CCR Short Takes

Fecan says Bell Globemedia hasn’t given up on convergenceBell Globemedia president and CEO Ivan Fecan says he hasn’t given up on convergence. "In terms of where I see it going is I see a continuum," he told delegates at the New Developments in Communications Law and Policy conference on April 26. He likened convergence to research and development, indicating that it would take a number of applied experiments over time before the convergence applications that really have strength are found. "I think we need to go down that route (toward convergence) and find out," he said. Parent company BCE Inc.’s television, print, and Internet convergence strategy has been questioned recently, particularly following the surprise resignation of Jean Monty, BCE chair and CEO (CCR, April 25/02). Monty was the architect of Bell Globemedia. CRTC reviewing VOD, games, teleshopping exemptionsThe CRTC is reviewing exemption orders that free experimental video-on-demand programming, video games on television, and teleshopping programming from the requirements of Part II of the Broadcasting Act – Broadcasting Notice 2002-20. The commission notes that it conducts a periodic review of exemption orders between five and seven years from the date of issue. First round comments concerning the exemption review are due on June 25, with reply comments due on August 26. Federal court rejects Star Ray’s request for judicial reviewThe Federal Court of Appeal on May 6 rejected a request by Jan Pachul, owner of the pirate low-powered television station Star Ray TV, for a judicial review of his case. "I conclude that Decision 2001-778 is subject to appeal under section 31 (of the Broadcasting Act) and hence cannot be the subject of an application for judicial review on the grounds raised by Mr. Pachul," notes judge J.A. Sharlow. He continues, "In my view, this court has no jurisdiction to hear Mr. Pachul’s application…It follows that this motion for dismissal should be granted." On January 21, Pachul filed for judicial review of the CRTC’s decision to issue a mandatory order for Star Ray TV to shut down operations by November 15, 2001. The CRTC has already rejected an appeal of the cease-and-desist operating order (CCR, Jan. 18/02, Sept. 27/01). Wilson term not renewed; CRTC could be downsizedMay 3 marked CRTC commissioner Martha Wilson’s last day on the job. She was not reappointed and it’s quite likely that her post and those of three other commissioners whose terms end this fall won’t be filled. Sources say CRTC chair Charles Dalfen is keen on reducing the size of the commission, which means David McKendry (Oct. 26), Andrée Noël (Oct. 26), and James Stuart Langford (Nov. 15) could be out. Wilson tells CCR she will continue working for the federal government, but declined to provide further details until the i’s on the deal are dotted. "I think it is very useful to have people at the table who have worked in the industries that the CRTC regulates," she notes. "There are inevitably comments about whether or not it’s appropriate to have people at the commission table who have worked in the industries that we regulate. But it’s highly specialized work, and it’s very useful to have a broad range of experience, including experience in those industries. It’s very helpful in terms of making the decisions." Key Media’s Wedding Bells bows out of digital marriageThe CRTC revoked last month the Category 2 licence granted to Wedding Bells, a channel devoted to all things bridal. The revocation was made at the request of the channel’s owner Key Media Ltd. – Broadcasting Decision 2002-110. Cancom can distribute all licensed conventional TV signalsThe CRTC has approved a licence amendment for Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (Cancom) to permit it to distribute the signal of any licensed radio and conventional television station to distributors – Broadcasting Decision 2002-119. Cancom is currently authorized to distribute 30 Canadian television services and a similar number of foreign television services as well as the signals of some 30 Canadian and seven non-Canadian radio stations. The amendment allows Cancom to distribute any Canadian radio and conventional television channel in addition to those on the list. The application was supported by Bell ExpressVu, which also operates a satellite relay distribution undertaking in conjunction with its DTH unit. It was opposed by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Cogeco Radio-television Inc., the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, and Global Television on copyright and program licensing issues. They argued that local television stations whose signals are distributed by SRDUs and DTH distributors gain access to audiences across a territory far broader than the area for which they had purchased programming rights. Cancom responded that compensation is paid by distributors to copyright collectives for programming contained in the signals of distant Canadian television stations. 42% of basic cable subscribers in deregulated systems: DalfenCRTC chair Charles Dalfen told delegates to the Canadian Cable Television Association’s convention in Vancouver in April that 42 per cent of all basic cable subscribers will be in deregulated systems by the end of May. By that time, the soon-to-be-rate-deregulated Class 1 systems will have been added to those systems already deregulated. Rogers Cable Inc. and Regional Cablesystems Inc. were the first to apply for basic cable rate deregulation in March 2001 under CRTC regulations (CCR, May 24/01, Oct. 11/01). Roberts once again calls for public service "green space" Vision TV president and CEO Bill Roberts reiterated his call for "green space" for public service broadcasters when he appeared April 25 before the Canadian Heritage standing committee studying the broadcasting system (CCR, Feb. 1/01).

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | May 9, 2002

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