Broadcasters, cablecos split on issue of omnibus HD channels

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) is opposing an application by Star Choice and Cancom to offer six omnibus channels providing high-definition (HD) programming from various Canadian and non-Canadian sources. On the other hand, the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association (CCTA) sees value in the proposal, particularly for small cablecos. Below are excerpts from the two organizations filings to the CRTC. Canadian Association of Broadcasters The CAB supports the goal of making more HD programming from Canadian licensees available to viewers. The CAB submits, however, that the current proposal for BDU-created HD omnibus channels raises a number of fundamental issues that, if not addressed, would in fact harm the ability of Canadian television services to continue their progress towards digital transmission and the provision of HD programming. The commission clearly stated in Star Choice’s licence renewal that Canadian programming undertakings and foreign services providing HD programming are distinct services and, like standard definition television services, must be distributed in their entirety on dedicated channels, unless otherwise authorized by the commission. The CAB strongly supports this fundamental policy position, which is essential to maintaining an orderly development of HD broadcasting in Canada. Yet Star Choice’s proposal would in fact promote the further distribution of U.S. services in Canada, to the potential detriment of Canadian HD services. Star Choice/Cancom argue that, given their capacity constraints, there is insufficient HD programming available from Canadian licensees to justify the provision of a dedicated HD channel for each such service. In support of this, they list the 14 services from which they choose HD programming for the six omnibus channels…There are numerous Canadian services now providing HD programming that apparently would not benefit from distribution by Star Choice/Cancom because of their intention to restrict the number of channels devoted to HD programming to six. The CAB intervention filed in June 2004 with respect to a similar application by Vidéotron ltée listed the significant progress being made by Canadian conventional broadcasters and specialty and pay services in increasing the supply of HD programming. Since then, even more HD programming is being made available by Canadian programming services, and many licensees are now investing heavily, not only in programming, but also in marketing and branding their HD services. Omnibus HD channels provide by BDUs undermine such activities by Canadian program undertakings. Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association Many CCTA members, particularly smaller cable systems operating in remote areas, rely entirely on Cancom for the delivery and authorization services associated with digital programming. In effect, Cancom provides an essential service to these cable systems. Without this service these systems would not be able to compete against DTH providers. In fact, without the HD omnibus channels, an innovative approach first supported by Bell ExpressVu for its own service, cable operators would not be in a position to offer customers in their market the broad HD programming choices that are currently available through satellite. In CCTA’s view, permitting Star Choice/Cancom to distribute its HD service by way of omnibus channels would facilitate greater competition in broadcasting distribution by enabling other BDUs to carry a broader range of HD programming. The omnibus channels distributed by Star Choice/Cancom transmit HDTV programs from a wide variety of broadcast networks and permit cable operators to offer the greatest amount of available HD programming using limited channel capacity in a very efficient manner. Smaller cable systems do not and could not, in the near future, support the delivery of the equivalent individual HD channels. The capacity simply does not exist. The omnibus channels provide a practical solution to cable system allowing greater choice in advanced services to smaller and remote communities.…CCTA has stated on numerous occasions that much more needs to be done to deliver the benefits of HD television to its customers...In our view, consumers that have made the investment in HD television sets should not be frustrated in their efforts to gain access to true HD content.

Broadcasters, cablecos split on issue of omnibus HD channels

News | 11/08/2004 5:00 am EST

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