OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Having received an application for a new broadcasting license to serve Lethbridge, Alberta, the CRTC is calling for additional license applicants.
The deadline is September 12th, 2005.
As is customary, the Commission did not make public who has applied and warned it has not decided whether or not to award any licenses at all.
Lethbridge (pop. 77,500), about 200 kms south of Calgary, is currently served by six FM stations: CJTS (Spirit Broadcasting), CJRX (Rock 106 – Rogers Broadcasting), CKXU (University of Lethbridge), CFRV (The River – Rogers), CJBZ (B-93 Classic Hits – Jim Pattison Broadcasting) and CHLB…
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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,…
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TORONTO – CHUM executive Peter Miller says that Canadians would still be able to get satellite radio if his company’s appeal is upheld, as long as we continue to turn a blind eye to the grey market.
Many Canadians (some say around 40,000) subscribe to satellite radio companies XM and SIRIUS right now, using an American address to sign on as customers.
“We’re not going to prevent Canadians who really want this service for their boat or truck drivers… from getting it, and we’re not suggesting that they shouldn’t get it,” Miller, CHUM’s vice-president planning and regulatory affairs, told…
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WASHINGTON – If Canadian broadcasters are still wondering about an absolute deadline for digital/high definition conversion, National Association of Broadcasters CEO Edward Fritts set one yesterday.
In a presentation before the Senate Commerce Committee, Fritts said that his members have come to grips with the fact Congress will set a deadline for digital television conversion of some time in 2009 when government will then reclaim the analog spectrum from the broadcasters.
“Broadcasters accept that Congress will implement a 2009 hard date for the end of analog broadcasts,” Fritts told the committee.
“And we’re ready. We’ve done our part, investing…
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TORONTO – While press releases swirled all around today from CHUM Ltd. and its co-appellants and from Canadian Satellite Radio responding and re-responding to what CHUM had to say, Canada’s other satellite radio license holder, SIRIUS Canada, is quietly getting ready for its fall launch.
That’s not to say that the newly minted company isn’t on side with CSR saying the appeals are all bunk.
“Clearly there’s nothing raised by any of the now-three appeals that is in any way different than the issues that were well-covered at the CRTC hearing,” SIRIUS Canada president and CEO Kevin Shea told…
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TORONTO – Seems like every radio company not involved in a satellite radio investment has now jumped into an appeal of the CRTC’s licensing decision to federal cabinet.
Led by CHUM Ltd. and Astral Media (who were granted a terrestrial subscription radio license), the rest of the appellants are: 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.
Officially the group of companies filed “a notice to appeal to the Governor in Council to set…
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OTTAWA – Given the timelines involved in relation to other proceedings already under way, one wonders why the CRTC is even bothering with its latest telecom public notice.
On Thursday, the Commission called for comments on Bell Canada’s application on introducing Bell Digital Voice (PN #2005-9). Thing is, it’s already been approved and there are much bigger fish to fry – some of which are already frying.
Bell Digital Voice is the VOIP (voice over IP) service the company launched in Quebec months prior to the CRTC’s May 12 decision on the matter which said, in part, that…
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OTTAWA – Three days before the two sides were to face the CRTC, OUTtv and Shaw Communications have settled their disagreement.
The deal means that gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered lifestyle channel OUTtv will be re-packaged on Shaw Cable and Star Choice. OUTtv objected to the way it was being packaged as a stand-alone service, contrary to its rights as a category one digital channel as a must-carry.
Shaw and OUTtv were to face the CRTC for one more ruling on Friday but the channel withdrew the complaint after the two sides came to an agreement last Tuesday. “The Shaw…
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TORONTO – "This appears to be an act of desperation by an association scared of progress," said Gregg Terrence, president of Indie Pool, about the recent jabs the Canadian Independent Record Producers Association has taken at his company.
"CIRPA’s comments are possibly libelous and are disrespectful to thousands of Canadian artists that signed a petition supporting satellite radio. Let’s be clear here, CIRPA represents record companies, lawyers and accountants, not unsigned artists."
Indie Pool, which says it represents 20,000-plus Canadian independent recording artists, reinforced its support for all three satellite and subscription radio applications in its release today.
CIRPA…
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MONTREAL – Canadian Satellite Radio today announced the support of the band Les Trois Accords and singer-songwriter Stefie Shock with a $100,000 contribution.
The money is part of CSR’s initiative to help develop Canadian francophone artists on the international scene.
"We have chosen Les Trois Accords and Stefie Shock because they represent the vibrant and flourishing Québec music scene, which is already making waves in Europe," said Stephen Tapp, president and COO of CSR. "We expect that these exceptional talents will have huge careers internationally, and we’re proud to be able to be there to support them as they…
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