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Industry Canada proposes changes to MCS and MDS bands
Industry Canada has proposed several changes to the 2500-2690 MHz frequency range that would harmonize Canada’s rules in this band with other international jurisdictions. Further, the department seeks comment on what to do with currently unused multipoint distribution system (MDS) spectrum and has proposed to allow MDS operators to use more of their spectrum for non-broadcast services. The MDS and multipoint communication system (MCS) services spectrum has been the subject of considerable debate on the international scene for some time as it was designated a 3G spectrum band at the 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-00) and has been considered for other services by other countries.
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The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports.
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Phyllis Yaffe has been appointed to the new role of COO of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Previously, she was CEO of the company’s broadcast group. The appointment is part of a streamlined operating structure that reflects the company’s decision to exit virtually all in-house production.
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Ontario court dismisses motion by Craig Wireless vs. Look, UBS
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed the motion brought by Craig Wireless International Inc. against Unique Broadband Systems Inc. and Look Communications Inc. Craig Wireless was seeking an interim injunction that would disallow a private placement by Look in January 2003 to UBS until it was approved by the company’s disinterested shareholders, and to direct Look to get approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for the private placement (CCR, Oct. 31/03). That transaction gave UBS majority control of Look. Craig Wireless has also agreed to a dismissal of its appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal of the October 2003 CRTC decision approving UBS’ acquisition of a controlling interest in Look. Craig argued that the commission "erred in law and breached the principles of natural justice when it approved the application on an ex parte basis and without public notice, and without affording the applicant (Craig Wireless) any opportunity to make representations or file evidence related to the decision before it was made by the commission, despite the commission’s awareness that the applicant had an interest and had concerns to voice with respect to the application" (CCR, March 11/04).
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Canadians are increasingly turning to specialty channels as their preferred television viewing option because of better programming, according to a recent national consumer research survey. The study found that 47% of Canadian TV viewers say they prefer specialty channels to conventional networks, with only 31% stating they prefer conventional networks.
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Some ethnic groups are calling on the government to legalize grey market television so that they can access third-language programming not currently available in Canada. Appearing April 29 before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Paul Fitzgerald, VP and legal counsel of the Congreso Ibero-Americano de Canada (CIAC), stressed the importance of distinguishing among the black, grey and legal satellite TV markets. "The grey market lets Canadians get news that is unavailable elsewhere," said Fitzgerald. He added that the grey market shouldn’t be illegal because in Canada it has never been illegal to subscribe to a foreign newspaper, import a book, listen to a foreign radio station or watch foreign channels via the Internet.
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Canada’s broadcast distributors added fewer net digital TV subscribers in 2003 compared to 2002, the fifth consecutive year of slower subscriber growth, according to new research from Decima Publishing Inc. The number of Canadian households subscribing to digital TV services increased by 12% or approximately 417,000 in 2003 (November/December 2002 to November/December 2003), compared to 21% or about 588,000 the previous year (November/December 2001 to November/December 2002). The latest digital TV subscriber numbers are contained in the newly published latest installment of the quarterly digital TV market overview report series, entitled THE DIGITAL DOMAIN: Tracking the Growth and Development of the Canadian Digital TV Distribution Market.
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A decline in industrial Canadian production could provide Canadian producers with the opportunity to make truly Canadian TV shows, an industry panel noted at a recent law conference. Six-point Canadian production, or production that is deemed less Canadian and made primarily to be sold internationally, is becoming increasingly difficult to finance as the international TV and film markets dry up. "This should provide Canadian producers with the opportunity to produce true Canadian drama," said Maureen Parker, executive director of the Writers Guild of Canada, during a session on Canadian TV drama in crisis at the New Developments in Communications Law and Policy conference in Ottawa last month.
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