The CRTC has granted Rogers Cable the rigth to distribute satellite subscription radio services via their digital cable service The decision means customers in Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to subscribe to Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Radio using their Rogers cable TV account.

Rogers hasn't yet announced which provider they will go with as part of their Rogers Digital offering, 

The Rogers Cable application was actually opposed by the CBC, who owns 40% of Sirius Canada. Interestingly though, Sirius Canada fully supported Rogers application. CSR (XM Canada) generally supported Rogers, but "could not accurately assess the impact of the proposed carriage on its own business plan until it had concluded an agreement with Rogers or any other BDU."

Read the full CRTC Decision here. 

[via Mediacaster Magazine] 

SIRIUS Canada has just announced that they've surpassed over 200,000 paying subscribers within the first year of operation.

This is incredible news considering that they've outpaced rival XM Canada, who announced they had 120,000 subscribers (91k being "self-paying") earlier this month. Sirius Canada has held a dominating position in Canada, with a retail marketshare of more than 70% year-to-date according to NPD.

Sirius Canada broke 100,000 subscribers back in May, and launched on December 1, 2005. So they're pacing about 100k subs every 6-months. That's impressive.

Read the full press release after the jump... 

SIRIUS Canada has partnered with the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association - the Canadian equivalent to AAA). Through the CAA's Show Your Card & Save program members get access to incentives and offers on Sirius Satellite Radio products and services.

The CAA is has 4.9 million members, all of who can now receive up to 20% off their satellite radios, savings on subscription and accessories, extended on-line listening trials and no activation fees when they make their purchase at SIRIUS' on-line store.

The CRTC issued a decision that prevents Sirius Satellite Radio or XM Satellite Radio from being included in Canadian satellite television broadcasts.

The ruling concluded that Sirius and XM were not traditional program offerings therefore the ExpressVu and Star Choice Satellite TV providers are not authorized to distribute them.

Back in March, the CRTC received a letter from the CBC stating that they had learned that one or both of the satellite television companies were considering distributing satellite radio services to their subscribers. The CBC argued that such distribution was not permissible under current rules.

Interestingly enough, the CBC is partnered with Sirius Canada.

ExpressVu expressed the view that the current Canadian broadcast current rules do not apply in this case, because the satellite radio services were a "programming undertaking" and not a new type of broadcasting undertaking. ExpressVu then asked the commission for a ruling on the issue.

The ruling (CRTC 2006-615) said that XM and Sirius were licensed as a satellite subscription radio undertaking and were not a programming undertaking, therefore ExpressVu and Star Choice do not have the authority to distribute them. Sorry Canada.

[Digital Home Canada]

Sirius Canada has signed a deal with ClubLink to be installed at all ClubLink clubhouses in Ontario and Quebec. ClubLink is one of Canada's most popular golf course operators more than 15,000 Members and 35 18-hole golf courses throughout Ontario and Quebec.

In a separate deal, Sirius Canada and Hertz Canada have partnered to offer Sirius in three major Hertz airport locations in Canada. Sirius Canada will be offered in Hertz's Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal locations for a nominal fee.