Canada Broadcast Regulators Allow Al Jazeera and CNN, Fox News still under Consideration

OTTAWA, July 15, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canadian Broadcasts regulators who years ago gained notoriety for allowing the Playboy channel on the same day they turned down the all-Catholic EWTN (more recently allowed in Canada), announced today that they have approved the Arab news station most noted for airing terrorist threats – Al Jazeera.  Yesterday, the regulators noted that they are just now considering allowing Fox News into Canada and are seeking public input, even though Ted Turner’s left-leaning CNN and CNN Headline News have been long permitted in Canada.  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released three public notices today approving the addition of nine new non-Canadian third-language services to the lists of eligible satellite services in Canada one of which was Al Jazeera.  The approval contained a note about Al Jazeera that CRTC would monitor it for “abusive comment” and distributors would be permitted to alter or delete some of the programming to prevent such “abusive comment.”  The CRTC was requested to allow Fox News by the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA).  CCTA noted in their arguments to allow Fox News that the CRTC had already approved similar news services such as CNN, CNN Headline News and C-Span.  The documents filed also reveal that part of the delay of Fox News in Canada may be thanks to the Asper family’s Global Television which had proposed a Fox News Canada which never materialized.  The CRTC has called for public comment on the application for Fox News to be allowed in Canada.  All responses must be received by August 9.  To respond to the CRTC call for comment see instructions here:  https://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2004/pb2004-45.htm   jhw