p2pnet - rss feed: Canada OKs digital radio
p2p news / p2pnet:- Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) ‘bought’ digital radio licenses by spending lots of money on newspaper ads and lobbying, claims an opponent to the Liberal government’s decision to allow new satellite radio licences.
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission) originally gave the OK to CSR, partnered with Washington-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings, and a CBC/Standard Broadcasting company with New York-based Sirius as its partner. CHUM and Montreal’s Astral Media were going to use land broadcast towers for their digital service, but decided against it.
“The federal cabinet has upheld the CRTC’s decision to issue two new satellite radio licences, after the applicants agreed to include more Canadian and French-language material,” says the CBC. “The approval came despite opposition from some Liberal MPs, Quebecers and cultural groups.”
The charge that the deal received government blessing only after the companies had spent large sums on ads and lobbying came from the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting which earlier said the deal created a “pipeline for U.S. radio programs direct to Canada, with little in return for our country”.
It was a "sad day for Canadian content," the Globe and Mail quotes Ian Morrison, head of the FCB lobby group, as saying.
"Sirius and CSR each have a U.S. partner and a plan to beam scores of U.S. satellite stations and a much smaller number of Canadian stations throughout North America," says the story. "Their licences call for them to offer an array of new stations, including up to 80 from the United States and eight from Canada. But since the issue erupted over the past two weeks, they offered to increase their requirements to add two more domestic stations over the next three years.
"According to one broadcasting industry source, some conventional radio station owners are planning to seek a cut in current 35-per-cent Canadian content requirements."
The CBC says Sirius and CSR plan to offer subscribers between 60 and 100 commercial-free music channels for $15 to $20 a month and, "The CRTC had ruled that the services must carry at least eight original channels produced in Canada - 25 per cent of which must be in the French language - and a maximum of nine foreign channels for each Canadian one.
"Most channels will be American."
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See:-
gave the OK - Canadian satellite radio, September 7, 2005
CBC - Satellite radio passes final hurdle: on its way to Canada, September 9, 2005
Globe and Mail - Satellite radio ruling upheld, September 10, 2005
September 10th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
Here we go again, just like in the U.S.
“blah, blah, blah, CD sales are declining, blame piracy, blame copying, blame everything in sight”
But they forgot about satellite radio, and it’s millions of subscribers …
I purchased my satellite radio in 2002 and have no reason to ever purchase CD’s or join some crappy download service. The record industry gets paid well by the satellite radio companies, but you’ll never hear this. My feeling, every individual who purchases satellite radio will most likely not purchase CD’s. For what reason ? Your getting the music you want without the hassle of wondering if a DRM protected CD will play in your car.
But, mark my word, you’ll see the spin about declining CD sales.
September 11th, 2005 at 2:27 am
One of the largest opponents to the CRTC ruling was one of the “Three Amingos” themselves. CHUM and Montreal’s Astral Media were also granted a license to proceed but their lame idea was to install a terrestrial system and only make there service available to “significant” areas (read: Toronto, Montreal etc). They (CHUM et al.) were doing some serious lobbying themselves under the guise of “Canadian Content rules” trying to quash the other two satelitte competitiors.
People seem to be forgetting the fact that these 8 Canadian stations will also be broadcast to all of North America (I hope) giving the Canadian artist more exposure. There is a lot of quebec artists who will be getting some significant exposure through the 4 french channels. I suspect the’re going to have a hard time finding enough artists to keep the lineup fresh. I personally can’t wait for the opportunity to listen to some new up and coming Quebec bands.
What kind of service would you want? A system that allows you to listen to any station you want no matter where you are in North America or a system that stops working once you go beyond the signal footprint, DUH? One of the biggest benefits of satelitte radio is it’s mobility. It can be taken with anywhere you go, with the right accessories. To the beach, camping in the wilderness, on those long and lonely drives across the prairies, no matter where you go, it’s there.
The other bigger picture is, the two satelitte offerings are providing service to ALL Canadians, not just the ones who live in major urban centres. Granted the majority of the population lives in these major centres but there are other Canadians out there that crave an opportunity to listen to some good radio while on the road or away from there home.
I currently have the Sirius system and I have already bought some CDs from bands I heard on Sirius. Bands that I never heard of before.
I can’t wait to switch my subscription over to a Canadian account.
Kudos to the politicians who saw through the misguided attempts of interests groups who were only looking out for themselves and not thinking about the bigger picture. (Gee, I don’t give praise to politicans very often).
September 11th, 2005 at 10:07 am
I prefer the handful of programs that Astral and Chum purchase from American media for pennies on the dollar.
Choice of this magnitude frightens my Canadian sensibilities - what will I listen to now that I have a choice!
Please, government, make these decisions for me and ensure that I don’t have to think at all!
DOWN WITH SATELLITE RADIO IN CANADA! DOWN WITH UNCENSORED INTERNET!
September 11th, 2005 at 1:40 pm
Here’s one USA Sirius listener looking forward to CBC Radio One…presuming the lockout gets settled soon…
September 17th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Looking forward to satellite radio. Now I wont (maybe) have to buy in the grey market. I get tired of the all of the compaints of Canadian arts groups and associates. They are so used to bellying up to the pig trough of government money that they wouldn’t know how to make a living on their own. We have nothing to fear from the US. If Canadian entertainers are not good enough to make it on their own then let them find a new profession. Next time you are in Mexico take a look at all of the US satellite dishes. They do not fear their culture will be wiped out by US broadcasting so wake up Canadians and put these pig trough people back in a job where they can work like the rest of us.