I don't mean to say the Conservatives or NDP or any party would champion Stern but I do think that they would be open to change and be understanding of what Canadians wants.


I don't know about that. Stern made several remarks about the French, women, gays and other minority groups. I seriously doubt that the NDP would support that out of political correctness and the Conservatives, who want to gain seats in Québec, may not either.

Likely, very likey, they will air Toronto to begin with. Whose to say they will do regional CBC channels or not, or find some way to air the varois regional programs on a channel.


It doesn't seem to be the Toronto feed. I didn't hear Andy Barrie's "Metro Morning" which is Toronto's call in show this morning or "Ontario Today". "World Report and As it Happens" started at 5pm EST rather than 6pm. They aren't giving the local Toronto weather updates after the hourly news.

This the Toronto feed: http://origin.www.cbc.ca/mrl2/livemedia/cbcr1-toronto.asx

I hope the CBC.ca site or Sirius posts their schedule.

I don't know about that. Stern made several remarks about the French, women, gays and other minority groups. I seriously doubt that the NDP would support that out of political correctness and the Conservatives, who want to gain seats in Québec, may not either.


That's correct...and he was right.
The NDP is more harmful than the Liberals, and that's hard to do!

I hope the CBC.ca site or Sirius posts their schedule.

Try here... http://www.cbc.ca/sirius/r1_sirius_schedule_dec1_2005.pdf

Under the terms of the CRTC license, CBC will not be allowed to air any content that is "targeted at a specific geographical region". That means no weather, no traffic, no local interest stuff.

I can't believe anyone here actually believes that the Liberal, or any other, government, has as much interest in the CRTC as is being suggested. Or the CBC, for that matter. Do you recall how much funding has been cut, seriously cut, during the last 30 years to the CBC, since I got into the business?

To any ogvernment in power in this country, the CBC has simply been a place to slash the budget to make other sides of the balance sheet look better. This short-sighted attitude has been raping our talents, on all sides of the mic and camera.

And the notion that the CRTC is a political arena is absurd. Not too many years back, Patrick Watson was appointed chairman; this is a man who was Canada's premier news journalist, and most respected spokesman in the industry... plus a war veteran to boot. He provided immensely controversial television content over his career. He was the CBC. And yet he managed to totally screw up the whole department and, to my mind, almost destroy the charter of the CRTC.

My best guess about the truth here would be that the CRTC really isn't people by guys like you and me, really hard-cord enthusiasts who keep on top of everything in the business around the world. They spend most of their time struggling with bureaucrats at the next higher level, and fighting for budget, and often losing. Just like most government bureaucrats in most departments and certainly NGOs everywhere. And if you are not on the forefront, how can you foresee or predict what is good and bad about anything in this rapidly-evolving arena? But then, even Patrick Watson couldn't do it.

Not too many years back, Patrick Watson was appointed chairman; this is a man who was Canada's premier news journalist, and most respected spokesman in the industry... plus a war veteran to boot. He provided immensely controversial television content over his career. He was the CBC. And yet he managed to totally screw up the whole department and, to my mind, almost destroy the charter of the CRTC.



You must be kidding? Unless the facts are a minor irritant to you that is easily discarded, Patrick Watson was naive when he took the post and was totally used, abused and emasculated, it was the worst thing that has ever happened to him in his career. The fact that you are so ignorant about this widely known fact shows you are either, yes, ignorant, or spinning things.

Well, thank you so much for that wonderfully kind and thoughtful reply. Naivete in politics is precisely the reason his tenure was marred by impotence, but that didn't stop him from hiding behind his own politic.

But I really was hoping someone would be more interested in whether or not bureaucracy is most often the cause of a lack of foresight and leadership in outfits like the CRTC, and not the example itself.

My best guess about the truth here would be that the CRTC really isn't people by guys like you and me, really hard-cord enthusiasts who keep on top of everything in the business around the world. They spend most of their time struggling with bureaucrats at the next higher level, and fighting for budget, and often losing.If they were honest they would tell their higher-ups that there is no longer a reason for them to be regulating the broadcast industry and they would get that removed from their mandate immediately.

In the few areas where the CRTC could be of use to us, the consumer, it has been completely silent. What I am speaking of here is making it mandatory that cable cos provide STBs with active firewire ports and forcing cable cos to provide CableCards to people that want them.

If they were honest they would tell their higher-ups that there is no longer a reason for them to be regulating the broadcast industry and they would get that removed from their mandate immediately.

In the few areas where the CRTC could be of use to us, the consumer, it has been completely silent. What I am speaking of here is making it mandatory that cable cos provide STBs with active firewire ports and forcing cable cos to provide CableCards to people that want them.


When you read the transcripts of the CRTC hearings, you can tell that they themsleves are floundering around trying to justify their own existence, it's like Franz Kafka's The Trial, you read that meandering crap and go, "What are you saying?" These bureaucratic behemoths take on a life of their own though, even when their usefulness has long since passed, and so it certainly won't be the pork barrel Liberals that will do anything about it. I am giving strong consideration to changing my vote to Harper, just to register my anger at all this posturing.

This thread is hysterical…. There are more conspiracy theories here than the Kennedy assassination.

Howard is not in Canada due to capacity / Canadian channel ratio reasons period. If you can convince all the Canadian Subs to get rid of 2 other channels offered by Sirius to Canadian then they can meet the channel ratio requirements and add Howard.

The CRTC in my opinion is nothing more than a business lobby club run to ensure that Canadian businessmen / art lobby groups get a cut of the pie. It has nothing to do with Liberals or Conservatives this system will always be corrupt.

Other sources have a rumored that he will be added to the line-up in the spring anyways.

So, I'm on the Siriuscanada.ca website. Where is the My Account section to view my bill? They said I could do it.

Also, where is the Listen Live section? Also was told I had access to that as well, it comes with the subscription.

Why is the Channel Guide missing 43- the Backspin channel? I get this on my system.

-A- Y'know, I'm glad they pushed me to do a US subscription.

This thread is hysterical…. There are more conspiracy theories here than the Kennedy assassination.
Howard is not in Canada due to capacity / Canadian channel ratio reasons period.

Well, if this is a conspiracy theory, then it will be the first conspiracy theory I subscribe to. If it's really a matter of capacity/ratio, I cannot comprehend how any of the currently selected talk channels can be chosen over Stern. Especially taking into account the $500 million Sirius is paying Stern for this one channel (OK, 2 of them).

[QUOTE=sputnik]This thread is hysterical…. There are more conspiracy theories here than the Kennedy assassination.

Howard is not in Canada due to capacity / Canadian channel ratio reasons period. If you can convince all the Canadian Subs to get rid of 2 other channels offered by Sirius to Canadian then they can meet the channel ratio requirements and add Howard.




Please don't post. You're dumb.

Please don't post. You're dumb.

It always funny when ignorant people use dumb when they mean stupid.
I can speak just fine thank-you.

ignore my post if you don't like it, better yet come up something constructive.


Sirius Canada made a business decision on what to carry and what not to carry. Canada has laws regarding the degradation of minorities and hate speech maybe Sirius Canada wants to see what Stern's content will be like to ensure that it won't jeopardize their investment.

It always funny when ignorant people use dumb when they mean stupid.
I can speak just fine thank-you.

ignore my post if you don't like it, better yet come up something constructive.


Sirius Canada made a business decision on what to carry and what not to carry. Canada has laws regarding the degradation of minorities and hate speech maybe Sirius Canada wants to see what Stern's content will be like to ensure that it won't jeopardize their investment.

sounds like you're changing your 'tune', junior.

First it's about 'capacity' issues (now THAT's comedy - when you're talking about the biggest name in radio versus that 10th easy-country station - which one are YOU going to put on??? - comedy)

Now, it's about a try-out period for Sirius Canada i.e. let's see how offensive he can be? Bingo!!!

30% change of opinion :) ( they are changeable don't ya know :p )

I 100% don't think the CRTC is involved in a conspiracy against Howard Stearn.

It 100% is a decision Sirius Canada has made what channels they carry.

Now whether it is total capacity related or Howard Stearn offence related or a bit of both only the CEO and Board of Sirius Canada know for sure.

At worst they want their Canadian enemies to simmer down before they introduce anything remotely controversial.

Although XM apparently has Opie and Anthony (who ever the hell they are [apparently their offensive too]) and Fox News. Personally I find Fox News' Bill O'Riely more offensive than any thing Stern could say or do.

Maybe thats XM Canada's secret, have offensive nobodies like O&A instead of a somebody like Stern .

It is obvious to me from all that's been said here and in the press that CRCT should not be blamed. It's just an incredibly stupid business decision on part of Sirius Canada. Regardless of whether they will change their mind or not, it's already costing them millions and millions of lost revenue dollars.

Regardless of whether they will change their mind or not, it's already costing them millions and millions of lost revenue dollars.

It will just get worse for Sirius Canada once Stern's program launches in the U.S. in January. Canadians are going to be exposed to all the media coverage and hype but, won't be able to listen to him legally in Canada with Sirius Canada. This will only increase American subscriptions and Sirius Canada will end up losing even more potential revenue than it has now before Stern has even started broadcasting. Canadian fans of Stern aren't going to wait around for Sirius Canada and will find a way to obtain an American subscription in order to gain access to his program.

I know it's probably been said before, but why would you pay the man half a BILLION dollars and not include him in your sister outfit in Canada if it's not a CRTC decision

Because not CRTC, but Sirius Canada decides what to be included in the lineup. Sirius Canada have made this stupid decision and are trying to wash their hands by saying that CRTC "might" object to Stern. While at the same time XM Canada have included the equally controversial Opie and Anthony in their Canadain lineup. XM just does business better, not only in Canada.