Canada upholds satellite radio licenses

OTTAWA, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The Canadian government has upheld a regulatory ruling awarding licenses to three satellite radio companies.

A cabinet committee rejected an appeal from groups arguing that two of the satellite companies are not offering enough Canadian and French-language content, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported.

Ian Morrison of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting predicted broadcasters will seek new rules on content. He called the government's decision to back the Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission decision "a sad day for Canadian content."

Kevin Shea of Sirius Canada said rejecting the licenses would have been like "saying no to the Internet."