The lumbering wheels of the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) finally got around to approving satellite radio in Canada last Thursday.  You know Satellite Radio; that groundbreaking concept in add free digital radio beamed to subscribers by Satellite to small mobile receivers used in either cars or portable radios.  The US has had two competing satellite radio companies for years, XM and Sirius.  The CRTC licenses are for three competing satellite radio providers to operate in Canada, of course they’ll have to observe strict Canadian content laws. 

Chairman of CRTC Charles Dalfen says.  "These licenses will harness new technologies for Canadians and give Canadian talent exposure to listeners across Canada and indeed, North America...through new Canadian channels and airplay on U.S. channels," 

The CRTC’s approval had lead to a partnership between CBC (who already provides Galaxy satellite radio to Satellite and digital cable TV subscribers) and Sirius.  While Canadian Satellite Radio has partnered with XM.  The third service will be run by CHUM and Montreal’s Astral Media.  The new satellite radio services will have to observe the following regulation enforced by the CRTC to comply with Broadcasting Act:

• Eight channels produced in Canada. Only nine foreign channels for each Canadian channel.
• 85% of all programming broadcast on the Canadian channels must be Canadian.
• 25% of Canadian channels must be French language channels.
• 25% of musical selections on Canadian channels must be new Canadian musical selections.
• 25% of the selections must be by emerging Canadian artists.

No word yet on when the new satellite radio companies will become available but the cost is said to be about $13 per month to subscribers.