VANCOUVER and TORONTO – John Bitove, the founder CEO of Canadian Satellite Radio (XM Canada), has applied to the CRTC for a new, national, over-the-air high definition television network.
The application itself was not released and has not yet been made public by the Commission so details are light.
According to the press release, "HDTV Networks Inc. is poised to deliver programming dedicated to the high-definition (HD) format to viewers in Canada’s eight largest English television markets; Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.
"Canadians are drastically falling behind in HDTV technology and it is critical that as a country we deliver high-definition programming around the clock to all Canadians. Our broadcast system needs to stay relevant to consumer needs and offer the latest in technology at no cost to the public," said Bitove, CEO of HDTV Networks Inc.
The release did not say what type of programming such a new network would produce or pursue.
"HDTV Networks is the next generation of broadcasting and this new technology will be offered to Canadian consumers for free through over-the-air broadcasting. Currently, with few exceptions, Canadians must pay premiums to cable or satellite distributors to receive high definition programming on a network basis," continues the release.
"With HDTV Networks, Canadians will be able to experience the vivid colour, sharp clarity and superb Dolby Digital sound that only HD technology can provide. Consumer adoption rates of HD technology are on the rise, and in a recent Solutions Research Group study prepared for the CRTC, Fast Forward Trend Analysis, as many as 45 per cent of Canadian households will be HD-capable within five years."
Most of these consumers will also be getting their TV from cable or satellite and will certainly want to receive an HDTV Networks signal that way, too, if the application is approved.
"We will provide Canadians with aspects of traditional programming, but we will also invest in innovative ‘Made in Canada’ productions," said Stewart Lyons, executive vice-president of HDTV Networks (and EVP for XM Canada). "Homegrown content is crucial to maintaining our unique culture and sense of identity. Most developed countries are moving from analog to digital broadcasting and our goal is to be a vehicle to export Canadian programming to fill the current void in HD programming around the world.
HDTV Networks will broadcast a mix of Canadian and foreign content with national operations based in Vancouver.
