CCR Update

CRTC calls for comments on framework for licensing new specialty audio servicesInterested parties have until Oct. 12 to submit comments on how the CRTC should license new specialty audio services. The CRTC notes in Public Notice CRTC 2001-85, released today, that the proposed regulations would permit digital distribution by large cablecos of ethnic audio programming without prior regulatory authorization. As well, the CRTC indicated that it would consider the addition of Radio France Internationale (RFI) to the foreign services eligibility list once a framework has been established. More details: Public Notice CRTC 2001-85 Public Notice CRTC 2001-82-1 Bell ExpressVu subscribers increase 51,000 in Q2Satellite TV operator Bell ExpressVu LP saw its subscriber base grow by 51,000 in the second quarter ended June 30 to reach 847,000, according to financial results released today. The company also maintained its estimated DTH market share of 58 per cent. The Q2 numbers also show that 65 per cent of net subscriber additions in the quarter came from urban centres, compared to 58 per cent in the second quarter of 2000. More details: BCE announces second quarter results Download Q2 2001 investor briefing EBITDA down at Bell Globemedia in second quarterEarnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) at BCE Inc-owned Bell Globemedia fell to $41 million in the second quarter ended June 30 from $54 million the year before, according to Q2 financial results released today. Overall revenue was flat at $297 million, while advertising income decreased 1% to $213 million. Television revenues represented 75% of the total, while print and new media represented 21% and 4% respectively. Subscriber revenue was up 3% to $63 million. Bell Globemedia includes CTV Inc, The Globe and Mail, and Bell Globemedia Interactive. More details: Bell Globemedia announces second quarter results Download Q2 2001 investor briefing Astral net earnings double in first nine months of fiscal 2001Net earnings at Astral Media Inc more than doubled to $22.8 million in the nine months ending May 31 over the same period a year earlier, the Montreal-based company announced today. The results include a future income tax recovery of $5.6 million as a result of tax rate reductions announced by the federal government in the last budget. Without the tax gains, net earnings rose 77% to $17.2 million, compared with $9.7 million for the same time period the previous year. During this reporting period, Astral on May 30 took 100% control of the Family Channel and increased its stake in Teletoon to 40%, following CRTC approval of the deal. Astral chair André Bureau attributed the company’s strengths to its television group, particularly the pay-TV services. He also noted that Astral had bucked trends by continuing to register gains in advertising revenues on its television and radio properties. More details. CRTC can’t regulate prices for cable access to poles: federal courtThe Federal Court of Canada has overturned an order by the CRTC, made under a section of the Telecommunications Act, that forced electric power utilities to provide cable companies with access to their poles at a rate of $15.89 per pole per year. See the next issues of Canadian Communications Reports and Network Letter for the full story. More details. Rogers invests $2 million in MetaTVRogers Communications Inc has invested $2 million in California-based MetaTV, a company that provides software technology that enables interactive TV (iTV) portals, services and enhanced TV applications. The investment will not necessarily result in Rogers adopting the company’s software for use in its digital set-top boxes, however. Jan Innes, VP of communications at Rogers, says the investment was made because Rogers "was looking for opportunities in the interactive TV area that looks like a good fit". She says it’s too early to say whether Rogers will use MetaTV technology for future iTV services. Rogers’ $2-million investment augments funding MetaTV recently received from Comcast Interactive Capital and Cox Communications Inc. In total, the company has raised $30 million in capital in 2001. More details. @home looking for investors after large Q2 lossRedwood, CA-based Internet service provider @home, which provides Internet-backbone services to both Shaw Communications Inc and Rogers Communications Inc, says it needs to raise more money by the end of the year to continue operations. On July 23, the company reported a net loss of US$346.3 million, or 85 cents a share, for the second quarter. While its media properties, including the Excite portal, slumped, the company’s broadband access business reported an increase of 2 million subscribers for a total of 3.7 million. Despite securing $185 million last month after restructuring a deal with AT&T’s Internet network, company officials during a conference call indicated that there was a need for additional financing. More details. CRTC licences category 2 Tamil channelThe CRTC yesterday approved an application for a Category 2 digital specialty channel aimed at Canada’s Tamil population (Decision CRTC 2001-420). The licence stipulates that 90 per cent of programming during the week will be in Tamil. The service can air up to six minutes of regional advertising per hour. More details. Akin leaves post for ‘converged’ reporter job at Globe, CTVTechnology reporter David Akin is leaving the National Post to work for The Globe and Mail and CTV Inc in what he calls "the first convergence assignment for a journalist in Canada". In addition to filing news reports, he will prepare features that will be delivered across all platforms simultaneously: newspaper, network news, specialty television channels and the Web. "No where else in the world is the leading national daily newspaper aligned with the leading national television news network," he says in an email to friends and colleagues. The CRTC spent much of television licence renewal hearings in April quizzing CTV and rival Global Television Network on codes of conduct that would see their respective television and newspaper rooms operated independently. The CRTC is expected to release its licence renewal decisions on Aug. 2.

CCR Update

Broadcast | July 25, 2001

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