Canada is sneaking up on Satellite radio

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on October 30th, 2004

We just read a Globetechnology article about a show (that took place at the Yuks in Ottawa on Oct. 27) that was billed as “a show of support for Canadian Satellite Radio and its proposed Laugh Canada channel.” Earlier in the article there was a reference to CSR’s “proposal to launch the Laugh Canada channel using satellite radio’s digital quality sound technology.” We skipped over to CSR’s website, and we didn’t immediately see any mention of the “proposed” Laugh Canada channel. Indeed, we weren’t sure that CSR had even launched! Then we waded into their press releases and discovered that CSR has a hearing on its licensing on Nov. 1, 2004, before the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission.

(We began to think the whole thing was an elaborate gag when “The CSR Programming Philosophy” was translated into “La philosophie derrière la programmation de CSR”– what is the French word for “buttocks” doing in there? Anyone fluent in French know why?)

Anyway, we found it fascinating that a couple dozen comedians “showing support” for the proposal eventually results in Laugh Canada becoming a reality. Canada– she is mysterious, no? Here in the capitalist pig sty that is America, a handful of people cook up the idea, get the money from God knows where, actually launch the damn system (with not one but three comedy channels!) and then hemmorhage cash– billions of dollars– over a period of years and then maybe– maybe!— they get it back, and then some, somewhere down the line. (At least that’s how CSR’s partner XM Radio is doing it.) Up north, folks gotta show support. (For the record, we prefer the sty. But, I suppose there are merits to both systems.)

It looks like all systems are “go,” as the idea has the endorsement of no less a power broker than Bruce Hills:

CSR’s proposal has broad-based support among Canadian comedy groups.

“Just For Laughs is excited about the potential of Canadian Satellite Radio,” said Bruce Hills, Chief Operating Officer, Just For Laughs. “It can be a great launch pad for Canadian talent into the North American market, and is an important step in creating a new and progressive model of Canadian comedy talent development.”

We wish you luck! We know you’ll love satellite radio if and when you get it or get on it. In the meantime, you can make comments and suggestions (and show support!) by clicking here.

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