads on television can disrupt an otherwise enjoyable program and are a source of significant annoyance for Canadians," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "Viewers should not have to adjust the volume at every commercial break, and we will work with…
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TORONTO – Canadian Satellite Radio shareholders today approved the merger of XM Canada and Sirius Canada at CSR’s annual and special meeting of shareholders.
John Bitove, executive chairman of CSR said the company will now continue to work with the CRTC and the Competition Bureau to obtain regulatory approval.
"The proposed merger of equals will create a leading Canadian media company and nationwide audio entertainment provider that will deliver exceptional value to shareholders and subscribers, and enhance the long-term success of satellite radio in Canada,” says Bitove.
It is expected that a combined XM Canada and Sirius Canada will yield synergies…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC Tuesday said no to adding the U.S. cable channel National Geographic Wild to the eligible satellite list for distribution in Canada.
Shaw Communications had made the application and High Fidelity HDTV, which runs a similar, Canadian service here (Oasis HD) opposed the application, as did CTV.
Fox Cable Networks-owned NatGeo Wild airs wildlife and nature programming, including a variety of documentaries, series, events and specials.
CTV and HiFi said the U.S. channel would be at least partially competitive with their respective Category B specialty services Animal Planet and Oasis HD. “Specifically, CTV and High Fidelity highlighted several documentary…
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OTTAWA – Saying he’s defending consumer choice and competition, Industry Minister Tony Clement announced Tuesday that the Conservative government will appeal a Federal Court of Canada ruling that quashed a cabinet order allowing Egyptian-backed Globalive Wireless (whose retail brand is Wind) to operate in Canada.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), ACTRA, and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting were intervenors in the case.
"Overturning the Cabinet decision is a victory for Canadian ownership rules and a victory for Canadian culture," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s national executive director. "Globalive was potentially the beginning of the end of our…
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OTTAWA – National media folks have written this morning that “big telco” rose up to defend itself yesterday in front of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology which met again Thursday to discuss wholesale usage-based billing.
We listened in – and to be honest took few notes. There was nothing said by the likes of MTS Allstream, CAIP, OpenMedia, Bell and Shaw that we have not heard many, many times already – be it over the past number of days, or dating back months to prior CRTC hearings.
(And we still believe UBB has now become a poisonous…
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GATINEAU – Without indemnifying broadcasters and distributors and limiting their legal liability, ongoing development of a national emergency alerting system may be at risk, the CRTC’s hearing on Pelmorex Communications Inc.’s licence renewal heard this week.
But Commission chair Konrad von Finckenstein (a former judge) suggested that the whole liability issue may in fact be a red herring.
David Townsend, a professor in the Faulty of Law at the University of New Brunswick, who was appearing with the Canadian Association for Public Alerting and Notification (CAPAN), agreed.
“It’s overblown, but when parties are refusing to participate and really help the…
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NOT LONG AGO I ASKED A CRTC senior policy advisor I know how work was going. It was one of those just-making-conversation questions we all ask, but I was a little surprised at his response:
“Livin’ the dream,” he excitedly told me. Now, I’m not sure my facial expression betrayed my wonder at that statement and I don’t remember what I said next, but he continued to add that he found it exciting, interesting and fun to debate and then help craft what would become the “law of the land.”
Upon reflection, it shouldn’t have come as such a shock –…
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