Ottawa-The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has received 452 applications for new digital cable-television channels, more than seven times the number it received in the previous round.
Of the applications, 91 were for "Category 1" must-carry licenses. Another 355 were for "Category 2" licenses, which cable operators are not required to transmit.
Channel applicants include Canadian cable heavyweights Shaw Communications Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc., broadcasters CTV Inc and Chum Ltd., and producer Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
U.S. programmer ZDTV has partnered with both Shaw and Rogers for a digital-channel license.
Overall, the proposed channel formats literally embody "narrowcasting," with formats such as gay and lesbian programming, singles, pets, hockey, weddings and poetry.
The CRTC will consider the applications at an August hearing, and final decision should be announced by the end of the year.
