Bitoves Works to "Save" Satellite Radio in Canada

John Bitove certainly knows how to work it. With Canada's federal government looking at reversing a decision to grant satellite-radio licenses to XM and Sirus, Bitove has gone on the media offensive. He claims his firm, Canadian Satellite Radio, which will operate XM Canada, will be out $8-million if the CRTC reverses its decision. For Bitove, this isn't a lot of cash given CSR could be worth about $700 million in a couple years if subscriber growth meets expectations. The bigger issue is the federal government's willingness to make the satellite-radio decision a political process. With an election later this year, the Liberal Party is looking for all the support it can get. If this means pandering to voters in Quebec, who are upset with the satellite-radio decision because it doesn't include enough French-language stations, the Liberals will do what it takes to ensure their future support. Everyone knows the CRTC is a plagued by political pressure but it's troubling that the Liberal Party's is willing to interfere with well-considered decision involving an industry potentially worth $2-billion that has proven to be a smash-hit in the U.S. Bitove, who stands to become even richer from satellite radio, has every right to go on the warpath.