Not at all like iHeart RadioAaron. Actually a lot more than licensing a trademark or use of a particular technology. The "heavy" lifting of managing program listings, insertion of Canadian and non-Canadian stations into the technology "system", and a lot of other backroom work is done by Comcast in the United States. For example, Canadian-owned channels can only launch on Rogers and Shaw within a "launch window" which is determined by Comcast in the US. (I assume that foreign services must also meet Comcast's technical requirements) Those upcoming launch windows are in the fall, and around February 2025 - determined by Comcast. Comcast sets rigid deadlines that Rogers and by extension the programming services must meet There is a lot of data, technical requirements etc that programmers must provide. Literally the requirments fill a large spreadsheet. I doubt you've ever worked through that spreadsheet RadioAaron! The technical process, goes through several levels - the affiliate relations and legal group at Rogers, the technical group (in Canada) at Rogers, and the final "say" in the matter as to whether the service provider has met Comcast's technical requirements, is made by Comcast techs in the USA. If a single item is missing, no launch. It is a very complex process. This is far more than a technology licensing agreement or a trademark agreement, given the intense ineraction by the Comcast technical groups in the USA and ongoing management of the data, program listings, metadata,etc, by Comcast.
Last edited by tvguy (November 1, 2024 9:50 am)