I’LL CUT RIGHT TO the chase. When CanWest Global’s interim television division president Peter Viner was asked Wednesday afternoon, point-blank, by one of the financial analysts who cover the media industry in Canada if the money-losing E! network might be altogether shut down, he said:
“Maybe. That’s an option we have to think very hard about.”
To me, that’s a blockbuster comment. A “wow” moment. That shows that it is so bad in the conventional TV market right now – and inside CanWest in particular – that the broadcaster is thinking about shuttering a TV network serving millions in…
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OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada has asked the CRTC to review regulations that apply to direct-to-home satellite BDUs “to ensure that official-language minority communities have access to the public broadcaster’s full program offering”.
The CRTC began hearings earlier this week to look at broadcasting services in English and French linguistic minority communities across Canada.
CBC/Radio-Canada filed a brief with the CRTC in November detailing “the concerns” of official-language minority communities, and proposing “enhanced distribution” of CBC/Radio-Canada programming to the areas in which they reside.
"In an environment where over 90% of Canadian homes now receive their television services via cable or…
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GATINEAU – Pay television network Super Channel appeared before the CRTC Wednesday to share their example of “inequity in minority language rights regulations”.
Citing his frustration that Super Channel is not carried by Quebec-based cable company Videotron “despite repeated attempts”, Super Channel president and COO Malcolm Knox said that the existing rules regarding Canadian television services in minority language markets don’t require Videotron to distribute even ‘must carry’ services.
“We are here today because the Commission gave us – Super Channel – a `must carry’ national premium television service licence a little over two years ago and we are…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has agreed to delay proceedings on a proposed regulatory framework for video-on-demand (VOD) undertakings and advertising in local availabilities, but only by a month.
As reported by Cartt.ca, the CBC and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) asked the Commission to delay proceedings on these issues for at least a year due to deadlines with other CRTC proceedings, and in light of the current tough economy.
But after considering the requests and comments, the Commission said that it “is not persuaded that a 12-month deferral of this proceeding is warranted”. Instead, the deadline for the filing…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has issued a call for comments on a proposed model tariff for the 9-1-1 emergency response service offered by competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs).
The Commission developed a proposed 9-1-1 emergency response service model tariff for CLECs based in part on a proposal submitted by MTS Allstream in September. MTS asked to amalgamate its six existing provincial 9-1-1 emergency response service tariffs into a single tariff that would apply in all areas where it operates as a CLEC. Rogers Cable filed a similar proposal the following month.
Comments are due by February 9.
www.crtc.gc.ca
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OTTAWA – In order to make its official documents “clearer and more consistent”, the CRTC has standardized the way it issues decisions and orders for the broadcasting and telecommunication sectors.
Effective this month, the new system will “provide a clear distinction between the prospective and determination phases of the Commission’s processes” for decisions, notices of consultation, regulatory policies and orders. Also, circulars will be replaced by information bulletins.
The Commission will number each document sequentially in the order they are issued under a single numbering system, meaning that each will now have its own unique number. However, broadcasting and telecom…
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MONTREAL – Radio-Canada received so many complaints about a show called ‘Bye Bye 2008’ that aired on New Years Eve, including a critical column in Tuesday’s Globe and Mail, that its executive vice president felt compelled to issue a public statement late on Wednesday.
“The Bye Bye is a year-end comedy special renowned for its brashness and irreverence,” read the network’s statement from Sylvain Lafrance. “There is generally some degree of controversy attached to it, and some audience members occasionally deem that certain skits go too far. Though the writers, stars and producers of the show do not aim…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is updating their website to provide “a more user-friendly experience” and make it easier to search for information.
The redesigned site will feature a new visual design, an improved navigation structure, renovated content that promises to be “accurate, consistent and uses language appropriate for our audiences”, plus an improved search engine.
Work is underway and expected to be completed shortly. The main website address will stay the same, but some URLs for decisions, notices and orders have changed.
www.crtc.gc.ca
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has sided with CTV in finding that Shaw Cablesystems and Bell TV did not perform simultaneous program substitution for the network’s HD broadcast of the 2008 Super Bowl last February. Star Choice was also named in CTV’s complaint, but was found to be in compliance.
While the Commission accepted Shaw’s explanation of technical difficulties, it has directed the cable company to resolve the issues in time for the 2009 Super Bowl broadcast. Bell TV has also been ordered to comply, and both BDUs must provide “written assurances” within the next two weeks to the CRTC and CTV, or…
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OTTAWA – Stingray Digital Group has received CRTC approval for a new national pay audio service.
The service, to be known as Stingray, proposed initially offering 45 audio channels which would increase to up to 60 over the licence term, and would include “a wide selection of music from a variety of genres”.
www.crtc.ca www.stingraydigital.com
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