Modified On December 9, 2004
The Canadians are cautiously circling satellite radio. The New York Times reports today that, when (no longer if) it’s approved, it’ll be a great thing for Canadian artists. They mainly see a benefit for the musicians. Due to the
One comedian eager to see the technology expand here is Ben Miner, who for the last year has been traveling around eastern Canada honing his standup comedy routine in small clubs and sharing motel rooms with other comedians to save money.[…]
Mr. Miner is passionate enough about the technology that he appeared in November at the radio commission’s hearings, decked out in his only suit – a three-piece pinstripe – and a gold tie, gold shirt, and gold pocket square, to speak in favor of allowing satellite radio in Canada.
“We need to be able to export things aside from maple syrup,” he joked.
While we realize that Mr. Miner is only joking, he is seriously mistaken if he thinks that Canadian comics aren’t exported regularly. Jeremy Hotz, Jim Carrey, Harland Williams, Caroline Rhea, Howie Mandel— all are Canadian comics and all are regularly featured in American media. Not a tidal wave, to be sure, but pretty good representation. The revolution that Canadian satellite radio would bring wouldn’t be so much on this side of the border. It might provide more outlets north of the border, however. But it would still be subject to the tightass restrictions of the Canadian government.
We wonder if Mr. Miner is aware of the fact that, if he were to send a clean, digital copy of his act down to D.C. (Joel Haas at XM), he would probably be considered for inclusion in the XM play list. (As far as we know, XM has no restrictions as to the country of origin when it comes to considering programming.)
Read the rest here.