Search Results for: crtc

Radio / Television News

Rogers staffing up down east

TORONTO – Rogers Media is making its presence felt in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as it readies for the launch of three new radio stations next month. The company has been causing ripples in the markets as several talented people have chosen to join the company from other broadcasters already established in places like Halifax, Saint John and Moncton. However, no names have been confirmed as yet. However, Rogers did announce today the location of their new radio stations in Moncton, Saint John and Halifax. The company was awarded the licences for the three new FM stations by… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CRTC applauds ruling denying CHOI’s radio licence

GATINEAU – The CRTC says it’s “pleased” that the Federal Court of Appeal has upheld the commission’s decision not to renew the broadcasting licence of CHOI-FM in Quebec City. “This is an important decision for Canadians,” says CRTC Chair Charles Dalfen. “It confirms the CRTC’s approach in protecting Canadians against abusive comments and personal attacks on the airwaves.” The Federal Court yesterday denied CHOI’s appeal of the commission’s decision, saying the CRTC correctly applied the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness in arriving at its decision. CHOI was under scrutiny for comments made by former host Jeff Fillion…. Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC proposes amendments to distribution regs for BDUs

GATINEAU – The CRTC has called for comments on proposed changes to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations that would clarify linkage requirements for Class 1 and 2 BDUs. The changes would require: – that Category 1 services and Category 2 services be distributed in accordance with the distribution and linkage requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licensees; – that the community programming of a licensed community programming undertaking be given mandatory carriage as part of the basic service by Class 1 and Class 2 licensees that do not elect to distribute their own community programming; and – continued distribution… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CHOI will fight court decision rescinding licence

By Glenn Wanamaker QUEBEC CITY – The owners of controversial Quebec City radio station CHOI-FM, rebuffed by the Federal Court of Appeal in their effort to overturn a CRTC decision to withdraw their licence, say they will try to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. "We will fight this to the end," Patrice Demers, President of GENEX Communications, the station’s owner, told a press conference late Thursday. The station, rated number one in the market last spring, is allowed to stay on the air for at least 20 days, or until a decision is made on allowing a… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CSR and Sirius pledge 50-50 English-French channels

MONTREAL – Canadian Satellite Radio and Sirius Canada have announced they will each carry an equal number of English and French stations when they launch. As part of their conditions of licence, each satellite radio service is required to launch with at least eight Canadian channels, one-quarter of them in French. Both services said today they will voluntarily increase that to half. Also, if they add any new Canadian services in the first 24 months of operation, they pledge to add an equal number of English and French. “It has always been our intent to ensure satellite radio further strengthens Canadian… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Record labels call for satellite radio rethink

TORONTO – The satellite radio debate rages on, with the music industry today urging the federal government to force the CRTC to reconsider the licences it recently awarded to Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio, as it is rumoured will happen. Groups representing the major and independent Canadian recording labels say the Canadian content requirements in the licences are too lax, and they released results of a poll they commissioned showing that three-quarters of Canadians think Cancon “is a good idea,” one-third think the quotas should be higher, and nearly 80% think that Cancon has helped Canadian artists become… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC denies B.C. request for non-profit phone rate relief

GATINEAU – The CRTC has turned down a request from a non-profit group in British Columbia to get relief from TELUS Communications Inc. with its phone rates. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets 828 Hurricane Squadron wanted the telco to allow qualifying non-profit organizations to have two individual phone lines at residential rates instead of business rates. TELUS does so in Alberta, but its General Tariff for B.C. does not. The cadets wanted TELUS to define customers given rate relief to include churches, youth groups, veterans’ associations, associations for the elderly or infirm, and community centres. It argued that residential… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CRTC renews several specialty licences; increases APTN subscriber fee

GATINEAU – The CRTC has renewed the licences for several specialty networks for seven years, including APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), which was granted an increase in the subscriber fee to $0.25 a month, up from $0.15. The extra revenue will help APTN acquire more Aboriginal programs in underrepresented categories such as dramas, live musical concerts, and children’s programs and will allow the network to make the move to high definition television during the licence term. “This decision makes it possible for the network to continue to grow and expand our programming in ways we couldn’t in the past,”… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Satellite radio will benefit Canada, supporters say

TORONTO – Supporters of satellite radio in Canada held a large news conference in Toronto today to repeat their mantra that the services licensed by the CRTC will benefit established and emerging Canadian artists, rural Canadian listeners, and francophone culture outside of Quebec. Launching the approved Canadian services — SIRIUS Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) — will also stem the tide of Canadians who subscribe to illegal U.S. services, the pair argued. “Canada needs a legitimate antidote to the quickly growing grey market,” said Kevin Shea, SIRIUS Canada president and CEO, citing an estimate that 100,000 Canadians have… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CFRB and CJAD to simulcast satellite radio discussion

TORONTO – Talk radio powerhouses CFRB in Toronto and CJAD in Montreal will simulcast a discussion on the future of satellite radio in Canada on Thursday (Sept. 1) from 10-11 a.m. EST. Both stations are owned by Standard Broadcasting, a major player in the SIRIUS Canada satellite radio service recently licensed by the CRTC. Standard President and CEO Gary Slaight will be a guest on the show, along with John Bitove, chairman and CEO of Canadian Satellite Radio, the competitor also licensed by the commission. The rivals are joining forces to promote satellite radio in the face of uncertainty… Continue Reading