Licensing framework for pay/specialties delayed
A CRTC decision on the much-anticipated licensing framework for new pay and specialty television services has been delayed until early January. A decision was expected before the commission breaks for the holidays. However, Andreé Wylie, the CRTC’s vice-chair of broadcasting, announced the delay during a presentation to the Standing Committee on Industry earlier this month.

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Vidéotron ltée became the first cable operator to comply with the CRTC’s order to resell high-speed Internet service to independent Internet service providers (ISPs) last week, but the battle over third-party access is far from over. The Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) quickly fired off a letter to the commission asking it to force Vidéotron to charge wholesale rates that are 25% lower than the price it charges its cable subscribers. 

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After several delays and despite fierce opposition, the Youth News Network (YNN) is proceeding with plans to launch a national television network available through high schools. Rod MacDonald, president of YNN parent Athena Educational Partners Inc (AEP), told CCR his company is currently doing dry runs and getting feedback from focus groups on programming. He expects to be on the air after schools return from the Christmas break.

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A growing number of small cable operators are looking at deploying digital cable sooner than anyone expected thanks to a satellite-based technology solution that would save them thousands of dollars in capital costs. It's a technology that could also ensure the future for Canada's small cable industry, which faces intense competition from new and well-financed digital competitors such as satellite TV and wireless cable.

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Constrained by a lack of bandwidth, Regional Cablesystems Inc has moved quickly to launch digital service in the Timmins and Sudbury areas. Rollout of new digital services will start this February, and company executives are hoping to have the swap-out process finished by next spring. When the rollout is finished, 63,000 subscribers will have access to an all-inclusive package that will include a digital music offering. Regional will use the additional capacity gained by the conversion to digital to add a new tier of programming.

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