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Rush HD preps an SD channel for Canadian viewers
This one falls a bit outside our weekly expansion roundup, by virtue of being one of the few channels going in the other direction. AdrenalineHD just got approval to launch an SD version of Rush HD in Canada, so long as 95% of its content is the same. Far be it for us to question the laws and standards of the land of Terrence & Patrick, but we're completely taken aback by this one. We guess those former Voom channels have to do anything they can to avoid the fate of Monsters HD.
Raptors TV pushing for HD signal in Canada
It's not easy to light up an HD channel in the Great North, but what is typically the biggest hurdle has apparently been overcome by Toronto Raptors Network. Amazingly, the CRTC approved an application by the aforementioned company to offer a high-def signal of Raptors TV in Canada. Conditions require that the HD version carry 95% of the same content as the SD flavor, while the other 5% must also be high-definition material. Now, TRN must persuade cable and satellite companies that Raptors TV HD is worth the bandwidth, but it seems that industry analysts are pretty bullish on its chances. We can't say our hopes are that high yet, but we've definitely got our fingers tightly crossed for you NBA-lovin' Canucks.[Via National Post]
CRTC bashes hopes for two High Fidelity HDTV stations in Canada
That's one crazy place, that Canada country. While local governments in the US plead for new companies to enter their programming markets for the sake of added competition, the Great North's CRTC must be convinced that new stations will not compete with an existing analog / pay-TV channel before receiving approval. Thus, three separate applications from High Fidelity HDTV "to operate two new English language high-definitions [Diversion HD and Canada HD] and one standard-definition [Diversion SD] channel in Canada" were squashed. Reportedly, the agency proclaimed that these channels would "compete with stations owned by Astral, CTVGlobemedia and Rogers," which apparently gives it the right to slam the "denied" button. Baffling, huh?
Shaw gets CRTC approval to expand services to Campbell River, B.C.
We can't imagine Campbell River residents being enthused about having access to heavily pixelated HD content, but nevertheless, Shaw has just received CRTC approval to extend the authorized service area of its Courtenay British Columbia cable system to include the aforesaid community. The thumbs-up gives the carrier the ability to offer up its full range of cable, internet and digital phone services in Campbell River, but it doesn't seem as if anything new is coming to the new locale. Here's to hoping you folks have better luck than most everyone else with the picture quality.
APTN goes high-def on Bell Canada HD
Those anxious for more HD through Bell Canada can add one more to their list of options, as Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is finally delivering an HD version of the channel on the aforesaid carrier. Unfortunately, Bell Canada is currently the only way to receive the HD feed (it's on channel 808, by the way), and it's slated to carry 16.5-hours of distinctive HD programming per week. Notably, the HD version of the network will simply be a higher quality simulcast of the SD feed -- opting to differentiate programming between the two would have required APTN to apply for a totally separate license from the CRTC.
CRTC gives approval for Family Channel HD in Canada
Not even a month after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) shut the door on a couple of potential HD channels, the same entity has blessed the Family Channel HD with its seal of good will. Reportedly, the CRTC has "approved an application by Astral to amend the broadcasting license for the Family Channel to allow the service to be made available for distribution in high-definition format," but at least 95-percent of the content on the HD version must be the same as that found on the SD version (read: a near-simulcast). Mum's the word on an actual go-live date, but at least you folks up there have something to look forward to, yeah?
Bell ExpressVu considering FreeSat service for delivering OTA networks
Canada's own Bell ExpressVu is currently mulling an interesting plan that could bring "free" OTA networks to folks faraway from towers and terrified of paying a cable provider for TV service. Dubbed FreeSat, the proposed service would give Canadians "free access to a limited number of high-definition channels," all of which would be local OTA (read: not pay-TV) networks. It wasn't revealed how much the receiver itself would cost, nor was it clear if broadcasters would be kosher with the idea. Bell Canada argues that the plan would give the aforementioned networks a way to get their content to more customers without "huge investments" in new transmission towers, but of course, there is always more than one side to the story. Needless to say, we can't imagine this being the last time we hear of this endeavor.
CRTC puts the kibosh on two Canadian HD channels
Tough news for Canadians looking forward to tuning into a pair of new OTA HDTV stations in the future -- the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has shot the whole thing down. Reportedly, the entity found that there was no "compelling reason" to grant a license for a "superstation" equivalent that HDTV Networks was proposing. Additionally, it denied a similar request from YES TV after it was "not convinced that the applicant could fulfill its programming commitments, among other things." Of course, we can't say for sure that the CRTC was just looking to just spoil some harmless fun, but stifling the expansion of additional high-def options doesn't sound like a totally beneficial thing to do (from the outside looking in, anyway).[Via Here's How]
Blame the U.S.: HDTV threatening Canadian culture?
In a reverse Terrance & Philip situation, a couple of Canadian professors are warning of the threat the conversion to digital TV poses to "Canada's cultural sovereignty". In their book Canadian Television Today they address what they see as a problem for broadcasters forced to keep pace with the U.S.'s scheduled switch. Canada has not yet set a date to change exclusively to digital broadcasting, and the two University of Calgary professors don't seem to see why its necessary anytime soon given the great expense such a move puts on smaller local stations. An opposing viewpoint says the country can't wait to switch to digital, so that production companies can easily work with U.S. broadcasters to sell their content. We hadn't really considered the impact the digital broadcasting switch might have on our neighbors to the north, mostly because we hadn't considered their cultural sovereignty beyond hockey and an oddly misspelled version of SportsCenter. Still, with the number of U.S. shows filmed in Canada that are already formatted for HD -- and their contributions to the Discovery Channel -- whenever they do switch to digital there will be plenty of programming available.