Canada approves Satellite Radio Bids

Canada has finally bowed down under pressure and given a go ahead to satellite radio. They are one of the last few countries who had till now prevented such radio stations from operating in their region. Thousands of Canadians have until now skirted Canadian rules by subscribing to satellite radio in the U.S.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission today approved licenses for the Canadian units of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Holdings Inc. These two are some of the biggest radio satellite providers in the United States. The commission was considering their decision since quite sometime now.

Analysts say that the commission had little choice after looking at the facts. So many Canadians are subscribing to satellite radio from the US, it was better to let them do from the Canada itself. New York-based Sirius estimates the Canadian market may exceed Canadian dollar 200 million ($159 million) a year by 2010. The market is expected to be as large as 4 million customers in the Canadian market.