But I guess something allegedly got around to the controlling board because Canada's gov't. never met a bag man they didn't like *ahem*.
The CRTC's approval of the satellite initiatives has a few conditions, however: At least eight channels must be Canadian-produced with 25% of the offerings French-language; at least 85% of the content on the Canadian-produced channels must be Canadian; at least a quarter of the music on those channels must be from new Canadian artists, and another 25% on the Canadian-produced must be from emerging Canadian artists. Sirius Canada and CSR must contribute 5% or more of their gross revenue to develop Canadian talent, and the CHUM-Astral conglomerate is required to contribute 2% or more.You'd think that it would be a sweet victory for freedom lovers and broadcasters everywhere, but no.... the gov't. has to weasel themselves into places they don't belong. I've never seen so much regulations in my entire life! So where's my 24 hour Sarah McLachlan, Nickelback, Rush, Avril Lavigne, and Celine Dion channel? This is strictly a case of the minority forcing it's will on the majority.
The Canadians have hit a small snag in their plans for meeting the CRTC regulations. According to the second article, CHUM radio is expected to pull out of their plans to produce their channels in space leaving the doors open for XM and Sirius.
...the situation may be further muddied if the CHUM/Astral Media partnership the only 100% Canadian-owned company to win one of the three licenses issued by the CRTC drops out due to the cost of launching the service against XM and Sirius, which both already have systems in place that can reach Canada.
[Via:Radio & Records & Radio & Records]
2 comments:
Michael,
You're missing the point.
First of all, the CRTC has not been "blocking" anything. Just like in the U.S., any group who wants access to airwaves must apply to the national regulatory body. Sirius and XM both applied to the FCC to get their licence there; was the FCC "blocking" them? Hardly.
Would you rather have anyone who can put an antenna up or satellite up just do it without ANY kind of regulation? Imagine how many stations would be all playing on top of 99.9 FM! It would be chaos.
That is why governments conduct hearings to make sure the public agrees with what is going on with THEIR (the public's) airwaves. The same thing happens in the U.S.
Second, your point about Canadian content is misguided at best. So much American culture dribbles over the border, there has got to be a way for Canadian artists to make it big in our own country.
Sarah MacLaughlin and the Barenaked Laides wouldn't be anywhere without the Canadian's "cancon" (Canadian Content) requirment on radio because it's simply easier to play American artists.
Then where would our culture be?
So your article is both inaccurate and insulting to Canadians.
Dear "Anonymous":
Please accept my sincere apology to the Canadian citizens and broadcasters who work under that banner.
My criticism was not directed on the country on the whole, but expressing my displeasure of Liberal Government Regulations in any country. It was you who missed the point to my comments.
I am disappointed that you did not have the courage to sign your own name to the comments so that I might confront you personally. I hope that you will have come back to this website to see my sincere apology and to understand what direction I wanted this post to be.
The bottom line is that I believe that the Canadian content would succeed if left to their devices under a capitalist society. In a perfect world, I believe that Canadians would demand more of their country's products and businesses would adjust to meet the demand.
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