Harper's next victim...CRTC

[Alta4ever]

Coming from the guy that says he only watched Duffy, who was then appointed a Conservative Senatory, this is hilarious. I'm well aware of certain biases. However, no one can deny that Fox, and to a slightly lesser degree MSNBC, is where this practice is the worst.

When one understands this they seek many alternatives for balance did you not get my daily news reading list or did you conveniently ignore it.

As for television news media their is no balance, just bad, badder, and baddest. BTW I always thought Duffy a liberal when I watched him on TV. It wasn't until I met him in person did I realize he was a conservative.

[M.Dancer]

What, did you think I wasn't going to look at the links? The only relevant denial seems to be the Niagara channel. The Sun Channel was very much approved and Al Jazeera Canada was launched earlier this year. Nice try.

The Sun channel did not get the approval they wanted which was a tier one request. I suppose you knew that already being a keen observer of this topic.

[nicky10013]

Well I did expect a modicum of intellegence...all of the links are CRTC denials...whether they approve a latter submission (which would contain changes based on the CRTC reccomendations) is irrelevant to your question. You asked when was the last time the CRTC denied a request and the answer for those seeking an intellegent response is often.

I will try in future not to over estimate you.

I didn't say a request, I said an operating license.

[ToadBrother]

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/1/29/114502.shtml

Except that, in the end, it did turn out the dossier was sexed up. At any rate, I didn't say it was without blemish, no news organization is, but it's certainly heads and shoulders above, say, CNN. Certainly whatever faults the BBC may have, they were front and center during the demonstrations in Iran, their Farsi department should have all been knighted.

[M.Dancer]

I didn't say a request, I said an operating license.

A request for an operating license....are you daft? You think the application the CRTC were ruling on were for mani pedi shops?

http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000381947

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2692855

http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3040&start=0

And so on...

The CRTC as anyone can tell denies more applications that it approves.

[ToadBrother]

A request for an operating license....are you daft? You think the application the CRTC were ruling on were for mani pedi shops?

http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000381947

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2692855

http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3040&start=0

And so on...

The CRTC as anyone can tell denies more applications that it approves.

Which leads again to the question of, unless these guys are planning on erecting a transmitter tower, why there's a regulatory regime at all.

[M.Dancer]

Which leads again to the question of, unless these guys are planning on erecting a transmitter tower, why there's a regulatory regime at all.

Indeed.

[Evening Star]

To be clear, my initial comment about Fox News was sort of a cheap shot: I don't like or respect Fox News and wasn't that excited about the possibility of a similar service becoming a mandatory part of cable packages in Canada. I don't think it should be censored or anything or treated differently from other news services.

I'll have more to say about the rest of the discussion -- which is quite interesting -- tonight, when I have more time.

[Michael Hardner]

To be clear, my initial comment about Fox News was sort of a cheap shot: I don't like or respect Fox News and wasn't that excited about the possibility of a similar service becoming a mandatory part of cable packages in Canada. I don't think it should be censored or anything or treated differently from other news services.

I'll have more to say about the rest of the discussion -- which is quite interesting -- tonight, when I have more time.

I'd have to believe a Canadian conservative channel would be a little higher brow than Fox. Our Conservatives are the descendants of aristocracy after all....

[ToadBrother]

I'd have to believe a Canadian conservative channel would be a little higher brow than Fox. Our Conservatives are the descendants of aristocracy after all....

They could be the descendants of pigs for all I care. It's supposed to be a free country, and spectrum really isn't a consideration any more, save for a small number of broadcasters that actually use towers to broadcast. I can't figure out how the CRTC being able to dictate what shows up on my TV screen is in the least bit compatible with the notion of a free society.

[Jack Weber]

They could be the descendants of pigs for all I care. It's supposed to be a free country, and spectrum really isn't a consideration any more, save for a small number of broadcasters that actually use towers to broadcast. I can't figure out how the CRTC being able to dictate what shows up on my TV screen is in the least bit compatible with the notion of a free society.

In this case,perhaps the CRTC lapsed into Von Hayek world...

In other words,if you want to watch Fox News Canada,pony up the cashola???

[M.Dancer]

Oh, I've watched Fox News. It doesn't take a moron to figure out they're at least stretching the truth. Even if ratings do come from the talk shows, they present propaganda as facts. People treat them like real news shows whether you know the difference or not. Furthermore, you probably know that. In my mind, that makes Fox even worse.

So you subscribe to fox eh?

Now we at least know where the demographics come from.

[ToadBrother]

So you subscribe to fox eh?

Now we at least know where the demographics come from.

I've long suspected most of Fox's viewers are angry Liberals, just like the only people who actually listen to Al Franken are angry conservatives.

[nicky10013]

So you subscribe to fox eh?

Now we at least know where the demographics come from.

It comes with all the other news channels. Watched it on occaision. Highly dislike it. People believe what they preach which is even scarier.

[dre]

That is nonsense. Fact and knowledge always gets a good audience. Non consumer driven news gets budgies as readers. The media is a product. If the product does not suit the taste of the consumer, the consumer will not buy it. If you want to know how non consumer news is disseminated, ask Bjre.

No. Having market researchers determine content based on its ability to reach the demographic that sponsors desire is a completely different paradigm than having journalists determine content based on journalistic value. They result in completely different kinds of programming. Ratings driven news results in INFOTAINMENT. Which is generally 50+ editorializating and fluff pieces. The kind of shit you see on Fox or CNN. And in many cases market researchers determine that the best way to get ratings is with a misleading or outright false story, so you wind up with viewers of these networks being completely diconnected from reality.

It would be nice to get rid of infotainment completely because it results in a stupid and ignorant public. But since its too late for that, we need to at least regulate it.

[dre]

Except that, in the end, it did turn out the dossier was sexed up. At any rate, I didn't say it was without blemish, no news organization is, but it's certainly heads and shoulders above, say, CNN. Certainly whatever faults the BBC may have, they were front and center during the demonstrations in Iran, their Farsi department should have all been knighted.

Both PBC and CBC are head and shoulders above infotainment networks like CNN and Fox as well.

[Alta4ever]

No. Having market researchers determine content based on its ability to reach the demographic that sponsors desire is a completely different paradigm than having journalists determine content based on journalistic value. They result in completely different kinds of programming. Ratings driven news results in INFOTAINMENT. Which is generally 50+ editorializating and fluff pieces. The kind of shit you see on Fox or CNN. And in many cases market researchers determine that the best way to get ratings is with a misleading or outright false story, so you wind up with viewers of these networks being completely diconnected from reality.

It would be nice to get rid of infotainment completely because it results in a stupid and ignorant public. But since its too late for that, we need to at least regulate it.

What like George Strombosomethingorother on the CBC with the absolute garbage he contributes?

Edited August 20, 2010 by Alta4ever

[P. McGee]

They could be the descendants of pigs for all I care. It's supposed to be a free country, and spectrum really isn't a consideration any more, save for a small number of broadcasters that actually use towers to broadcast. I can't figure out how the CRTC being able to dictate what shows up on my TV screen is in the least bit compatible with the notion of a free society.

Is it really accurate to say that only a small number of television broadcasters still use towers? There are a fair number of Canadian stations now broadcasting HD signals on the airwaves. Pay tv is expensive enough that there may yet be a large scale move back to the antenna, now that signal quality is comparable to cable HD and better in some cases. Or not, but I wouldn't write off on-air broadcast just yet.

[ToadBrother]

Both PBC and CBC are head and shoulders above infotainment networks like CNN and Fox as well.

And? What does this have to do with the fact that the CRTC tells me what I can watch?

More to the fact, what do you suppose will happen when everything is coming down the tubes? Somehow the CRTC is going to magically regulate the news I read from foreign sources? Order ISPs to throw up banners advertising Canadian content?

As much as it sucks that corporate-funded news sometimes is slanted, but it's the illusion some of you guys have that government regulation doesn't end up in the same ball park. It's my TV, I should have the right to view what I want. If I don't want to watch a stitch of Canadian content (which is largely true since Trailer Park Boys ended), that's my right.

Regulation of content is nothing more than a backhanded way of censorship.

[M.Dancer]

No. Having market researchers determine content based on its ability to reach the demographic that sponsors desire is a completely different paradigm than having journalists determine content based on journalistic value.

I agree they are different. One is used for prime time programming and the other for news.

They result in completely different kinds of programming. Ratings driven news results in INFOTAINMENT.

Yes and Entertainment |Tonight has that category sewn up.

Which is generally 50+ editorializating and fluff pieces. The kind of shit you see on Fox or CNN. And in many cases market researchers determine that the best way to get ratings is with a misleading or outright false story, so you wind up with viewers of these networks being completely diconnected from reality.

It would be nice to get rid of infotainment completely because it results in a stupid and ignorant public. But since its too late for that, we need to at least regulate it.

There is a huge market for entertainment tonight.

Once again, aside from the all news channels, network news is not a money maker. As well, you have nothing, sweet dick all to back up your opinion that the CTV news is ratings driven or that market research determins what kind of news is broadcast.

[ToadBrother]

Is it really accurate to say that only a small number of television broadcasters still use towers? There are a fair number of Canadian stations now broadcasting HD signals on the airwaves. Pay tv is expensive enough that there may yet be a large scale move back to the antenna, now that signal quality is comparable to cable HD and better in some cases. Or not, but I wouldn't write off on-air broadcast just yet.

You're right, of course. And where the spectrum is used, there's never been much debate that there is some interest in regulating not just frequencies but content, to the extent that certain rules of decency should apply (which is why all the nudie channels and HBO went cable in the day to avoid the FCC's own rules on content down in the States).

[M.Dancer]

It comes with all the other news channels. Watched it on occaision. Highly dislike it. People believe what they preach which is even scarier.

Doesn't come with mine. It's on the upper tier so you have to order it.

[P. McGee]

Once again, aside from the all news channels, network news is not a money maker. As well, you have nothing, sweet dick all to back up your opinion that the CTV news is ratings driven or that market research determins what kind of news is broadcast.

If anything, wouldn't tighter margins on network news provide a greater reason to be worried about ratings?

[dre]

I agree they are different. One is used for prime time programming and the other for news.

Yes and Entertainment |Tonight has that category sewn up.

There is a huge market for entertainment tonight.

Once again, aside from the all news channels, network news is not a money maker. As well, you have nothing, sweet dick all to back up your opinion that the CTV news is ratings driven or that market research determins what kind of news is broadcast.

Once again, aside from the all news channels, network news is not a money maker. As well, you have nothing, sweet dick all to back up your opinion that the CTV news is ratings driven or that market research determins what kind of news is broadcast.

Actually yes I do. Ratings driven news networks are by their very definition advertising businesses. I know a fair bit about how those work, and its all about using market research to help you reach a certain demographic, and using ratings to validate your methodology on an ongoing basis.

[M.Dancer]

Actually yes I do. Ratings driven news networks are by their very definition advertising businesses. I know a fair bit about how those work, and its all about using market research to help you reach a certain demographic, and using ratings to validate your methodology on an ongoing basis.

As I said, aside from all news channels, network news CTV, CBC etc...do not make money from their news programming.

I do not know a fair bit about it, I know a lot. This is my 27th year working in media.