Fox Joins al Jazeera on Canadian Cable
 

Fox News Moves North
http://www.CTV.ca News Staff

The sometimes controversial Fox News network will be allowed on Canadian digital television next year, the CRTC has ruled.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the right-wing, all-news channel for digital services on Thursday.

It's unclear what conditions, if any, might be applied.

Fox News has been called "the unofficial official voice of the Bush administration" and is the home network to Bill O'Reilly, host of "The O'Reilly Factor," one of the highest-rated cable news programs.

The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association applied to the CRTC in April for permission to carry Fox News to Canadians with digital cable, satellite or wireless television service.

The CCTA said Thursday they were pleased with the decision, saying Fox "provides Canadians with a different perspective on world events," and "is an excellent complement to the current Canadian digital line-up."

The NFL Network also got the OK Thursday. The network carries live sports, game previews, news conferences and other shows about the National Football League.

The CRTC recently approved a similar application from al-Jazeera, the Arab network often referred to as the "CNN of the Arab world."

While the Canadian Jewish Congress was not pleased with the decision, the CRTC decided that al-Jazeera had met the test of being a credible news service, with the regulator saying they had a legal duty not to unduly infringe freedom of expression.

Nevertheless, the CRTC said distributors of Al-Jazeera in Canada would be required to guard against the broadcast of "any abusive comment." That could mean the editing or deleting of some content before it airs.

If the CRTC ever decides that Al-Jazeera violated its rules, the regulator could impose consequences ranging from a reprimand to revoking permission to air the service.

There has been alot of debate about both decisions in the media up here... mostly examining the opinions and "agendas" of the two networks. While there has been a lost of negative comments level at both networks for their content and objectivity none of the major media groups up here have opposed the two entering the Canadian market... mostly because it's felt that people will see the bias of both and carry on.

It will be really interesting to see how many people actually subscribe to these new channels. Honestly, the one that will probably do well is the new NFL channel. I don't really see Fox or al-Jazeera doing all that well up here.

I'm assuming only Rogers will carry these channels? Or will the be available on Bell Expressvue as well?

I think it is funny that both Fox and al Jazeera have to result to digital. Both come off as extreme to some no mater what a "certain study" says.

Slight hijack:

The study you refer to is the only academic study of note that attemps to measure media bias of the major news networks.

Dan Rather comes off as extreme to some as well...Tim Russert (aide to Mario Cuomo and Daniel Moynihan) has a long resume of being a aide to Democrat campaigns. What then about CBS and NBC?

If anyone can find other studies, great...I feel like it's a subject worthy of study. However, there has been only one academic study presented as of yet.

You knew I'd respond so I bet it's why you threw this in there. It's OK. To some, pigs can fly as well and they know aliens are everywhere. There will always be a "some" out there.

-Rudey

If you subscribe to digital cable, Fox should be included in your package - no additional subscription required. At least that's what Shaw has told us in BC.

Really? Because I do have Rogers digital cable. Well as long as they don't up the cable bill I'm cool with that, because we all know what a brilliant idea negative option billing was?!

I just wanted to point out that Al Jazeera was already carried up in Canada. The Canadian government is just now allowing Fox News to enter their country. I have questions about any government that would allow Al Jazeera into their country before Fox News.

I have questions about any government that would restrict any news source.

Well perhaps Fox News should have submitted an application earlier then :rolleyes:

CRTC is basically there to ensure a base Canadian content to the broadcasts... while they also handle violations of the Charter of Rights & Freedoms by media their boundaries are so far out there you really have to make an effort to piss them off... they are far, far more "liberal" than the FCC (and always have been really)... as long as the broadcast is after 9ish you can have swearing, violence, and sexual situations... and once your past 11ish softcore porn is fine (and appreciated :) )

Al Jazeera had crap load of hoops to jump through for their application to pass... the amount of groups that submitted objections to the network was a new record... about three times as many as leveled against FOX... in the end the basic arguement came down to each having it's own bias and agenda... so let them broadcast but make sure to keep an eye on the content.

Actually, if I am remembering correctly the CRTC gave al-Jazeera permission to broadcast here but Rogers wasn't going to be offering it as a digital channel. I guess they changed their minds.

Regardless of the hype and controversy behind this whole thing, I am just glad Canadians can now watch fox. I think it is a good decision...

I actually didn't hear about this until recently. I can't imagine that anyone in Canada would have wanted to be censored. Now you Canadians can have your O'Reilly too!!!

Basically the issue was objections to violations of both the CRTC's broadcast standards, concerns raised over content that could violate the Charter of Rights & Freedoms, and finally legal objections by close to 100 groups... Ironically the same hurdles that Al Jazeera faced - except they had close to 250 legal objections filed against them.

In all honesty it might fly in Alberta, but I doubt it'll get much play in the mainstream market - just as Al Jazeera will do better in major population centres like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver but won't be seen much outside them.

Anyways FOX News will have a lot of competition with other international news sources here - most of which at least make the attempt at appearing objective and un-biased.

Actually, according to the only study done by Stanford and NORC at the University of Chicago all news sources are biased but it is Fox that is the least biased.

Next time don't make such accusations/lies.

-Rudey