RCS — update.

July 6, 2006

As outlined in previous blog entries (June 12, June 4, May 3 and April 15), the CRTC approved a license for a new Corus-owned-Telelatino-Owned specialty cable channel called RCS on April 4, 2006. The letters stand for "Rugby-Cricket-Soccer." [CRTC 2006-114]

For the past five weeks I have written multiple emails and left a pair of voicemails to Telelatino, without receiving a reply.

Until today.

In my correspondences, I clearly identified myself and asked three simple questions about the new channel:

1. When will the station be offered to the public and available to subscribers (e.g. launch date)?

2. I am hearing rumours that RCS will televise rugby programming from Setanta Sports. Can you confirm or deny this?

3. What rugby programming will RCS provide?

This morning I received a short email response from Sue Colacci at TLN's media relations. Here is her reply, in full:

Thank you for your e-mail,

We apologize for the delay in response, but we have been trying to get back to the many e-mails that we are receiving daily.

With regards to your question, we have secured CRTC licenses for sports oriented channels focusing on Soccer, Rugby and Cricket; however, no launch date or additional information is available at this time.

O-kay. Digesting and debriefing all that, the answers to the three questions are as follows:

1. Don't know.

2. Not answered.

3. Don't know/ not answered.

It mystifies me that a broadcaster would apply for a CRTC license without having a good idea about the launch and content of that station almost SEVEN months after the application was filed and THREE months after that license was approved.

I'll keep trying to find answers, but the next couple months are extremely time-consuming for me (I have to complete a book and art exhibit that are the culmination of several years work and rugby keeps interfering with it!).

So other Canadian rugby fans shouldn't be afraid to ask the same questions. Light a fire under their arses, but as always, be respectful and polite in your correspondence, it's the only way they'll deal with us.

RCS will be owned-and-operated by TLN Television (Telelatino Network Inc.). You can contact TLN here:

Telelatino Network Inc.
Toronto Head Office
5125 Steeles Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M9L 1R5

Phone: (416) 744-8200
Toll Free: 1-800-551-8401
Fax: (416) 744-0966

Email: info@tlntv.com

Website: www.tlntv.com

Telelatino Network Inc. is 50.5% owned by media giant Corus Entertainment. Their contact info:

Executive Head Office
Corus Entertainment Inc.
181 Bay St, Suite 1630
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2T3

Telephone: (416) 642-3770
Fax: (416) 642-3779

and...

Corus Specialty Television
64 Jefferson Ave, Unit 18
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 3H4

Telephone: (416) 534-1191

You can also email Corus, but there's no email address, you have to enter a small interactive comment on their website here.

Again, be respectful and polite; and if you hear anything new, write a note post-haste to The Red Terror. Thanks.