Late breaking news: Radio stations appeal CRTC’s satellite radio decision

Canadian radio broadcasters are appealing last month's CRTC decision to grant satellite subscription radio licenses to Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. and Sirius Canada Inc. Notable amongst the appellants are CHUM Limited and Astral Media Radio who were granted license for a subscription 50-channel terrestrial DAB (digital audio broadcast) service at the same time.
The appeal states that the licensing of U.S.-supported satellite services is inconsistent with Canada's broadcasting policy. The broadcasters argue that under the Broadcasting Act, broadcast undertakings are to make maximum and predominant use of Canadian resources, serve the needs of Canadians through programming and employment opportunities, and be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians. They believe the two satellite services do not comply with those guidelines.
By Patti Summerfield
July 12, 2005

Canadian radio broadcasters are appealing last month’s CRTC decision to grant satellite subscription radio licenses to Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. and Sirius Canada Inc. Notable amongst the appellants are CHUM Limited and Astral Media Radio who were granted license for a subscription 50-channel terrestrial DAB (digital audio broadcast) service at the same time.

The appeal states that the licensing of U.S.-supported satellite services is inconsistent with Canada’s broadcasting policy. The broadcasters argue that under the Broadcasting Act, broadcast undertakings are to make maximum and predominant use of Canadian resources, serve the needs of Canadians through programming and employment opportunities, and be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians. They believe the two satellite services do not comply with those guidelines.

Sirius Canada is a joint venture of U.S.-based Sirius Satellite Radio (20%), CBC (40%) and Standard Radio (40%). CSR is Canadian owned and controlled by John Bitove in partnership with XM Satellite Radio, the number one service south of the border with more than 4 million subscribers and the provider of most of the programming.

The broadcasters behind the appeal are CHUM and Astral Media joined by Radio 1540 (CHIN Radio Television International), CJRT-FM (Jazz.FM91), Fairchild Radio Group, O.K. Radio Group, Newcap, Larche Communications, Aboriginal Voices Radio, Rock 95 Broadcasting, Evanov Radio Group and Radio-Nord Communications.