Pelmorex To Launch New Specialty Channel

[Yeziknoradio]

The new channel: The Environment Network

"The Environment Network will provide programming which is relevant to all Canadians. The new service will inform and educate everyone about environmental trends, explain what is happening and why..."

More info: http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=80443&issue=02212008

Note: Pelmorex also owns Weather Network Canada.

 

[jegrant]

They already produce a substantial amount of environment / "green" stories for The Weather Network. I hear them all the time on Sirius 185 - The Weather Network Radio. And, they are not radio stories, really - they sound like TV simulcasts (especially when the reporter encourages me to watch something happen on screen).

This should be cheap for Pelmorex. They can just re-run stories from TWN, differently packaged, to meet CanCon requirements, then fill in the rest by licensing programming from Discovery (USA) Planet Green.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

"then fill in the rest by licensing programming from Discovery (USA) Planet Green."

The only problem with that idea might be that CTV owns the rights to Discovery Canada...If they want, they can go to the CRTC and request to air a Planet Green Canada when the American PG signs on...right?

 

[jegrant]

No, CTV would have to apply for a license. Since "The Environment Network" is a digital Category 2 service, I think the CRTC would be open to competition from a different applicant.

But Discovery isn't even completely owned by CTV in Canada. Discovery Kids Canada is owned by Corus.

In fact, Pelmorex might even license the name Planet Green for use in Canada. In the application, it mentions that there is already a non-profit group called "The Environment Network" that objected to the use of its name for the proposed channel.