CCR Short Takes

Licensing framework for pay/specialties delayedA 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. Ministerial meeting fails to launch trade talksTalks aimed at launching a new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations collapsed December 3 amid infighting between the US and Europe. The third WTO Ministerial meeting's main task was to set an agenda for the next round of talks, which were expected to begin next month. The ministers decided to suspend talks for at least three months and then resume negotiations if there is any common ground to do so. Cogeco files application to offer video-on-demandCogeco Cable Inc has filed an application with the CRTC for a licence to offer a true video-on-demand (VOD) service to its cable subscribers in Ontario and Quebec. President/CEO Louis Audet told the company's annual meeting of shareholders earlier this month that the application was filed on November 1. True VOD is considered one of the most important drivers of digital cable. Cogeco, which launched digital cable on September 1, has 40,000 digital cable customers, and it expects to have 60,000 digital customers by February 2000. Shaw invests in interactive TV software companyShaw Communications Inc plans to test Mountain View CA-based OpenTV Corp's digital interactive television software with its satellite TV and cable subscribers across Canada next year following a strategic investment in the company. Shaw has purchased $5-million worth of Class A Ordinary Shares of OpenTV in the company's IPO. OpenTV, a provider of software enabling digital interactive TV, recently received similar investments from a number of leading Internet and broadcast companies including America Online, Inc, General Instrument Corporation, Liberty Digital, News Corporation and Time Warner. The OpenTV software is licensed to more than 20 digital set-top box manufacturers. Rogers and Shaw add dial-up feature to @HomeRogers Cablesystems Limited and Shaw Cablesystems Ltd have introduced a new dial-up feature to their high-speed @Home Internet service that will allow customers to access their email accounts and the Internet while away from home. The new service, which will likely be targeted at business travelers, allows customers to connect to the Internet while away from home anywhere in North America. Users are charged $0.25 per minute for access, plus a one-time activation fee of $14.95. CRTC & Competition Bureau spell out respective rolesThe CRTC and the Competition Bureau last month issued a backgrounder document to give industry stakeholders and the general public greater clarity and certainty about their respective roles. As telecommunications and broadcasting industries continue their transition from regulated monopolies to competitive markets, the CRTC and the Competition Bureau believed it would be beneficial to clearly describe the authority of the commission under the Telecommunications Act and Broadcasting Act and that of the Competition Bureau under the Competition Act. The document can be found in its entirety on the Industry Canada Web site at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/ct01544e.html. CBC kills plan for third radio network targeting youthThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has cancelled plans to launch a third radio network that was to target youth. Newly appointed CBC president Robert Rabinovitch killed the plan so the public broadcaster could focus on its core broadcast services. The CBC applied to the CRTC for a licence to operate a 14-station English-language network as part of its licence renewal applications. A decision on the renewals is expected before Christmas. CRTC releases final ruling on new media exemption orderThe CRTC has released its final exemption order for new media broadcasting undertakings after considering 26 written submissions on its proposed order PN 99-197. The commission rejected calls from several parties including broadcasters and specialty services to shorten the normal five-year review period for the exemption order, saying such a move could create regulatory uncertainty that may stifle the growth of the new media sector and thereby limit Canadians' access to new media services. Broadcasters had raised concerns that the new media sector's impact on the broadcasting industry may change radically in the near future. CTV to launch online news service later next yearCTV Inc plans to launch an online news service complete with video streaming and up-to-the-minute updates. CTVNews.ca is expected to launch in the second half of the year. The announcement came on the heels of the launch of Globaltv.com in Toronto and Ottawa, an initiative of CTV rival CanWest Global Communications Corp. Telesat's Anik E1 and E2 to serve US customersTelesat Canada's battle to compete on a level playing field in the lucrative US satellite market is over following a ruling from the American telecom regulator. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this month approved Telesat's application to sell capacity on its aging Anik E1 and Anik E2 fixed satellites to US customers. Existing Canadian customers will migrate to the new Anik F1 bird, which is scheduled to launch next summer and be operational in September. The Anik Es, which have about three years of life remaining, are the first non-US satellites to be placed on the FCC's Permitted Space Station List. Quebec gov't gives $2.8 million to BCE affiliate for call centreBell ExpressVu LP is getting $2.785 million from the Quebec government to help create more than 550 jobs at its new Quebec regional office and 24-hour call centre over the next two years. The satellite TV company has committed about $4.5 million in renovations, infrastructure and information technology for the new office, which officially opened Dec. 10. Nearly 200 of the anticipated 550 jobs that are being created will be in place by early 2000, the majority of which will be call centre jobs. Bell ExpressVu has more than 70,000 subscribers in Quebec. That number is expected to reach 125,000 by the end of 2000. Commission expresses concern over wrestling violenceThe CRTC has written TSN asking it to reschedule WWF Raw wrestling due to complaints about violence, simulated sexual activities, vulgar gestures, profane language, the offensive portrayal of blacks and women and the depiction of Satanism. The CRTC has received 31 complaints of that nature since September 1998. TSN has argued that the programming is intended for an audience over 18-years-old, but the commission noted its 4 p.m Tuesday time slot made it likely to be viewed by children. CTV rumours swirl in wake of Corus announcementSpeculation of a potential takeover of CTV Inc heated up following a December 14 announcement from Corus Entertainment Inc that it plans to buy 4.8 million common shares of CTV from Shaw Communications Inc. Corus, a spin-off of Shaw, will pay $117.1 million or $24.16 per share for the 8.37% interest. The transaction is scheduled to close on January 5, 2000. Corus already owns nearly 800,000 CTV shares. Following the transaction, it will hold nearly 10% of CTV stock. Corus says the acquisition is for "investment purposes only", but some analysts believe Corus could make a bid for CTV. Other companies rumoured to be interested in CTV include BCE Media Inc, CanWest Global Communications Corp, Quebecor Inc and Power Corp. CCSA and Galaxie sign five-year master agreementThe Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has signed a five-year master agreement with Galaxie, the pay-audio network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The deal likely gives CCSA cableco members a preferred subscriber rate. The deal opens up a whole new market for Galaxie, which has some 500,000 subscribers. Company executives add that a General Instrument Corporation technology solution is making digital more affordable for small cablecos. CRTC calls for comments on ExpressVU MDU strategyThe CRTC is inviting written comments due on or before January 10 in connection with Bell ExpressVU Inc's proposal to provide service to multiple dwelling units (MDUs). On October 20, ExpressVu filed plans with the commission to provide DTH to MDUs by:1) serving residents of a single building using a common dish antenna located on the premises;2) serving residents located in neighbouring buildings using common equipment located on one building connected via common facilities to the neighbouring building; or, lastly,3) serving residents of nearby buildings using common equipment that is located on a third building or remotely from the buildings being served. In a letter dated October 21, ExpressVu argued that its DTH licence doesn't limit it to serving single family dwellings, but it is authorized to serve MUDs in any of those three technical configurations.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | December 22, 1999

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