Canada's most-wanted criminals are a step closer to getting exposure on national television - on a channel that longs to put them behind bars.
A controversial bid for a 24-hour cable service devoted to finding escaped convicts, parolees at large and abducted children was given a boost by broadcast regulators yesterday in a long-awaited ruling potentially worth millions of dollars.
In the face of steep opposition from cable operators, Montreal businessman Vincent Géracitano won the right to operate French station Avis de Recherche as a must-carry TV channel in Quebec, meaning cable and satellite operators have no choice but to provide it for subscribers, who will have a fee of a few cents added to their bill. The ruling paves the way for an English version called All Points Bulletin, in the coming year, provided it receives the same approval.
I found this bit mildly amusing:
In a debate that went to the highest levels of the Canadian government, the CRTC is allowing the company to charge six cents a month per cable or satellite subscriber. The fees will be collected on monthly bills. The small sum adds up to roughly $1-million a year for Avis de Recherche, and potentially more than $5-million if All Points Bulletin wins the same approval. Mr. Géracitano wants to launch across Canada late this year or early in 2009.
The Quebec money will help pay off nearly $250,000 the company owes Vidéotron. It will also allow the channel to operate without advertisers, Mr. Géracitano said.
"We're allowed to sell advertising, but the service doesn't lend itself to selling ads. Most companies don't really want to associate their logo next to a criminal or a missing child."