CCR Short Takes

ARTV and WETV Canada seek licence amendmentsThe arts channel ARTV Inc. is asking the CRTC to amend its licence so that it can broadcast in prime time a weekly one-hour program pertaining to events, artists and Canadian artisans – Broadcasting Public Notice 2002-27. The deadline for filing comments on the matter is June 18. As well, WETV Canada Corp., which operates The Green Channel, has asked the CRTC to amend its licence to change its times of operation from the current 18 consecutive hours beginning each day no earlier than 6 a.m. and ending no later than 1 a.m. the following day. It wants the new condition to read within a 24-hour period beginning just after midnight to "ensure the availability of the service to its subscribers at any time in any time zone" – Broadcasting Public Notice 2002-28. Comments on the proposed licence changes are due July 3. Rogers lowers cost of digital boxes, adjusts VIP programRogers Cable Inc. has reduced the monthly rate it charges digital cable customers for the rental of a digital set-top box. The rate has dropped to $8.95/month from $10.95/month. According to information on the cable operator’s web site, Rogers has also adjusted its popular VIP member program, which provides its best cable customers with discounts on other Rogers services. Under the new VIP program, members receive a free digital set-top box rental. Additional boxes cost $8.95/month each or $249 for purchase. Also, VIP members who switch to one of Rogers’ new digital cable and Internet bundles no longer receive 10 per cent off their cable bill, but will continue to receive benefits from other VIP program partners, such as Rogers Video and Radio Shack. The changes follow the introduction of a purchase option for digital boxes in Rogers’ Ontario cable systems for the first time and new bundles. Shaw revises predicted Internet growth downwardShaw Communications Inc. revised its target Internet subscriber growth for fiscal 2002 to 200,000, down from the initial expectation of 250,000. "Clearly one of the contributing factors for the change is intense competition from incumbent telcos using aggressive pricing strategies to acquire DSL customers," Shaw stated in a media release. Fecan says Bell Globemedia’s convergence is workingBell Globemedia CEO Ivan Fecan says his company’s convergence strategy is permitting new growth and revenue diversification. In a presentation, entitled Bell Globemedia’s Multi-Platform Strategy – One Year On, in New York on June 4, he said: "Our multi-platform strategy empowers new growth and revenue diversification in what may otherwise look like mature markets." He added, "A multi-platform strategy deepens BGM’s connection to its customers" and allows advertisers to "to deepen the experience of their brands." He noted that CTV’s audience share on its conventional network has grown from September 2001, while CanWest Global’s has declined. He also noted that CTV’s specialty networks have the power to carry TV’s marquee properties. For example, National League Hockey, which was once only a network product, is now on TSN, and La Soirée du hockey is moving from Radio-Canada to RDS. On the newspaper front, Fecan noted that the costs of The Globe and Mail had fallen 5 per cent in the first quarter of this year from the same period a year earlier. Telefilm launches new web siteTelefilm Canada has a new web site, which it says is more user-friendly and brings information together under seven head sections: Telefilm regional offices, funds and programs, coproduction, festivals and markets, catalogues and current events. Telefilm is also giving users the chance to personalize their site according to their needs and interests so that only targeted information appears when the home page is downloaded. NetStar renamed CTV SpecialtyCTV Inc. has given NetStar Communications Inc. a new name – CTV Specialty Television Inc. As well, it renamed NetStar Enterprises Inc. as CTV Specialty Television Enterprises Inc. The name changes were made to capitalize on the CTV brand. "CTV is a powerful and well-known brand. The name change to CTV Specialty Television aligns us with our parent company and is one more step in the evolution of bringing NetStar and CTV together," said NetStar Communications president Rick Brace in a media release. CTF transfers funds from LFP to support more EIP projectsThe Canadian Television Fund is transferring $5 million from its Licence Fee Program (LFP) to its Equity Investment Program (EIP) to support more productions under the latter half of the fund. "With this transfer, we’re looking to ensure that Canadian Television Fund resources are distributed in a way that allows for the greatest level of support for the new television programming that applied this year," said CTF chair Janet Yale in a media release. The $5 million will be used to support a number of productions it initially turned down in early May, and to reduce the rejection rate in the documentary envelope. Call for expressions for DBS satellite soon to be initiatedIndustry Canada has announced that it will soon put out a call for expressions of interest to launch and operate a new DBS satellite, which would go into operation in April 2007. On April 1, the department filed documents with the International Telecommunication Union to gain access to this band in several orbital slots. Industry Canada officials tell CCR that it received an expression of interest from one satellite player to develop this band prior to its ITU filings. The new bird will use the 17.3-17.8 MHz broadcasting-satellite services band, which was designated for this purpose at an international telecom conference in 1992. For more detailed information on the subject, see the upcoming edition of CCR affiliate publication Report on Wireless. CRTC approves transfer of indirect control of Câble-Axion The CRTC has approved an amendment to the indirect control of Consortium Câble-Axion Digitel inc., Câble-Axion Québec inc. and Câble-Axion Digitel inc. as a result of the acquisition by Telus Corp. of control of Telus Québec inc. Telus Corp. now has an indirect control of 46.7 per cent voting shares in Câble-Axion Québec and a 40.6 per cent voting interest in Câble-Axion Digitel – Broadcasting Decision 2002-150. The CRTC noted in approving the transfer of control that the licensees had proceeded with the transaction prior to regulatory approval. "The licensees are reminded that they must abide by section 4 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, at all time," the CRTC warned. Import of U.S. TV shows compared to "runaway" production"Runaway" production is really "a case of production services, free trade and globalization," Elizabeth McDonald, president and CEO of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, told an audience at the Harvard Club in New York on June 3. She said "runaway" production resulted from free trade, just as does the importation of many U.S. shows onto Canadian television. She noted that almost every U.S. cable or conventional television network was available to over 80 per cent of Canadians. "However, I am sure few Americans understand the challenges of carving out a unique identity when our children watch television on a system dominated by programming from another country. Put more simply, none of you will go home tonight and easily tune into a TV system that offers you CBC, CTV, CBC Newsworld, Showcase, TSN, Le Réseau des sports, etc.," she said. "Indeed, even with the channels that are owned and controlled by Canadians, American programming plays a big role." She concluded, "What we are talking about here is not ‘runaway production’ but the export/import of or trade in, certain film and television production services." CRTC calls for applications for Edmonton radio stationThe CRTC has put out a call for applications to run a commercial radio service in Edmonton AB, following the receipt of one such request – Broadcasting Public Notice 2002-29. A formal application must be submitted by Sept. 4. The CRTC notes that applicants will be required to provide evidence that there is a demand and a market for their proposed services and to explain how the station will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Broadcasting Act.

CCR Short Takes

News | 06/07/2002 4:00 am EDT

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