Canadian Communications Pioneer Dies

I like to listen to the Toronto media through streaming Internet audio quite often. One name that stands out frequently is Ted Rogers of Rogers Communications. He is known throughout Ontario and Canada for having an empire of broadcasting and sports ownership. Remember the Skydome? In 2003, he bought the naming rights to make it the Rogers Center.

Ted passed away in his Toronto home today reportedly surrounded by his family. An official statement was made by the company to say

It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc. announces the death of our colleague, leader and friend, Edward Samuel "Ted" Rogers, the founder of the company, a visionary communications industry pioneer and an icon in Canadian business.

I would like to agree with that. I feel a little bit of loss by the news, but having not known the man personally.

Montreal Station Preforms "Dangerous" Stunt

A Montreal Rock station CHOI (96.9 FM) engaged in some psychological warfare today as the character "Super Pig" and a fellow conspirator taped a Montreal Canadiens jersey to the iconic Rocky statue in Philadelphia, PA. You can watch the photos here.I would never try something this dangerous as knowing Philadelphia's reputation. I have been there plenty of times to know that Philly will not take this lying down.

When I was at Penn State, we continued the tradition called "guard the lion" - an all night party the night before the Penn State Football Homecoming game. The logic being that any rival school would not deface the Nittany Lion statue as it currently sits in the grotto just outside the Rec Hall gymnasium.

Not that I would condone such an act, but would we see a Philadelphia banner flying from Stade Olympique in the near future for retribution?

Canada Gov't. Gives Permission to it's Citizens to have satellite Radio

So it looks like the Canadian contingency will eventually get to hear my radio program after all. I was a little dismayed at the attempts that the CRTC to block the ownership of satellite radio services in Canada.

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]

Canadians Won't Allow for satellite Radio

What the hell is wrong with Canada? I was hoping that once I get farther in my career, that my Canadian fans would like to hear me via satellite radio. I guess they're going to have to wait!

The Globe and Mail recently reported that two Canadian car makers won't be offering satellite radio in their 2006 models because the CRTC refuses to approve the radios for sale in Canada.

The broadcast regulator has steadfastly refused to allow two American satellite radio providers, Sirius satellite radio and XM satellite radio to operate in this country and will prosecute Canadians who dare to operate or sell these products in Canada.

I guess they aren't about to reach any solutions quickly.

The primary reason why there are no Canadian satellite radio companies is because the cost of putting satellites up in the sky and offering the service is very high and the Canadian population is not big enough to support it.

It's disappointing on so many levels. I've got a lot of friends and fans in the Canadian Province of Ontario, but it pisses me off to no end how badly their own Liberal Government is f---ing them up the ass. Are they afraid of news and information that the Gov't can't control?