Re: [Swprograms] Satellite approved with strong CanCon rules

[Ricky Leong <rleong@xxxxxxx>]

maryanne kehoe wrote:
> Here's a radical idea: how about letting Canadian consumers dictate what
> *they* want to hear versus what the _law_ says they should listen to?

But Canadians *do* have a choice, when it comes to broadcasts. Those along the 
border can get local AM/FM stations in the United States; Canadians also have 
access to foreign OTA satellite, Internet radio and, of course, shortwave.
And therein rests a paradox in how the Canadian regulatory system reacts to 
foreign broadcasts.
The CRTC looks down on people sub*scribing to foreign services. That's because 
the CRTC obliges Canadian media companies to pay a percentage of their revenues 
for a fund that encourages Canadian talent development. Obviously, that fund 
would receive no money if Canadians sub*scribe to foreign services that aren't 
subject to Canadian laws. (In this latest round of approvals, the Canadian 
components of Sirius and XM will be obliged to pay the levy.)
This fully explains why the CRTC doesn't give a rodent's rear-end about other 
media choices Canadians may make. It has never made any attempt to block free 
OTA foreign transmission -- whether they be cross-border AM/FM, on shortwave, 
over Interet or OTA satellite TV -- over their obvious lacking in Canadian 
content. Quite simply, it isn't worth the effort and it wouldn't pay off.
[Off topic] Now, you think Canadian content regulations are weird enough as they 
are? The status quo is apparently causing problems for less-known Canadian 
artists. They are pushing for a revision of CanCon that would weight Canadian 
artists based on their fame to encourage radio stations to stay away from 
well-known and established acts. [/Off topic]
Ricky Leong
Calgary, Alta.

-- 
The whistle shrill still lingers on
In the hearts of everyone
Every day from dusk till dawn
- Orangedale Whistle, Jimmy Rankin/Rankin Family
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