17-07-2008

DAB launched in Canada in November 1999. Stations in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver started operation in 1999; Ontario in 2000; and Ottawa in 2003. Coverage now amounts to about 35% of the population. In June 2005 the CRTC (the Canadian broadcast licence regulator) approved the application by CHUM Limited (CHUM/Astral) to offer subscription radio services via the DAB network.

There are currently a total of 73 licensed Digital Audio Broadcast DAB stations in Canada.

Radio Canada/CBC has also introduced its first experimental DAB station with their news/weather/traffic offering in Montreal.

24-01-2008

DAB launched in Canada in November 1999. Stations in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver started operation in 1999; Ontario in 2000; and Ottawa in 2003. Coverage now amounts toa about 35% of the population. In June 2005 the CRTC (the Canadian broadcast licence regulator) approved the application by CHUM Limited (CHUM/Astral) to offer subscription radio services via the DAB network.

There are currently a total of 73 licensed Digital Audio Broadcast DAB stations in Canada.

Radio Canada/CBC has also introduced its first experimental DAB station with their news/weather/traffic offering in Montreal.

The recent decision by the Canadian regulator CTRC (see paragraph on regulation below) means that CHUM Subscription Radio Canada (CSRC) can now offer an initial 50 diverse Canadian produced channels, with further plans to expand to 100 in total soon thereafter. These will be DAB subscription services. Among the selection are five channels encompassing rap, hip hop and urban music; four channels featuring rock, heavy metal, punk and industrial rock; and a dynamic mix of channels devoted to pop; dance, rave, new music, oldies, retro, adult contemporary; mowtown, country, global groove, alternative; classical, opera, jazz, blues; five francophone stations; a Christian music channel; Star! Radio featuring entertainment news and features; children's programming; sports news and talk; radio theatre; comedy; an aboriginal channel; and four channels broadcast in languages other than English.

01-09-2006

DAB digital radio is currently broadcast on approximately 60 stations and covers 30% of the population in four of the main cities: Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Canada was an early adopter of DAB but has since seen a period of slow progress due to problems with regulations. However, in 2006 in response to requests from broadcasters the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) agreed to change Canada’s 1995 transitional policy to allow more freedom to provide DAB only programmes to attract more consumer interest.

There are currently 60 simulcast DAB stations on air, but under the new scheme they may now also provide DAB programmes on L-Band something which the original regulations did not allow. The CRTC has also allowed each DAB multiplex to carry more than five programming services than at the present time in response to the standardisation of DAB+. DMB was also discussed during the 2006 announcement and, providing there is spectrum capacity, the Commission can see the potential benefit offered to consumers and is prepared to consider applications for these services also.