Canadian Satellite Radio Applications DOA

[monsterzero]

Sorry, but the two current "Canadian" satellite radio applications are DOA: dead on arrival.

The CRTC will not license XM and Sirius without specific and meaningful Canadian Content commitments on their music channels... and there is no way that XM and Sirius are going to play 35% CanCon on Top 20 at 20. End of discussion.

What the applicants are suggesting -- ghettoising Canadian music on two or four "Canadian" channels (half English, half French) -- runs contrary to thirty years of broadcasting policy, and will damage the Canadian music and broadcasting industries.

Have you seen the proposed programming grid for the XM Canadian channel? It's a joke: a half-hour all-Canadian blues show followed by a half-hour all-Canadian new age show. No one will want to listen to it. It is tokenism, and the CRTC won't buy it.

The satellite proposals are insulting to every terrestrial commercial broadcaster in Canada, who are required to play 35% CanCon during the broadcast day. It would be grossly unfair for them to have to compete with a service with not only no ads, but no CanCon requirements. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters is going to object very strenuously, as well they should. Specialist broadcasters -- like jazz and classical stations -- have a lot to lose, too.

If you allow XM and Sirius to broadcast without CanCon, you will have to let all the terrestrial broadcasters do the same... and it will be a cold day in Hell before that ever happens in Canada.

Moan and bitch all you want about CanCon, and about how much you hate commercial radio in Canada. I agree with you (about the commercial radio part, anyway), but these applications are going only one place: into the CRTC trash can.

[JJS]

Does Canada have its own S-band allocation?

If so, licensing it might allow a satellite radio provider to add to overall capacity, with Canada calling the shots for that one range of frequencies. Authorities might limit Canadian subscribers to those frequencies but allow American subscribers to listen to everything, thereby providing American subscriber support for both Canadian satellite infrastructure and Canadian content.

JJS

[JBT]

[monsterzero]

[SkyListen]

Hello.

As you can probably imagine, for the sake of this debate, I couldn't disagree with you more. Though your points are well made.

I think both Sirius and XM have an excellent shot. I don't believe the CRTC will bury it's head on this one and screw it up the way they did with Satellite television. (Look at the grey/black market problems we're facing up here. Drive down any street in White Rock and you'll see far more DirecTV dishes than Express-Vu.)

Let's face it, XM and Sirius will continue to be available in Canada, it's up to the CRTC to decide if they want at least partial control of the medium, or none at all. At present I can think of 4 stores within a 10 minute drive here in BC who will install either a Sirius or XM radio, activate it, and the Canadian government is getting absolutely nothing out of it.

If you listen to the XM channels you'll realize that a fair percentage (don't know what it might be) of songs you hear are Canadian because they are good Canadian songs.

I believe it is time to review broadcasting policy. It only seems to work for stations in large Canadian markets anyway. The rest of the stations are almost all losing money. Can we agree that the current AM/FM regulations only work for the government, but do absolutely nothing for the conglomerates that own the stations, nor the listeners who suffer through the commercials to hear the same Fe Fe Dobson track for the 10th time that day.

Yes, I have looked at the XM broadcast schedule and to be honest what I saw was more of a television schedule than a radio one. XM already have strictly formatted stations, whether it's 50's music or Rap, why should these new Canadian channels follow that same rigid programming logic. I don't remember the schedule off by heart but I do know there were a bunch of interesting shows that I would probably target tune if given the chance. Would I listen 24/7.. definitely not. But I don't think that's the purpose of their Canadian channels.

If you want to read an insulting proposal check out the CHUM proposal. They are promising the world and have no real basis to deliver it, since that would involve repeaters all over the place not to mention a radio specifically built for subscription listening. I can't see the auto companies getting in there, nor can I see people buying one specific brand of radio because that's what is available. Look at the mess CHUM & Co. already made with DAB. You would think they'd learn a lesson instead of putting good money after bad. If any application should raise red flags all over the place it's this apparent attempt by Chum to derail the entire process. How much longer CHUM LTD will stay in the radio game is anyones guess anyway. But that's for another thread.

I'm not so sure that this decision might not affect the entire CRTC view on radio broadcasting. You might just see the Cancon levels lowered and some much needed reforms to the broadcasting act being made.

I'm hopeful anyway. I guess we will all know in a few months.

Hugh

[JBT]

Where can we find CHUM's proposal? I'd love to have a look at it

[tranquileye]

[Jeff Cobner]

I am sure this will accelerate the bootleg radios already in that country.

[cptn-canada]

[XM in Dallas]

[tranquileye]

[tranquileye]

[monsterzero]

Only five minutes left to send in your positive interventions on behalf of the Canadian satellite radio applications

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2004/n2004-6.htm

[JBT]

Funny you say that... This e-mail was just forwarded to me.

[monsterzero]