Sun TV News approved

[argilo]

Sun TV News was just approved by the CRTC. Details are available here:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-882.htm

[hugh]

This should be no surprise as category 2 channels are virtually rubber stamped now. Quebecor now has to try and get carriage.

edit:

The licensee shall operate as a Category 2 specialty service until 1 September 2011 and thereafter as a Category C service.

Okay what is a Category C service?

[argilo]

There's a short explanation in the Sun TV News decision:

9. As noted in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2009-562, until the regulatory revisions required to fully implement the policies set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100 come into effect, new entrants are being licensed as Category 2 services. The Commission will shortly be issuing a notice of consultation setting out the proposed regulatory revisions to implement the policies set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100. In that notice of consultation, competitive Canadian mainstream sports and national news specialty services will be designated as Category C services.

[ScaryBob]

Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2009-562

The policy statement does not appear to refer to "Category C" but does apply to news and sports services.

[PlayitSimple]

Quebecor now has to try and get carriage.

Are you suggesting that they will have a hard time getting carriage- I doubt it!

Shaw Cable/Shaw Direct will add it to appease the large Conservative base that exists out west. Bell & Rogers (the jokers of the pack) tend to add pretty much any channel they can get their hands on so I would wager that they will pick it up as well. Oh and of course Videotron is a lock since their parent company owns the channel.

The key thing is not whether they will get BDU's to pick it up, its where will BDU's place the channel- basic package or in a theme pack?!

Two things to keep an eye on now:

1- What happens to Sun TV- will they shut down or will they use it to simulcast Sun News to OTA viewers?!

2- Will they keep the name 'Sun News' or perhaps hook up with Fox to launch Fox News Canada?

[thenewdc]

They may think twice about closing down CKXT, they could turn that into a semi-news channel and an advertising platform for SUN News, carrying some of their programming and perhaps movies and other fare the rest of the time.

[rmchahn]

Would they be allowed to simulcast Sun TV news on Sun TV without a separate licence? It would be a good way for them to give a sneak peek at the channel in hopes of attracting subscribers in the future.

[ScaryBob]

If history is any kind of indication... Sun News is a cat2 channel so it will go into a package. Rogers will likely pick it up right away and bundle it with similar channels or in the pick'n'pay selections. Bell will hold out because they don't want to put it in an existing news package (where Sun wants it placed.) When it does launch on BSTV, it will be a $2.50 add-on and also part of a theme pack. That package will either be new or an existing, low subscription rate package with a bunch of totally unrelated channels. That means BSTV subscribers will have a choice between paying more or dropping another theme pack.

Sun TV will become Sunset TV in and go off air January. This has already been announced by Quebecor. The only thing that might save it is if a buyer comes forward.

[alebowgm]

Originally Posted by rmchahn

Would they be allowed to simulcast Sun TV news on Sun TV without a separate licence? It would be a good way for them to give a sneak peek at the channel in hopes of attracting subscribers in the future.

As part of CKXT's license, they are allowed to show news programming and in many threads on this site since Sun TV News has been announced this has been discussed to death... could they do it, yes, will they do it, long term no because they want to get out of the OTA business, but short term they may do it to maintain the low channel allotment and give people a free preview, then when they do shutdown CKXT people who have become acustomed to the station will say WTF and demand it either be included in a package or sub...