Canada - Here comes Satellite Radio!

Cabinet has upheld a CRTC decision to issue two satellite radiolicences after the applicants agreed to increase Canadiancontent and French-language service. The applicants are SiriusCanada and Canadian Satellite Radio, each of which has a U.S.partner. Details of the new Canadian content commitments werenot immediately available but the number of French-languagechannels will be increased to four from three. As part of theagreement, CSR and Sirius have been forces to increase theFrench-language influence and broadcasting. Both promise toinclude 8 Canadian channels, which are half English and halfFrench. Several cultural organizations such as the CanadianRecording Industry opposed the original terms of the licenses.Reasons include that they have weakened domestic content rules.

These rules require Canadian music and talk programming to beprominent on the airwaves. "This is a black day," said IanMorrison, a spokesman for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. "Ineffect, the Americans have won." The new licenses call for eightnew Canadian channels and 72 American channels.

While some people are complaining, independent and emergingartists favored the satellite licenses. They believe that thenew services will provide them with exposure in the UnitedStates and abroad. Satellite radio, while initially intendedmainly for car radios, has made several new improvements forportable and home satellite radio. Automakers, whom have factoryready satellite receivers in new 2006 models supported theapplications. Just as in America, subscrition to the new radioservices can be purchased and heard anywhere in North America