A Forum For New Cable and Satellite Television Channels

[Jenya]

I hate to say it, but I think we need a forum so we can discuss current and new upcoming TV Channels. This is the time when networks are bidding for new channels at the CRTC and FCC, and we should have a forum where we can discuss and post News information for these new upcoming channels.

[Chelsea]

There's no bidding for channels at the FCC

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission has virtually no control over cable systems. If a company wishes to launch a cable channel:

• Do they have the financial capital to support the network in the early stages, when advertisers will be wary of the new network
• Do they have the finances available to either produce new programming, or purchase rebroadcast rights to previously produced programmes?
• Have they lined up enough cable systems and/or satellite TV providers to provide enough carriage base to ensure that people can actually WATCH the channel - thus delivering the audience TO advertisers.
• Does demand -even the most marginal as such- exist for the programming that would be offered, be it either general interest, or niche-driven?

If these things are met, then the company simply "launches" the channel. If not, they don't.

As for broadcast/over the air stations, it's a matter of buying up/building/signing agreement with affiliates, getting the license space, programming, etc., and is a ridiculously complex process. New, built-from-scratch stations don't really launch that, and netork launches are rare...we've had three in the last twenty years (FOX, UPN, WB)

Admittedly, I'm unfamiliar with how the process works up in Canada...anyone up above the 48th North Parallel care to clue me in?

[theshark8777]

Originally Posted by Seth

There's no bidding for channels at the FCC

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission has virtually no control over cable systems. If a company wishes to launch a cable channel:

• Do they have the financial capital to support the network in the early stages, when advertisers will be wary of the new network
• Do they have the finances available to either produce new programming, or purchase rebroadcast rights to previously produced programmes?
• Have they lined up enough cable systems and/or satellite TV providers to provide enough carriage base to ensure that people can actually WATCH the channel - thus delivering the audience TO advertisers.
• Does demand -even the most marginal as such- exist for the programming that would be offered, be it either general interest, or niche-driven?

If these things are met, then the company simply "launches" the channel. If not, they don't.

As for broadcast/over the air stations, it's a matter of buying up/building/signing agreement with affiliates, getting the license space, programming, etc., and is a ridiculously complex process. New, built-from-scratch stations don't really launch that, and netork launches are rare...we've had three in the last twenty years (FOX, UPN, WB)

Admittedly, I'm unfamiliar with how the process works up in Canada...anyone up above the 48th North Parallel care to clue me in?

Fox wasn't even considered a "real" network until Murdock spent all that money on NFL in 1994. Then they bought like 8 VHF (mostly CBS) channels to help with their affiliates. I wonder if they wouldn't have done that if they would still be little nobodys like WB and UPN?

[Jenya]

Originally Posted by Seth

There's no bidding for channels at the FCC

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission has virtually no control over cable systems. If a company wishes to launch a cable channel:

Seth:

I just watched an FCC hearing for an Internationl Space Station Channel for a couple of U.S satellite companies, and I know the procedure is the same in the U.S, as it is in Canada.

They have to apply for a broadcasting license.

The exact same thing happens in the US, as in Canada, when a cable or satellite companies wants to import an international broadcast channel to their line-up.

The companies usually make a request to allow the channel to be broadcasted. Both the U.S and Canadian Communication Commissions needs to examine the channel to see if the content is appropriate enough for domestic viewers, or a seperate channel should be launched for domestic viewers.

And example of this is the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The original BBC signal (from England) cannot legally be broadcasted in North America, but the company is allowed to launch an Americanized version (BBC America), and a Canadianized version (BBC Canada) channel of their programming. But this programming must meet broadcast standards of both countries.

[Chelsea]

Originally Posted by Jenya

Seth:

I just watched an FCC hearing for an Internationl Space Station Channel for a couple of U.S satellite companies, and I know the procedure is the same in the U.S, as it is in Canada.

They have to apply for a broadcasting license.

The exact same thing happens in the US, as in Canada, when a cable or satellite companies wants to import an international broadcast channel to their line-up.

The companies usually make a request to allow the channel to be broadcasted. Both the U.S and Canadian Communication Commissions needs to examine the channel to see if the content is appropriate enough for domestic viewers, or a seperate channel should be launched for domestic viewers.

And example of this is the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The original BBC signal (from England) cannot legally be broadcasted in North America, but the company is allowed to launch an Americanized version (BBC America), and a Canadianized version (BBC Canada) channel of their programming. But this programming must meet broadcast standards of both countries.

If you'll allow me a day, let me see if I can fish up the exact process. I think I know where my earlier confusion was in regards to the process, but I don't wish to go saying thing x or thing y, only to be wrong again.

Just thought I'd address my temporary non-answer

[Jenya]

Originally Posted by Seth

If you'll allow me a day, let me see if I can fish up the exact process. I think I know where my earlier confusion was in regards to the process, but I don't wish to go saying thing x or thing y, only to be wrong again.

Just thought I'd address my temporary non-answer

Okay.

I was talking to an executive from Alliance Atlantis Communications in the summer about this, and he told me this:

If Americans wanted a specific Canadian cable channel (Let use the DejaView classic TV Channel, for example), US viewers should contact their local cable or satellite provider, and request a licence to the FCC to legally broadcast the signal on their channel line-up.

Often times in the U.S. (Like in Canada) advertisement and programming content becomes an issue. Also, if a major television corporation owns several cable channels, this may be a requirement for their cable/satellite provider to include them in their programming line-up as well.

He told me that most Americans haven't been really demanding for any Canadian cable channels, but if there was such a demand, they would definately propose a bid to the FCC, and request to expand their channel line-up to U.S cable viewers. So it's really up to the viewers, themselves to request this option.