But right now, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has allowed the two satellite services to use their American systems to provide the signal to Canadian subscribers, as long as they provide lots of that famous Canadian content.
"The newly-licensed services will add new programming to the Canadian broadcasting system," said the CRTC in its decision. "There will be more choice and diversity for consumers, particularly those in rural and remote areas, where broadcasting choices are limited."
The CRTC requires the satellite subscription radio licensees to offer:
This licensee also intends to offer five channels intended for the Aboriginal, Chinese, German, Italian and South Asian communities. The music broadcast by these channels must respect the minimums required by Commission regulations: notably, for popular music, 35 percent Canadian content, and, in the case of French-language channels, a minimum of 65 percent of musical selections in French.
For more information on the decisions, copies of the relevant documents are available at http://www.crtc.gc.ca or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. Those documents are available in alternative format upon request.
"The newly-licensed services will add new programming to the Canadian broadcasting system," said the CRTC in its decision. "There will be more choice and diversity for consumers, particularly those in rural and remote areas, where broadcasting choices are limited."
The CRTC requires the satellite subscription radio licensees to offer:
- at least eight original channels produced in Canada.
- a maximum of nine foreign channels may be offered for each Canadian channel
- at least 85 percent of the musical selections and spoken word programming broadcast on the Canadian channels must be Canadian
- at least 25 percent of the Canadian channels must be in the French language
- at least 25 percent of the musical selections on the Canadian channels must be new Canadian musical selections, and
- a further 25 percent of the selections must be by emerging Canadian artists.
This licensee also intends to offer five channels intended for the Aboriginal, Chinese, German, Italian and South Asian communities. The music broadcast by these channels must respect the minimums required by Commission regulations: notably, for popular music, 35 percent Canadian content, and, in the case of French-language channels, a minimum of 65 percent of musical selections in French.
For more information on the decisions, copies of the relevant documents are available at http://www.crtc.gc.ca or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. Those documents are available in alternative format upon request.