The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / New Must Carry Cable Channel Approved By CRTC

**Posted by RadioActive** October 21, 2024 6:58 am

At some point this week, possibly even Monday, the CRTC is going to make a decision on giving mandatory must carry status to a station that’s been around since 2021 – but you’ve probably never heard of it.

It’s called Uvagut TV (translated as “Our TV”) and it’s a broadcast outlet that’s aimed almost solely at the Inuit. It’s been on the air for several years in the north, mostly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

But those behind the place insist it’s ready for primetime and they want it carried across the country, as they admit, “to ensure that Uvagut TV be included in the basic tv package by every Canadian cable and satellite provider who would in turn pay Uvagut a modest fee per subscriber…80% of the income generated by the mandatory distribution order will go directly into the creation of new Inuktut content. We will be commissioning between 8 - 12 television series annually from independent Inuit producers.”

The hope at nationwide launch is that at least 60% of its content will be subtitled in English, with all of it in either English and French eventually.

That means if the CRTC says yes (and given Truth and Reconciliation mandates, there’s every reason to think it will), you might end up paying just a little extra in your monthly bill for a station you might never watch or even be able to understand.

If you’re curious to see what it shows, they currently stream over the Internet and you can scroll down the page and watch the channel here.

**Posted by mace** October 21, 2024 1:47 pm

Just great! Another useless Canadian channel most subscribers will never watch. Much better to have one of those evil American sub-channels like Antenna TV, METV or Cozi TV available. CHCH and DejaVu folks would whine about the increased competition. Certainly can't have that can we.

**Posted by Radiowiz** October 21, 2024 2:08 pm

Driving the cable bill UP at a time when people are cutting it is kinda silly, don't cha' think?
Rogers should eat that carriage fee just to keep what's left of their cable (er Ignite TV) customers happy.

**Posted by Radio Bob** October 21, 2024 3:56 pm

Why not? So many other ethnic groups have must-carry channels, and the Inuit are becoming more and more urbanized. So we'll pay a few more cents a month. Can you honestly tell me you'll notice?

**Posted by In Phase** October 21, 2024 5:04 pm

Radio Bob wrote:
So many other ethnic groups have must-carry channels

Which ethnic groups have must carry?

**Posted by mic'em** October 22, 2024 7:10 am

Hopefully my local provider, Sunwire will replace The Shopping Channel with this new one.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 22, 2024 4:37 pm

And it's done, after the CRTC said it received more 5,000 public comments in support of the move.

It comes with this caveat:

"Uvagut TV will be included in the basic TV package without increasing its maximum monthly cost of $25."

It will cost those with other packages 9 cents a month.

You should start seeing it on your system by January 20, 2025.

Meanwhile, a second service called Inuit TV also applied for must carry. They were turned down, primarily because they couldn't guarantee a 24-hour broadcast day. In addition, the CRTC feared two Inuit TV stations on must carry would weaken both of them. So only one got approved.

CRTC adds Uvagut TV to basic TV package in Canada

CRTC Decision

**Posted by Forward Power** October 22, 2024 4:42 pm

...and they waited until 4pm ET to release this? Must be at least one public company involved (likely Bell, Rogers and/or Telus) and the Commission waited for the markets to close before they released the decision.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 22, 2024 4:52 pm

Interestingly, one Commissioner issued a dissenting opinion, saying the final result picked the wrong one for must carry. Claire Anderson noted:

"I cannot support the Decision to approve the application for mandatory distribution of Uvagut TV, since all the evidence on the record of the proceeding shows that Inuit TV would cease operations without a mandatory distribution order. I would have approved the mandatory distribution order application for Inuit TV instead, in hope that both services would continue to make valuable contributions to Canadian culture."

Not something you see every day from the CRTC.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** October 23, 2024 8:38 am

Radiowiz wrote:
Driving the cable bill UP at a time when people are cutting it is kinda silly, don't cha' think?
Rogers should eat that carriage fee just to keep what's left of their cable (er Ignite TV) customers happy.

Can you honestly see money grubbing Rogers do anything slightly decent? They have sports teams to buy and other companies’ channels to steal, don’t ya know!

**Posted by Radiowiz** October 23, 2024 9:19 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
Radiowiz wrote:
Driving the cable bill UP at a time when people are cutting it is kinda silly, don't cha' think?
Rogers should eat that carriage fee just to keep what's left of their cable (er Ignite TV) customers happy.

Can you honestly see money grubbing Rogers do anything slightly decent? They have sports teams to buy and other companies’ channels to steal, don’t ya know!

Once the cable is cut there is no money to grub.

**Posted by mace** October 23, 2024 9:20 am

I have been a Rogers customer for 31 years. During this time I have had few service issues from them, and those that have arisen have always been solved in a timely manner. Yes it can be frustrating having to explain your problem to several different customer service reps. Getting upset isn't going to solve your service issues any faster. I stalled the switch from digital to ignite as long as I could. [I have always been resistant to change] The adjustment to ignite was quite smooth. Do I miss OTA? Absolutely. When you live in an apartment that faces north with no balcony, OTA is not an option. Maybe I am lucky to have had such reliable service for the past three decades. I have read about the large number of horror stories from both Rogers and Bell customers. Fortunately, I have not been one of them.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 23, 2024 9:50 am

Far be it from me to defend Rogers on anything, but this addition to the line-up isn't theirs. My guess is they'd prefer not to have to worry about it. But the CRTC has mandated must carry, so they're obliged to add it, whether you want it or not.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 27, 2024 7:10 am

The CBC profiles this new channel coming to your cable system next year. The piece laments that the success of the station likely means another competitor won't be as lucky.

It's very odd that the reporter narrating the story is talking about the Inuit language in English and sounds like he may come from Australia.

Uvagut TV soon to be available on cable and satellite Canada-wide

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** October 27, 2024 7:18 am

The reporter, Samuel Wat, is a New Zealander who has lived in Canada for the past several years.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 27, 2024 7:22 am

Thanks for the update. It's certainly a melding of several worlds in one story!