TV Notes

Items on my TV universe radar screen this week:



Ken Jennings on Millionaire:



Ken Jennings, who set a Jeopardy grand champions longevity record a few seasons ago, will be featured in the "ask an expert" hotseat on the Meredith Viera hosted "Millionaire" gameshow this week. This would be a good opportunity for those who are not regular viewers of the show to tune in to catch the new features this season, which include: a timeclock limit on answering questions along with the new "ask an expert" timeline (the expert is linked to the studio contestant via a skype video link). For those living in the local GTA TV market, the show is stripped at 5 PM weeknights on CTV's "A" channel outlet, from Barrie.





CTV's Amazing Race Contest:



CTV, the Canadian carrier of The Amazing Race TV show, is co-promoting an AR themed contest with Air Canada that allows viewers to travel to exotic international destinations (like those featured on the show). Prizes include four trips for two, including flights and accommodations, to a destination in Asia, Europe, South America or Australia, as well as one grand prize trip for two to all four destinations. The contest ends Nov. 23.



Enter at this blog: http://ctv1.ctv.ca/contests/aircanada08/



CRTC Hearings Decisions:



The CRTC is the body responsible for licensing and regulation of the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications industry. Recently they held hearings into the future of CATV (or cable) and satellite TV signal distribution in Canada. Last week the released their recommendations flowing from those hearings.



They announced several policy decisions.



First, they denied the major conventional commercial broadcast networks (like those operated by CTV and Canwest's-Global) the ability to charge cable companies (like Rogers and Shaw) signal fee-for-carriage charges for accessing over the air transmitted local TV station signals that are available freely over the air for in home reception (with an antennae) for those without cable access. They did, however, allow conventional broadcasters to negotiate payments for the re-transmission of their signals to other provinces (known as distant signals). Cablers currently package such signals in "timeshifting" tiers.



Second, they have proposed ending the bundled or tiered packaging of suites of network signals that subscribers are compelled to acquire in order to access individual signals within the tier or bundle. In future subscribers will be able to "mix and match " individual signals from a menu of available services rather than being compelled to accept a pre-packaged combination bundle promoted by the cable company. However, the subscriber must still offered a majority of Canadian signals and packaged options remain as an alternative way to purchase.



Third, they allowed for more direct competition between networks operating in the news (eg. CBC Newsworld and CTV Newsnet) and sports (TSN, Rogers Sportsnet) spaces. Previously Sportsnet had to air regional-based programming over multiple feeds while TSN was limited to programming a single-feed nationally-- both will now be able to invade each others' exclusive turf by playing in the same sandbox. Previously Newsnet was required to promote a headline news service (in a rotating news-wheel format) whereas Newsnet could air longer-form documentaries and liver coverage of breaking events. Going forward, both news licensees will only be required to provide news updates every 120 minutes


You can link to the CRTC decision documents here


You can link to some reaction to the CRTC decisions here:


The expression of disappointment by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) is here


Favourable union reaction is here


Favourable small cabler reaction is here