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CRTC "approves" satellite radio

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...NStory/Business

CRTC "approves" satellite radio

By ROMA LUCIW

Thursday, June 16, 2005 Updated at 4:28 PM EDT

Canada's federal telecommunications regulator has granted three licenses to sell satellite and digital radio in this country, a decision that industry experts predict will lead to upheaval in the industry.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said in a landmark ruling Thursday that all three applicants who applied can have licenses to sell subscription radio in Canada, provided they comply with certain Canadian-content rules.

"These decisions foster the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and balance the interests of Canadian consumers, the radio industry and the music industry," CRTC Chairman Charles Dalfen said in a statement.

The three applicants are Canadian Satellite Radio Inc., a Toronto-based joint venture between entrepreneur John Bitove Jr. and Washington-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.; Sirius Canada Inc., a partnership between Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Toronto-based Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd., and New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.; and a joint venture of Toronto-based CHUM Ltd. and Montreal-based Astral Media Inc. that proposes to use terrestrial transmitters instead of satellites.


The CRTC set the following conditions for the satellite providers:

* At least eight original channels produced in Canada. A maximum of nine foreign channels may be offered for each Canadian channel
* At least 85 per cent of the musical selections and spoken word programming broadcast on the Canadian channels must be Canadian
* At least 25 per cent of the Canadian channels must be in the French language
* At least 25 per cent of the musical selections on the Canadian channels must be new Canadian musical selections
* A further 25 per cent of the selections must be by emerging Canadian artists.

In addition, the CRTC ruled that the satellite providers must donate a minimum of 5 per cent of their annual sales to "initiatives for the development of Canadian talent," such as funds that help development both English and French-new musical artists.

The Astral/Corus application has promised to provide the highest level of Canadian music and programming of the three, a key concern for the Canadian regulator. The Astral/Corus station plans to offer 50 channels produced entirely in Canada, 20 per cent of which will be in French language, as well as five channels geared towards the Aboriginal, Chinese, German, Italian and South Asian communities.

There are already thousands of Canadians receiving U.S.-based satellite radio service in Canada. Prior to the release of the CRTC's decision, there had been concern about the amount of Canadian content the U.S.-based satellite companies would provide. Each has proposed to include several Canadian channels among the more than 100 channels they beam across North America.

Most industry players and other observers had expected that licences would be granted to all three of the applicants, but with detailed and possibly restrictive conditions.

Instead of stabilizing the subscription radio scene and preparing it for a smooth launch in Canada, the CRTC decision could end up causing even more turmoil.

With files from Richard Blackwell and Simon Tuck.

We should start to see these stations hopefully by the end of the year!

-jem-

quote:

Originally posted by Jem_hadar We should start to see these stations hopefully by the end of the year! -jem-

Don't count on it. In fact, Sirius may give up on Canada all together due to the restrictive regulations now in place.

Don't expect any Canadian EDM channels either, also due to the regulations.


The CRTC needs to be reformed. The Lieberals don't want to reform it because they use the media to stay in power.

This is why my dad uses a US PO box as a mailing address, and has XM in his work van.

BTW: The EDM channels on XM suck shit anyway.

There goes the government telling us what we can and cant listen to.

North Korea, China and Cuba are also places whose governments severely restrict content.

Down with the CRTC

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 This is why my dad uses a US PO box as a mailing address, and has XM in his work van. BTW: The EDM channels on XM suck shit anyway.

it's a matter of time before the big DJ's go to satellite radio..

Armin perhaps? will we see ASOT on XM or Sirius? it's very possible

edit: not in Canada though

Damn CanCon requirements ruining yet another opportunity for consumers...

It is only a matter of time before satellite radio is the norm. It wasn't that long ago that people would not even consider paying for cable television and now almost everyone has it. It wasn't that long ago that people said they would not pay for internet access at home...yet almost everyone has it.

In less then five years every car will have satellite radio access as the norm. They will start you out with a one month trial and then if you want to continue the service it will cost you what ever the going rate is....probably around $12.00 per month.

In less then 10 years I am willing to bet that 80% of the people on this website will have satellite radio and 100% of us will know someone that has it.

The government is so out of date with technology and don't see what is ahead. Go figure...if my grandparents can't see it then why would I expect the government to see it.

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 BTW: The EDM channels on XM suck shit anyway.

i had some high hopes on getting XM just for those EDM channels :/

quote:

Originally posted by malek i had some high hopes on getting XM just for those EDM channels :/

supposely their rap channels (and Sirius' too) are really good

but with the Canadian content (including French language) rules, the CRTC is about to make Roi Heenok a very rich man

Isn't that enough to make you subscribe?

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf supposely their rap channels (and Sirius' too) are really good but with the Canadian content (including French language) rules, the CRTC is about to make Roi Heenok a very rich man Isn't that enough to make you subscribe?

well roi heenok rocks (not) but still makes me laugh alot, worth the 12$ a month or so.

actually i didn't find these regulations very harsh. They're the same as other regulations for regular radio (except the ratios which only make sense to satelite radio).

CRTC makes me really mad sometimes

The only thing CanCon does is fool Canadian artists into thinking that their product is quality...

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf Don't count on it. In fact, Sirius may give up on Canada all together due to the restrictive regulations now in place. Don't expect any Canadian EDM channels either, also due to the regulations. The CRTC needs to be reformed. The Lieberals don't want to reform it because they use the media to stay in power.

That's odd considering the CEO of Sirius Canada (which is a partnership of Sirius Radio, CBC, and Standard Brodcasting) stated yesterday that the content rules are very workable and they do not plan to appeal the conditions. They expect to have their decision made well before the appeal period expires and fully expect that they can work within the framework. Sorry that their plans don't work into your anti-government agenda.

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 There goes the government telling us what we can and cant listen to. North Korea, China and Cuba are also places whose governments severely restrict content. Down with the CRTC

The US restricts content as well.... can't show a breast on TV, can't say "shit" on the radio. So far pay for service broadcasting has been relatively untouched but it's a matter of time before they go after it too.

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker The only thing CanCon does is fool Canadian artists into thinking that their product is quality...

unfortunately, this is true. Canadian content rules make regional stars who then think they can become international stars but can't figure out why they do not earn noteriety in the US or Europe.... one good reason.... YOUR STARDOM IS ARTIFICIAL

Re: CRTC "approves" satellite radio

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf In addition, the CRTC ruled that the satellite providers must donate a minimum of 5 per cent of their annual sales to "initiatives for the development of Canadian talent," such as funds that help development both English and French-new musical artists. The Astral/Corus application has promised to provide the highest level of Canadian music and programming of the three, a key concern for the Canadian regulator. The Astral/Corus station plans to offer 50 channels produced entirely in Canada, 20 per cent of which will be in French language, as well as five channels geared towards the Aboriginal, Chinese, German, Italian and South Asian communities.

This just smacks of communism...

I'll never under the government's take on supporting artists that don't deserve it.
If they're any good musically and as entertainers, the masses will give them their just reward; it's a standard supply and demand model like all businesses should be.
The people want to get their money's worth and see what we want to see; the government holds up some ratty, water-drenched poodle...

I'm going to throw in a disclaimer however.
As Canadians, we do have some amazing musical talent (I go out a lot with the wifey to see live music) but I'll go because I recognize their talent; the government doesn't have to convince me...

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard unfortunately, this is true. Canadian content rules make regional stars who then think they can become international stars but can't figure out why they do not earn noteriety in the US or Europe.... one good reason.... YOUR STARDOM IS ARTIFICIAL

And that is why you will not see any of the Canadian Idols making it big anywhere but in Canada....and even that is a stretch

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf Don't count on it. In fact, Sirius may give up on Canada all together due to the restrictive regulations now in place. Don't expect any Canadian EDM channels either, also due to the regulations. The CRTC needs to be reformed. The Lieberals don't want to reform it because they use the media to stay in power.

The restrictions imposed on the satellite-based companies are far less stringent than those on terrestrial-based broadcasters. Look at the requirements... Only 1 out every 10 stations has to be "Canadian". So in reality, the 85% Canadian content rule which applies to these stations is only 8.5% when you factor in all the music / stations they will be able to offer. Given the required minimum of 8 Canadian channels, that ratio allows them to present just about their entire roster of existing channels when you factor out stations like traffic in the US metro cities etc.

The expense of programming these additional Canadian channels will likely be minimal as well, particularly in the case of the CBC / Sirius venture considering CBC already has the programming capability through its Galaxie stations available on digital cable / satellite.

A story in the Globe today suggests the satellite companies are thrilled with the decision.. it's CHUM that is complaining because they won't have a prayer of being able to compete when both satellite offerings are available.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard The US restricts content as well.... can't show a breast on TV, can't say "shit" on the radio.

The FCC regulates the public airwaves, as it should. The CRTC also should regulate public airwaves (although it doesn't do it well). However, the CRTC has no business regulating private subscription-based services.

quote:

So far pay for service broadcasting has been relatively untouched but it's a matter of time before they go after it too.

Will never happen. Satellite services are not a public good.

quote:

Originally posted by baystreetboi The restrictions imposed on the satellite-based companies are far less stringent than those on terrestrial-based broadcasters.

Why are any restictions placed on private subscription services? Just because the restrictions are less burdensome than on the public airwaves doesn't make them right.

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf Will never happen. Satellite services are not a public good.

Don't be so sure about that. The FCC is taking about it and many in the US House of Representatives and Senate are considering the same. It won't be long before someone pens a bill. Plus the public broacasters in the US are scared of Satellite radio... they are a very big and powerful lobby group (especially mega brodcaster Clearchannel Communications). Don't forget, with the US system lobby groups have much more influance then they do here. If they put enough money into it you can bet your ass it will happen. The only question then becomes whether or not it is constitutional, as I'm not an expert on the US constitution I will not speculate as to what the Supreme Court would find in this regard.

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf Why are any restictions placed on private subscription services? Just because the restrictions are less burdensome than on the public airwaves doesn't make them right.

Agreed, however, I don't think they are right on public broadcasters either. Canadian content laws are simply the government's way of artificially propping up a failing industry. Granted they try to make us believe that they are protecting Canadian culture and fostering Canadian art, however, for the most part they are supporting Canadian copies of US or European culture and arts. Interestingly, the uniquely Canadian things tend to do very well and likely would regardless of content laws.

quote:

Originally posted by ShadoWolf The FCC regulates the public airwaves, as it should. The CRTC also should regulate public airwaves (although it doesn't do it well). However, the CRTC has no business regulating private subscription-based services. Will never happen. Satellite services are not a public good.

Last time I checked, Rogers Cable, Bell ExpressVu, etc. were all private subscription-based services and they are all regulated as well.

The FCC also does this in the states... from their about page: "The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable."

HOWARD, HOWARD!!!

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