[hugh]

In a broadcasting decision handed down yesterday, the CRTC has denied Shaw Communications request to add National Geographic Wild to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution in Canada.

The 24 hours English Language channel which is operated by the National Geographic Society and News Corporation focuses primarily on wildlife and natural history programming .

 

[bigoranget]

No surprise here; though I suppose since Shaw owns National Geographic Canada they probably will apply for a Category B service and pull the required 30-35% Canadian content from existing services.

 

[thenewdc]

Typical CRTC, what a crock!

 

[peano]

"The federal regulator denied Shaw’s request to bring National Geographic Wild to Canada after it received submissions from CTV and High Fidelity which argued the new station would directly compete with their category 2 digital specialty channels: Animal Planet and Oasis HD."

Heaven forbid we should have competition.

And my 3000th post is in response to yet another bad CRTC decision.....hmmmm

 

[PlayitSimple]

Heaven forbid we should have competition.

My thoughts exactly!

The CRTC denies any application that might pose even the slightest threat to the current monopolies and allow some competition to arise. To them it appears that competition is like the plague- something to be avoided at all costs. The Communist Chinese would be very proud of the Commission and how they run things

Can someone just put forth a motion or bill to get rid of this anti-competitive organization. Time for the CRTC to be dismantled and replaced by some other more simpler body whose sole purpose is to ensure that competition exists in the Telecom & Broadcasting industries and regulates these sectors to ensure that the current situation does not take hold again.

Getting back to this decision, was there ever any doubt that this application would be denied?! Not sure what Shaw was thinking here but from the first time I saw this on the CRTC site, I knew they would deny it. A feeble attempt but a wasted one IMO- back to the drawing board Shaw!

 

[hugh]

The problem is the government requires a CDN version of every U.S. Channel so the only way Nat Geo Wild will get here is if they create a Category 2 channel with 35% Cdn content.

 

[Francois Caron]

Actually, 15% first year, 25% second year, and 35% third and subsequent years.

Just progressively swap the most boring American content with even more boring Canadian content, and you're done!

 

[thegiffer]

The CRTC is an embarrassment for our country.

 

[ScaryBob]

The problem is the government requires a CDN version of every U.S. Channel

I don't think that is correct. The problem is that CAT 2 channels are protected from direct competition from other US and Canadian channels. Canadian broadcasters have applied for Canadian channels in almost every genre, with the aim of keeping US channels out of Canada. It is summed up in the previous quote "... which argued the new station would directly compete with their category 2 digital specialty channels." Never mind that most CAT 2 channels have strayed so far from their original mandate that many are virtual clones of each other. The CRTC has turned it's regulatory role into a national farce and disgrace to Canadians. Finckenstein has to be the worst CRTC chairman in its history. The man should be run out of office on the next stagecoach.

 

[Francois Caron]

Actually, Cat. 1 channels are protected against competition. Cat. 2 channels are not. However, it's reasonable to assume that ALL Canadian channels benefit from some "protection" against USA "invaders of culture."

Right. As if we actually HAVE a culture to protect!

 

[PlayitSimple]

Actually, Cat. 1 channels are protected against competition. Cat. 2 channels are not.

Cat. 2 channels are protected from competition as well- protection from foreign services. So in this case, Cat. 2 channel Animal Planet cried foul and said that Nat Geo Wild would compete with it and the CRTC bought the lame argument and denied the application.

Never mind that most CAT 2 channels have strayed so far from their original mandate that many are virtual clones of each other.

This is spot on and the reason why specialty TV in Canada these days is laughable and downright pathetic. Why waste money watching the same stuff on 50 different channels?! Is it any wonder why more and more people are turning to the Internet to get their TV fix?! This model is not sustainable IMO and pretty soon will come crashing down. Time to go back to the days of old when you had only a handful of channels but they were full of great programming. Now you have hundreds of channels with a few quality, original programs and the rest of the schedule is comprised of filler crap.

 

[57]

With all the repeats that NG Canada currently runs, they'd have plenty of room for additional programming without another channel.

 

[Frenchie]

In fact, the CRTC decision is not about CULTURE. It is about the INDUSTRY of culture.
The CRTC do not care about culture Francois, they are there to protect and promote a bunch of grant suckers !