OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC released its annual look at the financial performance of the broadcast distribution undertaking sector (cable and satellite) today.
Using its traditional August 31st year-end the figures are from the 2004 broadcast year ending that day. Overall, there was a good increase in the revenues of Canadian BDUs, except among the small, few fixed wireless TV providers, which continue to fare poorly.
Revenues for the cable industry saw an increase of 9.4% in one year, going from close to $4.2 billion in 2003 to more than $4.5 billion in 2004. This growth is consistent with the…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian-content-advocate side of the creative industry issued a press release this morning saying they are appealing the CRTC’s satellite radio decision to federal cabinet.
“The coalition is seeking an early opportunity to brief the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the opposition critics. A similar initiative is being announced today in Montreal by a coalition of francophone cultural organizations,” said the release.
The organizations who make up the appealing coalition are: ACTRA, the Canadian Independent Record Production Association, the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada, the Directors Guild of Canada, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, the National…
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OTTAWA – "Disparaging, insulting and abusive," is how the CRTC described comments made by radio host Doc Mailloux during two broadcasts in September of 2003 and February of 2004 on Montreal talk radio station CKAC AM 730.
CKAC was owned by Astral Media at the time, but has since been purchased by Corus Entertainment.
Usually, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council handles complaints about Canadian broadcasters and the offensive stuff they sometimes say and show on air, but this time, the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) wanted the Commission to deal with statements Mailloux made on air that…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC today approved four new FM radio stations for the national capital region today.
The winners are: * Newfoundland Capital Corporation, for an English-language alternative rock station at 88.5 FM, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5,200 watts, (to go with its existing pop station Hot 89-9). * Newcomer CKMW Radio Ltd. (Evanov), for an English easy-listening station at 98.5 FM, with an effective radiated power of 2,961 watts. * Radio Nord Communications, for a French-language pop/rock/urban station at 96.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1,750 watts. * 3077457 Nova Scotia Limited,…
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OTTAWA – When it does launch its digital television service, Telus doesn’t want to jump through the Commission’s hoops every time it needs to make a competitive move to match Shaw, the western telco has told the CRTC.
Telus needs to be competitively nimble, so to have to ask the Commission for permission to make certain programming additions or alterations poses problems, it says, because it won’t be able to respond in a timely enough manner in its markets.
When contacted by www.cartt.ca today, and asked about the application, which was filed on December 13, 2004 and only made…
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TORONTO – Saying it may appeal, SOCAN today registered its complaints about Thursday’s CRTC subscription radio decision by joining in on the parade of press releases.
“In SOCAN’s opinion, this decision fails to recognize the important provisions of the Canadian Broadcasting Act, and does not offer sufficient protection to Canada’s composers, lyricists, songwriters, and publishers of musical works,” says the release.
SOCAN’s (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) dissatisfaction with the decision is due to several factors, including: * The Canadian content requirements for satellite radio are inconsistent with existing regulations for commercial radio broadcasters…
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TORONTO – Toyota Canada Inc. will offer a satellite radio option for select Toyota and Lexus vehicles, in support of the decision made last week by the CRTC licensing subscription radio in Canada, the car maker said today.
"Satellite radio represents a great leap forward in mobile audio technology," said Stephen Beatty, managing director of TCI. "Satellite radio is currently available for certain Toyota and Lexus models in the United States. We will respond to the lifestyle needs of our Canadian customers, and ensure that they too are given the option of adding satellite radio functionality to their vehicles."…
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BANFF – Canadian broadcasters should be forced to spend 7% of their gross revenues on “indigenous drama”, says the Coalition of Canadian Audio-Visual Unions.
“Spending on Canadian television drama has plummeted since 1999,” the CCAU said in its report released at last week’s Banff International Television Festival, “with 2004 recording the lowest level in seven years.”
“Drama spending by Canada’s English-language private broadcasters bottomed out at $53.6 million in 2004 from a high of $73 million in 1998 – and that’s despite CTV’s regulated drama spending under its transfer benefits,” said Peter Murdoch, co-chair of the CCAU.
“Something has…
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OSHAWA – Given that XM is already installed in a number of its vehicles, General Motors of Canada said today it welcomes the CRTC’s pay radio decision.
GM Canada will be working with Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) and its partners to analyze the conditions of license and determine how to move as quickly as possible to address pent-up consumer demand for satellite radio in Canada, said the car company.
"We are eager to move forward to introduce XM radio into our 2006 model year vehicles," said Michael Grimaldi, president of GM of Canada. "Satellite radio is the biggest advancement…
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TORONTO – The subscription radio decision should have said something about signal security, and it didn’t do enough for Cancon, says the Canadian recording industry.
Calling the CRTC decision on subscription radio “short-sighted” the Canadian Recording Industry Association said in a press release, “Canada’s broadcast regulator failed to recognize the opportunity to hold the line on music piracy – threatening emerging online music businesses – and undervalued Canadian musical talent,” in the pay radio decision.
“CRIA’s members invest in excess of $50 million annually in the careers of Canadian artists and in the creation, production and distribution of their music,”…
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