Star Choice’s decision to abandon CSUA leaves many satellite users disgruntled

Star Choice Communications Inc.’s decision to drop out of the Canadian Satellite Users Association (CSUA) last year left many of its customers attending the organization’s recent annual conference complaining about the satellite company’s inaccessibility. Star Choice gave no presentations or updates on its business plans at the conference, as has been tradition in the past. All it did was send one delegate to the conference, the 10th annual edition. Star Choice was joined on the absentee list of presenters by parent company Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (Cancom), a founding member of CSUA. Both companies are owned by Shaw Communications Inc. Only Star Choice was a CSUA member, but Cancom had a significant presence at past conferences, including the attendance of former Cancom president Peter Classon in 2001. "I guess they want to dictate direction from their ivory tower out west. They are not interested in their customers," said one Cancom client, who wished to remain anonymous. CSUA executive director Don Braden tells Canadian Communications Reports that Star Choice cited financial cutbacks as the reason for dropping its membership in the association, which includes broadcasters and satellite TV provider Bell ExpressVu LP. He adds that he’s received no indication from Star Choice that it plans to rejoin the organization at a later date if and when the accounting improves. No one at Star Choice could be reached for comment. "(Star Choice) didn’t renew this year, and our membership year is September through August," Braden explains. "We expressed some concern about it, because our members represent their major customer base. (Star Choice) indicated to us that they were going through all their discretionary expenditures, and they felt CSUA was discretionary." Braden points out that CSUA’s annual conference, held this year in Toronto on February 17-18, gives satellite providers a chance to meet with all their key customers. "It’s really frustrating for the users because a few times a year, CSUA provided them with a chance to get together with Cancom, a major supplier of satellite services," he notes. "Now, they have to do that one-on-one. We think Cancom is really missing out big time – just the efficiency of being able to meet with all their customers in one place. We heard all about Bell ExpressVu’s plans for their satellites. These things are all fundamental to our members." Telesat Canada president and CEO Larry Boisvert opened the conference with his annual breakfast keynote speech, outlining the BCE Inc.-owned company’s plans. As well, in an address on February 18, Chris Frank, VP of programming and government affairs at Bell ExpressVu, also owned by BCE, outlined the satellite TV provider’s plans given the recent launch of Nimiq 2 (CCR Update, Jan. 8/03). Frank, speaking before a power failure on the Nimiq 2 temporarily disrupted service on February 20, noted that the satellite located at 82 degrees should provide better quality signals because on average the signal strength of the satellite is 10% stronger than Nimiq 1, which is at 91 degrees. The Nimiq 1 transition is now in progression. "Once the 82-degree footprint is confirmed, we will be conducting a final test of Bell ExpressVu programming and validating its functionality on software," he said. "Once that is complete, we will transfer channels from 91 to 82, so that bandwidth can be allocated on both satellites. …This transfer will take place over the next couple of months," he said. He added that there will be backup in place during the transition so that no customer is inconvenienced, and that the added capacity will allow Bell ExpressVu to carry more digital channels, offer more high-definition television programming, and more interactive television services. About 180 delegates attended the conference, up from 125 last year, according to Braden.

Star Choice’s decision to abandon CSUA leaves many satellite users disgruntled

News | 02/28/2003 5:00 am EST

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