Canadian Group Opposes XM, Sirius Licensing

June 17, 2005

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Canadian Group Opposes XM Sirius Licensing

A recent decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will be appealed by a self-proclaimed media watchdog group. The

At least eight original channels produced in Canada. A maximum of nine foreign channels may be offered for each Canadian channel.

At least 85 per cent of the musical selections and spoken word programming broadcast on the Canadian channels must be Canadian.

At least 25 per cent of the Canadian channels must be in the French language.

At least 25 per cent of the musical selections on the Canadian channels must be new Canadian music.

A further 25 per cent of the selections must be by emerging Canadian artists.

But Friends says that will only provide a minimal number of channels compared to the overall offerings of Sirius and XM. And the Canadian Association of Broadcasters worries that subscription radio will compete with broadcast radio. That assertion will likely be proved correct, since they would indeed be competing. The Canadian partners seem unconcerned. Said Canadian Satellite Radio bid executive John Bitove: "We could almost ask all of the bankers and brokers to take a number at the door on proposals (for an IPO)." David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him

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