The head of Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) says the CRTC has made an important first step by effectively deregulating Class 3 cable systems, and should now turn its attention to easing the burden for mid-sized systems. On May 29, the commission announced that cable systems with fewer than 2,000 subscribers and their own head end will no longer require a licence and will be exempt from the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations – PN 2001-59.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

So how will the new gay and lesbian channel be packaged in the upcoming September launch? Anticipating negative reactions from some conservative communities in Western Canada, Shaw Communications Inc CEO Jim Shaw told delegates at the cable industry’s annual convention in Toronto last week that he would refuse to distribute the must-carry Category 1 channel in regions where communities object. Any complaints Shaw does receive will simply be forwarded to the CRTC, he adds.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Both the cable and broadcast industries are reluctant to see a valuable analog channel handed over to the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) so it can offer its service in both English and French (CCR, May 10/01). In comments filed with the CRTC on the issue, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) says it would rather see any freed up analog channel used to carry between eight and 12 new digital specialty channels.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

The issue of whether large cablecos need the consent of programmers before duplicating their analog channel on digital will be at the forefront when an industry task force reconvenes later this year. The CRTC says it will ask the digital migration working group to meet again following this fall’s launch of the new digital channels to resolve outstanding matters related to converting to digital – PN 2001-58.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

New digital TV services shouldn’t expect to always receive the wholesale rates noted in their licences, the CRTC warns. The Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) had argued that it was unreasonable for programmers to expect to receive the wholesale rates proposed in their applications, and at the same time, be marketed as part of a larger digital package. In guidelines released May 25 – PN 2001-57 – the commission points out that the wholesale rate isn’t guaranteed, and will not be a factor when resolving disputes over undue preference. The public interest will be, however.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

One of the biggest broadcasting battles to hit the United States in recent memory will arrive in Canada this fall as the CRTC wades into the contentious and complex issue of deciding how over-the-air digital television should be licensed. Early this week, the commission released a proposed policy framework for the transition to digital broadcasting – or HDTV. It has given interested parties a lengthy period of 90 days to reply, which suggests the review will be broad.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

The CRTC held true to its word this month when it granted licences for more Category 2 digital channels, despite protests from several existing services (CCR, Feb. 28/01). The licensing of Persian Vision Inc, the Jewish Television Network, the High School Television Network, and numerous Chum Ltd offerings, comes as the broadcast industry struggles with how to launch up to 50 of the 262 previously licensed digital channels awaiting carriage on cable and satellite.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

The cable industry is projecting that 50 or so channels will launch this fall and attract at least four million Canadians to digital over the next three years – a number the industry warns will result in not all Category 1 and 2 channels surviving. Last week’s conference by the Canadian Cable Television Association in Toronto was dominated by such doom and gloom projections, although not everyone was convinced having some channels fail is a bad thing.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.