Sun TV licence rejected by CRTC: how will the right-wing news organization respond?
As far as prognostication goes, the Globe and Mail is doing better than, say, the Toronto Star. Jeffrey Simpson used his column on Wednesday to reassure Canadians that, for somewhat arcane reasons, the CRTC would reject the licence application of Sun TV. (Basically, Sun TV wants a class of licence the CRTC is no longer issuing.) Sure enough, word came late yesterday that the CRTC is denying the application in its current form.
[Quebecor asked] for special consideration. Its reasoning, according to the letter, was that Sun TV News would be “an Information & Analysis channel,” and therefore different than its all-news competitors.
The CRTC rebuffed that claim. In the letter, Peter Foster, the director general of television policy and applications, suggested that there was little to distinguish Sun TV from other all-news services, since “news and analysis are sub-categories of the information programming category … news would be broadcast throughout the day … [and] in promotional material, the proposed service is referred to as the Sun TV News Channel.”
“Little to distinguish.” That’s cold, right there.
The brain trust at Sun TV has responded by saying that they don’t intend to change a thing, and that “we’ll get exactly what we’re asking for at the end of the day.” With that kind of brazen douchebaggery on display before they even start broadcasting, we can’t imagine what the actual news will be like. First story on the new network: Is the CRTC a totalitarian menace to all we hold dear? Our hot-tub panel of Sunshine Girls will discuss it right after this word from Axe body spray.
Actually, that we might tune in for that.
• Relax, folks, we won’t be channelling Fox News North [Globe and Mail]
• CRTC refuses Sun TV’s bid for preferred status on dial [Globe and Mail]
• Sun TV news channel must compete for a spot on cable and satellite, CRTC says [Winnipeg Free Press]
• CRTC Decision notice [PDF]
• How bout a Cat 2, Sun TV? [Lobbying Canada]
I am proud of the C.R.T.C. for this measure.
I hope they fall through with more however.
Not only SUN TV , But why should Canadian
consumer’s pay for unwanted channels.
No channel should be mandatory expect C.B.C.
it is the force for unity.
Have every channel delisted ,customers should be
able to pay for only what they wish to see.
KUDOS to the C.R.T.C. you have done the right thing.
On behalf of all Canadians I thank you.
J.J.P.M.
YIKES! I feel exactly the opposite to J.J.P.M. I’d love to see the CBC (Al Jazeera light)removed from TV and our tax burden. Completely biased left wing and UNPROFESSIONAL coverage.
Is Al Jazeera not about to be aired? CRTC approved?
I hunger for a Right Wing voice on Canadian TV akin to FOX news and look forward to SUN TV being broadcast. Canadians have plenty of Socialist/ Left wing options in the media – not nearly enough Conservative viewpoint exposure.
The tax- paid Socialist CRTC is just delaying the inevitable – throwing up technical roadblocks to satisfy their Liberal masters.
@Alphamel
Are you being paid by right-wng conservatives? “Socialist CRTC”, is that necessary? Take your tea party nonsense back to the states and get lost. Al Jazeera is probably the best news network in the world. They actually report NEWS, not what happened on American Idol last night. Sun TV will be horrible for Canada and will cast a dark shadow on Canadian history.
The only dark shadow here is the attempt by the left to shut out opposing views. Heaven help Canadians should be allowed to listen to anything other than liberal speak.
I look forward to a chance to watch an alternate viewpoint, if our nanny state will allow it.
Rob is absolutely right and people like ALPHAMEL and Anony Moose are the reason why.
Where did you two come from the southern states? What’s with all this socialist this and nanny state that. You two should head south and take your far right wing bullshit with you. “Al jazeera light” yeah this is exactly the kind of childish crap we can expect from Sun Tv.
The kind of crap about socialists and lefies and nanny states that you two have spewed is the kind of inflated rhetoric that has destroyed the political discourse in America. You’re like petty children.
Nobody said having a right of center oriented news station was a bad thing. But a fox news “like” station will be devatating to polical discourse in Canada. Harper, who has much to do with this new propaganda station (his former communications director is running the show) actually tried to repeal a law that forbids lying on broadcast news. Yes, this actually happened, no thankfully he was thwarted. Guess what? Those behind fox news did the SAME thing in the US and succeeded, which is why fox news is so hated, because among other crimes against journalism they knowingly lie, fabricate and slant their message.
If you read what Sun Tv will be like it’s exactly the same as fox news in America, 6am-5pm is “news” and from 5pm onwards is opinion.
You two don’t know what you are asking for, if Sun Tv is like fox news it will be extremely bad for Canada.
Kevin is absolutely right. Only someone with an angry, sexually repressed mindset could ever think the CBC or mainstream media is left wing. All these Harper cry babies want is a means to vent their vitriolic hatred and sensationalize the news and make it more like the garbage that is Fox News. Just because we have a moron for a PM, it doesn’t mean Canadians can be hoodwinking into this low IQ right wing mentality.
I agree that a right wing voice should be given the chance to be heard but Sun TV was openly anti-Arab, Islamophobic, racist, pro progressive conservative, pro-Israel and worst of all, promoted the fear mongering of muslims under the guise of protecting freedom and democracy?? I’m glad Canada is saved from having its own version of Fox News. Hey Ezra….the KKK has an opening!
So basically Canada don’t have freedom of speech! I think the CBC should be shut down and money be given back to tax payers or let the CBC get their money from advertising just like other channels. The CRTC is taking Canada to the stone ages and should be shut down as well.
Sun TV was a great channel and i watched them every day after i come back from work, it was really refreshing.