GATINEAU – There are dozens of languages spoken in Canada, and it seems like most of them will soon have a specialty channel catering to them.
The CRTC today approved three more Cat 2 digital channels, all from Ethnic Channels Group Limited: Bangladeshi/Bengali TV, Portuguese TV, and Bulgarian TV.
Last week the commission approved eight new third-language channels and announced it had received applications for an additional 29 category two licences, all but two of which are for ethnic services. The commission will hold a hearing into those applications starting June 19 in Edmonton.
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GATINEAU – A new FM station has been approved for Weyburn, Sask. The CRTC today announced it’s approved the application from Golden West Broadcasting Ltd. to operate at 103.5 MHz at 100,000 watts.
Golden West owns the other commercial station in Weyburn, CFSL, which plays country music. The new station will operate a rock format geared to a younger demo, the CRTC said.
Its promised at least 40% Canadian category 2 (popular) songs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the week, higher than the minimum 35% Cancon levels required.
Golden West pledged $1,400 a year in Canadian talent development…
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GATINEAU, WINNIPEG – The CRTC today announced it is giving a one-time payment of nearly $9.9 million to MTS Allstream after the telco applied for a review of the subsidies it receives to serve remote locations.
The payment is to cover providing service in high-cost areas of Manitoba from Jan. 1, 2002 to Oct. 16, 2003.
"The CRTC has recognized that MTS Allstream has met its obligations to deliver a high quality of service to customers in high-cost and remote areas," said Chris Peirce, Chief Regulatory Officer, MTS Allstream Inc. "We are very pleased to have worked with the Commission…
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OTTAWA – With content far more available – and a little cheaper – and technology far more available – and a little cheaper – more small cable companies are getting into video on demand.
Recently, Bluewater Cable TV of Goderich, Ont. (7,000 subs), and Cape Breton Island’s Seaside Cable TV (14,000) each applied for a video on demand license from the CRTC.
If approved after the June 19 hearing (which will almost certainly happen) Bluewater and Seaside will join other independent Canadian cablecos like Compton Cable (launched SVOD) and Westman Communications (coming soon) with video on demand licenses….
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OTTAWA – If you had any doubts about the economic growth of resource-rich Alberta, the number of new radio station applications for the relatively small towns of Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie Alberta should drive the point home.
After calling for applications in both communities, as reported by cartt.ca, the CRTC received 10 applications for new stations in each.
Judging from the applications (from newcomers as well as established radio companies), Grande Prairie seems to need a classic rock station (six mention this format) while Fort McMurray needs more AC.
The hearing is scheduled for June 19th.
Fort McMurray…
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OTTAWA – There seems to be no shortage of folks who want to launch new ethnic digital specialty channels.
This week the CRTC approved eight new third language channels and made public an additional 29 applications for additional category two channels, all but two of which are for new ethnic channels.
The new approved licenses are:
SBS Television Canada Spanish Kids TV Polish News Channel Punjabi TV Romanian TV Arabic TV 2 Turkish TV German TV
For a list of the new applicants, which will be heard June 19th, click here.
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OTTAWA – On Wednesday, the CRTC said Canadian cable companies should be allowed eliminate most of the radio stations they currently carry on their systems.
Section 22 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations says that Class 1 and 2 cable companies must offer all local radio signals over their cable systems to subscribers. Trouble is, said the cable industry in its CRTC filing last year, hardly anyone listens to the radio on cable.
The now-defunct Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association told the CRTC it needed the additional capacity to add channels, specifically, HDTV services, as reported by www.cartt.ca.
The Canadian Association…
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TORONTO and MONTREAL – Fixed wireless provider Look Communications said today it was happy to read Industry Canada’s March 30, 2006 "Policy Provisions for the Band 2500-2690 MHz to Facilitate Future Mobile Service."
It means Look and other fixed wireless providers can keep their spectrum and licenses – and apply for more.
In April 2004 Industry Canada published "Revisions to Allocations in the Band 2500-2690 MHz and Consultation on Spectrum Utilization." This public consultation considered ongoing spectrum planning activities, the use of mobile services in the band and the licensing approach for all services in the band. Look was…
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MONTREAL – Fighting for their survival in a converged telecommunications world, two groups of independent Internet service providers have pledged to work together "to protect consumer choice," they say.
The Quebec Coalition of ISPs (QCISP) and British Columbia coalition Open Source Solutions (OSS) recently announced a strategic alliance to enhance their coordination of actions in front of various tribunals, especially the CRTC when it comes to issues like access to cable plant and to "naked" or "dark DSL" from the phone companies.
“This national project will provide a solid basis as we work forward leveling the playing field for…
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THIS TV POLICY REVIEW will not be an easy thing.
The new Conservative government certainly wants a say. The CBC’s TV licenses are up for renewal at the same time. Private broadcasters are demanding a fee for the carriage of their signals, a way to deal with distant signals, more ad time per hour and since the high definition conversion is under way and very expensive, maybe the right to abandon tower transmission. Televised dramatic programming is resurgent Stateside but there are few new Canadian-made dramas and not enough money in the current system to make enough of them….
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