CCR Short Takes

Vidéotron appeals winback rules for high-speed InternetVidéotron ltée wants the CRTC to reverse an earlier ruling forcing it to wait 90 days before attempting to lure back high-speed Internet customers who switch to a competitor. Filed March 5, the application takes issue with Order CRTC 2000-789 which categorizes Vidéotron as a dominant player in the high-speed Internet market, and as such, subjected it to a 90-day winback restriction. The cableco points out, however, that its relative share of the high-speed ISP market in Quebec dropped from 71% to 56% between March 31 and Dec. 31 last year. In comparison, it claims Bell Canada’s market share during that same period increased from 29% to 44%. Vidéotron also challenges the scope of the new rules, saying they apply to all of its retail Internet services. If the CRTC decides to retain the winback rules, Vidéotron says they should be applied equally to all facilities-based high-speed ISPs, and not exclusively to Vidéotron and to cable modem technology. Quebec to support community television in CRTC proceedingsBloc Quebecois MP Christiane Gagnon told the House last month that the Quebec government would support community television in its intervention to the CRTC. (PN 2001-19). She has pledged that if public hearings on the matter occur, the Bloc would "continue to pressure the CRTC to ensure the continuation of community television so that regional voices will not be silenced." She added that the CRTC thumbed its nose at Quebec’s cultural specificity when it made the existence of community television "precarious" by deciding to no longer require cablecos to fund it.Shaw pledges to offer new products, increase revenuesShaw Communications told investors earlier this month that it would begin a video-on-demand trial within a year, offer interactive television within two years, and offer IP telephony services within two to three years. The company predicted the added services could increase the $34 monthly fee paid by cable subscribers to as much as $161 if viewers opted for all products, including Internet access, digital channels, VOD, interactive television and telephony services. Corus tries some give and take with specialty channelsCorus Entertainment Inc has agreed to sell its stake in the Family Channel to Astral Media Inc, which has been on the lookout for more acquisitions. The $126.9-million deal will see Astral acquire 100 per cent of the Family Channel and double its stake in Teletoon by acquiring The Family Channel’s 20 per cent interest in the cartoon net. The deal must get regulatory approval. Corus was required by the CRTC to sell its interest in the Family Channel. Corus had considered challenging the CRTC ruling or selling the channel with a clause to later buy back its interest in the channel. Instead, Corus bought the Women’s Television Network from Moffatt Communications Ltd for $205 million. Shaw Communications Inc bought Moffatt in December and is Corus’ parent company. Corus also agreed to sell its pay-per-view service Viewer’s Choice to Shaw for $35 million.Rollout of digital pushes Astral to take on a new lookAstal Media Inc relaunched three pay television networks early this month in an ongoing rebranding campaign that includes the unveiling in April of new web sites for each of the channels. The Movie Network, Moviepix and Super Ecran have a "new look," including redesigned logos and network ids. Astral says the move is an attempt to distinguish its pay-per-view channels amongst the new digital channels expected to launch in September. Astral was shut out of must-carry Category 1 English-language digital channels by the CRTC. Feature Magazine, Astral’s entertainment guide, has also been redesigned. Programming changes are also in the works. Throughout the spring and summer, the channels will morph into what Astral is calling "franchises." For example, The Movie Network 1 will concentrate on big name films, while the second and third multiplex channels will counter-program against the first channel to provide choice. The Movie Network 4 will offer a "film festival experience," and the fifth channel will be tailored to "a younger, hipper lifestyle."CRTC oks Star Choice’s requestThe CRTC has approved an amendment to Star Choice Television Network Inc’s licence that will allow it to service multiple unit dwellings by using land lines that cross property boundaries (Decision 2001-168).Council rules Mike Bullard didn’t breach broadcast codesThe Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has ruled that Mike Bullard, host of CTV Inc’s Open Mike with Mike Bullard, did not breach broadcast codes when he joked that killing pedophiles was a "public service." In a ruling released last week, the panel said protection under the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ code of ethics cannot be used to "protect those who commit crimes against society from commentary related to sociopathic activities." The panel ruled that the purpose of the code was "to protect those who may be subject to abusively discriminatory comments made as a function of who they are…" (e.g. by their gender, ethnicity, colour of skin, nationality, marital status, religious affiliation, etc.). A viewer complained about Bullard’s comment, uttered in March 17, 2000 show during an interview with actress Leah Pinsent, who plays a serial killer who preys on pedophiles in a movie.Heritage committee to study Canada’s broadcasting systemThe standing committee on Canadian Heritage, chaired by Clifford Lincoln, has agreed to "undertake a study of the health of the Canadian broadcasting system and how successful it has been in effectively meeting the objectives in the Broadcasting Act." The committee is expected to begin hearings this spring that will examine a wide gambit of issues, including the CBC and convergence. Film and TV revenues up at Vivendi UniversalStrong box office performances at Universal Pictures and a solid subscriber base in the pay television market helped double earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in Vivendi Universal’s film and television division to 770.9 million euros on revenues of nearly 8.8 billion euros in fiscal 2000, the company announced. Vivendi Universal also noted that 13eme Rue was rated the No. 1 channel on the CanalSatellite platform for the second consecutive year, and that plans were in place to grow these brands in Canada and Japan this year. The CRTC granted licences for a Category 1 mystery channel 13th Street and its French-language counterpart 13eme Rue to CanWest Global Communications, Groupe TVA and Rogers Broadcasting last year.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | March 14, 2001

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