The country's broadcast and telecom regulator is considering a change to the current definition of day, but changes to some mobile media delivery rules may also be needed.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has put out a call for comments on ideas being proposed for amending the current definition of 'broadcast day', as it applies to operator licences and programming regulations.
Under those rules, some of which have been in place since 1987, the broadcast day may be 18 hours long - or 24.
In response to a proposal from Bell Media, which runs major sports networks such as the TSN and RDS families, the CRTC will consider allowing operators to choose their own definition, and operate with an 18 or 24 hour program schedule, as they see fit.
Bell gives as an example of the need for change its own coverage of live sports programming, saying that the start times or program lengths of such content is difficult to predict.
For example, it says high-profile sporting events such as the 2012 Olympics might only be partially covered, under the existing rules, with RDS and TSN only being able to claim partial credit for Canadian content due to differences in corresponding start times between events.
Operators also say that flexibility to operate in many different time zones is also required due to the nature of live sports.
Additional revenue opportunities are anticipated, Bell says, with greater program and license flexibility from changes to the recognized broadcast day, and the airing of Canadian content therein.
Over the past year, the CRTC had granted licenses for new channels, although some license holders have since suspended or withdrawn their announced plans for new sports specialty services.
Meanwhile, the CRTC has another sporting issue on the table: it's called the Super Bowl.
The CRTC has ruled that TV programs cannot be offered on an exclusive basis on mobile or Internet services - which is just what Bell Media plans to do.
Bell owns the mobile rights for the NFL title game, and they are seen as exclusive to Bell by condition of the deal with the football league.
The contract also apparently prohibits prevents any other carrier from offering similar coverage, and Bell is not able to resell such rights.
Telus had filed a complaint with the CRTC about the NFL, and NHL, contracts for such exclusive mobile media services.
Carriers and content owners say that upcoming contracts, when up for renewal or renegotiation, will reflect the CRTC's wishes and that new mobile and online services will be the result.
Such services were a big reason that Bell and its major competitor, Rogers, teamed up on a billion dollar deal for a majority stake in the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, giving them ownership of the NHL's Maple Leafs, the NBA's Raptors and the Toronto FC soccer club.
Anything the two companies choose to do with mobile content as part of that deal will fall under the CRTC's current jurisdictional parameters.
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