Canadian Satellite Radio Approved
Jun 16, 2005 16:47:58 GMT -5
Post by kellydicted on Jun 16, 2005 16:47:58 GMT -5
Canadian Satellite Radio Approved
June 16, 2005
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission) has issued its decision, approving satellite radio to expand into Canada. In a statement, CRTC Chairman Charles Daffen said, "These decisions foster the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and balance the interests of Canadian consumers, the radio industry and the music industry."
The three applicants approved were Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR), a consortium that includes former Toronto Raptors owner John Bitove Jr. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings; The CBC and Standard Radio, which is partnered with Sirius; and CHUM Ltd. and Montreal-based Astral Media. The third group is not satellite radio, but instead brings pay radio to consumers via a series of broadcast towers instead. Much like U.S. satellite radio, the Canadian services will offer between 60 and 100 commercial-free channels of music for a fee of about $10 to $15 per month.
According to CTV, the CRTC is requiring the new licensees to include at least eight Canadian-produced channels, with specific criteria for the amount of Canadian and foreign language programming contained in those channels. The licensees must also contribute a percentage of their revenues to the development of new Canadian musicians.
As FMQB reported back in February, a group of independent Canadian artists lobbied for the CRTC to approve satellite radio so that Canada's music industry can increase artist development funding. They estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 Canadians are illegally subscribing to U.S. satellite radio, resulting in $40 million lost to the Canadian economy since 2001.
Reuters reports that a spokesman for the Friends Of Canadian Broadcasting, who supported the CHUM/Astral Media venture, called the decision disappointing, due to the approval of the two U.S. satcasters. The spokesman was not sure if they would appeal the decision.
June 16, 2005
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission) has issued its decision, approving satellite radio to expand into Canada. In a statement, CRTC Chairman Charles Daffen said, "These decisions foster the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and balance the interests of Canadian consumers, the radio industry and the music industry."
The three applicants approved were Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR), a consortium that includes former Toronto Raptors owner John Bitove Jr. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings; The CBC and Standard Radio, which is partnered with Sirius; and CHUM Ltd. and Montreal-based Astral Media. The third group is not satellite radio, but instead brings pay radio to consumers via a series of broadcast towers instead. Much like U.S. satellite radio, the Canadian services will offer between 60 and 100 commercial-free channels of music for a fee of about $10 to $15 per month.
According to CTV, the CRTC is requiring the new licensees to include at least eight Canadian-produced channels, with specific criteria for the amount of Canadian and foreign language programming contained in those channels. The licensees must also contribute a percentage of their revenues to the development of new Canadian musicians.
As FMQB reported back in February, a group of independent Canadian artists lobbied for the CRTC to approve satellite radio so that Canada's music industry can increase artist development funding. They estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 Canadians are illegally subscribing to U.S. satellite radio, resulting in $40 million lost to the Canadian economy since 2001.
Reuters reports that a spokesman for the Friends Of Canadian Broadcasting, who supported the CHUM/Astral Media venture, called the decision disappointing, due to the approval of the two U.S. satcasters. The spokesman was not sure if they would appeal the decision.
www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=94055
