Sirius & XM Eyes Canada

[sperry]

Sirius Eyes Canada
From SkyReport.com 12/11/03
"National broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada and Sirius said they are forming a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canada, and will soon file an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for a license to deliver the offering north of the border.

The proposed subscription-based national service will give Canadians access to satellite-delivered programming, including Canadian content. CBC/Radio-Canada said it secured distribution of two of its main channels, Radio One and La Premiere Chaine, for the service.

As a result of CBC/Radio-Canada's involvement, the venture will provide "opportunities for existing and emerging Canadian artists to showcase their talent and be heard not only across Canada, but throughout North America as well," the companies said.

In addition, Sirius and CBC/Radio-Canada said they are holding talks with - and may add - other Canadian financial and/or broadcasting investors to the venture. "

Not bad eh?

 

[enkeiavalanche]

Sorry Yak but Sony is XM ready But there are ways around that. You can get the Sony aux input. And go that way or Rf. Glenn

 

[sperry]

'Thought you'ld jump on that one Yak

 

[ygmn]

Does that mean they have to have FRENCH speaking content to make Quebec happy?

 

[sperry]

I wonder if that'll prompt XM to do something similar

XM's footprint is different as they have getstationary satellites (should't be much problem anyway).
Sirius' sats orbit around in a weird figure 8 pattern and could cover farther North easier.

 

[ygmn]

SPERRY: Maybe THIS ARTICLE HERE will help answer that question.......

SUMMARY QUOTE: "MONTREAL-Former Toronto Raptors owner and Olympic bid leader John Bitove Jr. is getting into the satellite radio business with plans to launch a Canadian joint venture with U.S.-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., @Biz has learned.

XM will announce this week that it is teaming with a group led by Bitove to bring a version of its U.S.-based satellite radio service to Canadian consumers, according to Stewart Lyons, one of the partners working with Bitove.

The new company, called Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. (CSR) is completing its application for a broadcast license to the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission, which it plans to file this fall."

Look at YAKKY.....you go dude...very good info....!!!

 

[sperry]

I guess I'll change the title!! Maybe the lag in the news will catch up to CAFCNA one day...

Will that mess anything up if I do change (edit) the title?

 

[ygmn]

I changed it for ya and all the posts

 

[sperry]

Kewel.. That'll fit a bit better.

 

[sperry]

Here's another recent clip from skyreport.com.
More direct but may be temporary:http://skyreport.com/#Story4

Sirius is looking north of the border to expand its consumer footprint.

And the company should make every effort to get its service to Canadians. The vast country offers immense potential, and can be easily served since most of the Canadian population lives within a few dozen miles of the U.S./Canadian border.

Sirius isn't the first satellite-based platform to set sights on the neighbor to the North. Satellite TV has considered service to the country. And at the moment, unauthorized reception of U.S.-based satellite signals - though illegal in Canada - remains a hotbed of activity.

Yet while there are opportunities, there are obstacles. And the biggest could be regulators in Ottawa.

Satellite TV and cable operators are required to deliver a "preponderance" of Canadian programming services. Content must be Canadian in majority, and carriage of Canadian TV signals must be given priority. That includes providing some content in French.

The preponderance issue is one reason why U.S. services aren't delivering "legit" services north of the border.

It's unclear how the regulatory focus on Canadian programming impacts a relatively new service like satellite radio. But Sirius is making promises that appear to be an attempt to appease regulators. CBC/Radio-Canada, Sirius' partner in Canada, said it secured distribution of two of its main channels, Radio One and La Premiere Chaine, for the future offering.

Adding Canadian news and information channels is one thing. But how do you gauge the level of Canadian programming with the commercial-free audio channels? The all-music streams deliver Canadian artists, but the majority of performers aren't Canadian. And will there be public interest obligations for service into Canada?

It may be an uphill battle for Sirius, but it is a challenge the company should take. And the Canadian government could consider allowing Sirius to serve the country in order to avoid the situation it has with illegitimate satellite TV.

The proposed Canadian service has one strong element for Sirius: Pamela Anderson's nationality is Canadian. She has her own show on the satellite radio service. And all that could make Sirius a winner in the Great White North.

 

[sperry]

...And another Sirius article:
http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/1203/10.sirius.html