SUN NEWS should be made more accessible

[Sleipnir]

www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/shows/newswire.html

This lady is on the air right now.

Missed it, but this article on the site caught my attention.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/world/archives/2013/02/20130204-144545.html

[guyser]

I have a feeling most critics of Sun News rarely watch it.

I have a feeling no one watches it. Yup.,....pretty much true according to the ratings.

Maybe a Conservative Senator can challenge some nancy type politico to a fight. Ahh....the ratings, those were the ...that was A day. All downhill since.

Maybe they could re-brand themselves. We're not angry, just dumb !

But all is ok, I only faux mawk them, just like they faux rage about everything.

[Moonlight Graham]

Not the biggest fan of SunTV but I like to watch it sometimes because it gives a different point of than most Canadian news media. When the channel first came out it was on channel 68 or something for me, and since it moved to channel 145 or something like that (around channels I don't really watch often) I find myself watching SunTV much less now even though I've always had access to the channels.

Also, based on there being some pretty crappy US/international-based channels under ch. 100, betsy and supporters make a pretty good argument. SunTV might at least be considered as part of the basic digital cable packages (sub-100 channels), analog is bit more tricky since there's even less channels under ch. 100 up for grabs.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Moonlight Graham

[Sleipnir]

"When last we looked, Sun News was trying to convince the CRTC that it deserved a Class 1 broadcasting licence—the kind that would require cable and satellite providers to include the channel in their basic package (it’s basically a licence to print money). The problem is that the CRTC isn’t giving those out anymore and is, in fact, taking them away from CBC News Network, CTV News and other networks that already have them."

-Toronto Life

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/mediaocracy/2010/09/02/sun-news-changes-tactics-pleads-with-crtc-for-charity/

Edited February 5, 2013 by Sleipnir

[kimmy]

Case closed.

-k

[Sleipnir]

Case closed.

-k

Judge Kimmy

Edited February 5, 2013 by Sleipnir

[Spiderfish]

How is OWN given more privilege than Sun News?

My service provider offers OWN in their basic cable lineup. they also offer CBC, CTV, and Global. What they don't offer is Sun News.

Viewership statistic.

Perhaps their viewership statistic might be better if it was offered to everyone.

Poor argument since the news show isn't blocked.

The arguement isn't about it being blocked, it's about people having access to it that is equivelant to other Canadian news providers. If it isn't offered in a comparable manner to the others, it's not really possible to objectively compare viewership with the others.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Spiderfish

[Boges]

The idea of ratings is bunk anyway. They can only monitor who's watching based on people that have signed into have their viewership monitored. It's like opinion polls.

[waldo]

My service provider offers OWN in their basic cable lineup. they also offer CBC, CTV, and Global. What they don't offer is Sun News.

service providers carry/offer OWN, a specialty channel, within so-called 'theme packs' that subscribers choose (and pay for). Your statement that your service provider does not offer OWN, suggests you are a subscriber of either Telus or MTS:

As I'm aware, only Telus and MTS do not carry Sun News - why would that be? Well, simple: in line with its original CRTC application intent, Quebecor wasn't able to negotiate carriage deals with Telus or MTS on an individual basis... apparently, asking for much more than what Telus/MTS 'feel' it is worth to their subscribers.

The arguement isn't about it being blocked, it's about people having access to it that is equivelant to other Canadian news providers. If it isn't offered in a comparable manner to the others, it's not really possible to objectively compare viewership with the others.

no - the Sun News "argument", per their CRTC application, is that its 'remarkable' (U.S. TeaParty flavoured) CanCon programming, warrants mandatory distribution on the basic service of cable companies/satellite distributors, at the per subscriber monthly wholesale rate of $0.18 (stated as the equivalent of adding $4 dollars a year to all subscribers bills). Presently, the following are the only services that have mandatory distribution on the basic service of cable companies/satellite distributors:

• CBC News Network (in French-language markets): $0.15
  
• Réseau de l’information (RDI) (in English-language markets): $0.10
  
• Avis de recherche (in French-language markets): $0.06
  
• Weather Network/Météomedia: $0.23
  
• TVA: offered without a wholesale rate
  
• Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN): $0.25
  
• Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC): $0.10
  
• AMI audio, formerly known as VoicePrint: $0.04
  
• Accessible Media: $0.20
  
• Canal M, formerly known as La Magnétothèque: $0.02
  

[GostHacked]

Whether Sun News is not as "interesting" as the others should not justify why networks such as Oprah's OWN be given more privilege than a 100% Canadian-owned company in its own home turf! That's an awful shame! That alone, should be the reason why we Canadians should demand a fair treatment from CRTC - regardless of our taste, partisan and bias.

Actually I would love to see the CRTC abolished. But my real beef with them is in how music is played on the radio and the stupid cancon crap. They actually help stagnate the whole market. I really love to watch rehashed shows and reruns, same with radio, I really love listening to the same Tragically Hip song at the same time every day for weeks on end (more to do with how corporate radio is run than the CRTC at that point).

Furthermore, who determines what is "interesting?" Based on whose taste? Should we dictate what Canadians should watch?

Celine Dion? Not interesting.

Bryan Adams? Not interesting.

Justin Beiber? Not interesting.

I don't watch much traditional TV at all these days, so I have no idea what kind of excrement is being piped through anymore, which is a good thing.

Well I find the other two stations (CTV and CBC) almost identical in their presentation - thus I find the excitable crew of Sun News as a refreshing change from time to time. It has its own tabloid-style of delivery.

Well when you get into tabloid territory, it's no better than Oprah.

[jacee]

Whether Sun News is not as "interesting" as the others should not justify ...

Unh ... yes it should.

The icky extremist cement heads can fund themselves, and carry on chasing their own tails into oblivion.

Not on my dime!

Edited February 6, 2013 by jacee

[Boges]

Unh ... yes it should.

The icky extremist cement heads can fund themselves, and carry on chasing their own tails into oblivion.

Not on my dime!

But you cool with the Christian Channel CTS being on basic cable?

[jacee]

But you cool with the Christian Channel CTS being on basic cable?

No. But I expect they have more viewers than Sun 'news'.

Edited February 6, 2013 by jacee

[waldo]

But you cool with the Christian Channel CTS being on basic cable?

I keep reading rather vague references... in this case, an implied suggestion that Crossroads Television System (CTS) is offered on 'basic cable' while, supposedly, Sun News is not. How about a little detail, for a change?

I checked my provider, Bell (I stopped checking after reviewing the respective channel offerings for 7 provinces). Separate from premium/specialty grouped channel options, Bell offers it's 'regular' channels in a progressive tiered, 'Good', 'Better', 'Best' categorization. Within that 'basic Good' tier, the only province where CTS is offered is Ontario... Sun News is also carried in the 'basic Good' tier. Within the other 6 provinces I checked, CTS was not offered; however, Sun News was offered in the 'basic Good' categorization in all these other 6 provinces.

I checked one provider, mine... I'm not prepared to check further. I suggest the onus is on you to provide details to substantiate your claim concerning CTS (and the implied comparison you're making with Sun News).

in any case, as I stated in my previous posts, the crux of the Sun News CRTC application goes well beyond simply positioning within 'basic cable' provider offerings. Again, Sun News is seeking, "mandatory distribution on the basic service of cable companies/satellite distributors, at the per subscriber monthly wholesale rate of $0.18"

[Boges]

I keep reading rather vague references... in this case, an implied suggestion that Crossroads Television System (CTS) is offered on 'basic cable' while, supposedly, Sun News is not. How about a little detail, for a change?

I checked my provider, Bell (I stopped checking after reviewing the respective channel offerings for 7 provinces). Separate from premium/specialty grouped channel options, Bell offers it's 'regular' channels in a progressive tiered, 'Good', 'Better', 'Best' categorization. Within that 'basic Good' tier, the only province where CTS is offered is Ontario... Sun News is also carried in the 'basic Good' tier. Within the other 6 provinces I checked, CTS was not offered; however, Sun News was offered in the 'basic Good' categorization in all these other 6 provinces.

I checked one provider, mine... I'm not prepared to check further. I suggest the onus is on you to provide details to substantiate your claim concerning CTS (and the implied comparison you're making with Sun News).

in any case, as I stated in my previous posts, the crux of the Sun News CRTC application goes well beyond simply positioning within 'basic cable' provider offerings. Again, Sun News is seeking, "mandatory distribution on the basic service of cable companies/satellite distributors, at the per subscriber monthly wholesale rate of $0.18"

Well CTS has been on Basic Cable in Ontario for awhile. I have Digital cable so I get just about all the channels in question.I was just countering jacee's argument that Sun shouldn't be offered on "her" dime. There are plenty of channels on basic cable people would prefer not to be on basic cable so one person's own preference can't be used to determine what should and shouldn't be on basic cable. If it's true that CBC News doesn't get automatic carriage then that claim from SUN is disingenuous. I don't see Sun claiming that anymore though. Their big push is that they're only in 4 of 10 homes.

[jacee]

Well CTS has been on Basic Cable in Ontario for awhile. I have Digital cable so I get just about all the channels in question.I was just countering jacee's argument that Sun shouldn't be offered on "her" dime. There are plenty of channels on basic cable people would prefer not to be on basic cable so one person's own preference can't be used to determine what should and shouldn't be on basic cable. If it's true that CBC News doesn't get automatic carriage then that claim from SUN is disingenuous. I don't see Sun claiming that anymore though. Their big push is that they're only in 4 of 10 homes.

Their big problem is that everyone who wants to see them already does ... all 16,000 of them.

[DogOnPorch]

Preferred Michael Coren's old show on what was it? Vision?. This new one is too big a dose of non-objective right wing cliches' most times I've seen it.

[waldo]

If it's true that CBC News doesn't get automatic carriage then that claim from SUN is disingenuous. I don't see Sun claiming that anymore though. Their big push is that they're only in 4 of 10 homes.

the claims are disingenuous on several levels... aided by the vagueness in the 'talking points' spun from the CRTC application. When broad comparisons are made to "CBC" carriage, one needs to be understanding on whether this means CBC Newsworld or CBC News Network... meaning is this a comparison being made to the now defunct/re-branded CBC Newsworld and conditions from 25 years ago, or is it with respect to CBC News Network and today's basic cable carriage structure. One needs to be conversant in these distinctions, or... the comparison gets made broadly to CBC, at large. As I stated previously, today, CBC News Network (and it's French equivalent, RDI) receive basic cable carriage, but only in their alternate language market bases - English CBC News Network receives carriage in francophone markets, French RDI receives carriage in anglophone markets.

the '4 of 10' households point is, to me, bogus. Which providers are not offering Sun News? As I stated, as I'm aware, only Telus and MTS do not offer Sun News... the underlying reason being, as stated/described/understood, in direct negotiations, Telus and MTS could not come to agreement with Sun News on a pricing structure..... apparently, Telus and MTS were not willing to pay Sun News the monies it wanted.

[guyser]

Their big problem is that everyone who wants to see them already does ... all 16,000 of them.

... is that for the month or year?

Edited February 7, 2013 by guyser

[WWWTT]

Well not the four main guys Coren, Levant, Lilley and Adler. But women contribute to those shows. There's this new reporter named Faith Goldy that's quite a hottie.

They're always talking to a social media correspondent named Gina Phillips. She's the one that's been tasked to pimp this CRTC application.

LOL!!!

Oh man give it up buddy!

Sun will have a minority in a prime time slot when hell freezes over!

Pretty much the same for the CBC and CTV!

WWWTT

Edited February 8, 2013 by WWWTT

[WWWTT]

I have a feeling no one watches it. Yup.,....pretty much true according to the ratings.

LOL!

[ironstone]

The entire premise of this petition is bunk. Sun-TV isn't a news channel at all, so why should it be treated as such?.

It's a talk show channel.

Apparently you haven't watched much of Sun News.There are opinion shows besides the mostly hard news format.They will cover stories you won't hear on CBC,like David Suzuki being supplied with women at his speaking engagements for instance.How much coverage did the CBC or CTV give to Chief Spence's horrible accounting?

Too much Honey Boo Boo,Oprah,American Idol and other garbage like that on tv but I need only change the channel to get away from it.

What's wrong with more choice on the dial?

We need Sun TV.

[cybercoma]

They will cover stories you won't hear on CBC,like David Suzuki being supplied with women at his speaking engagements for instance.

So they're a tabloid?

[ironstone]

So they're a tabloid?

If that's your definition of a tabloid then so be it.Do you like your news coverage filtered by political correctness?

[cybercoma]

No, but I expect them to be a bit higher calibre than resorting to ad hominems.