U.S. MUSIC STATION MAKING BELLIGERENT NOISES
By Adnews Staff
A country music war could be heating up again. U.S.-based Country Music Television says that Rogers Communications of Toronto and Calgary-based Rawlco Communications, owners of the New Country Network, are dragging their feet on a deal in which CMT is to buy 20% of NCN. The agreement was originally struck after retaliation was threatened when CMT was kicked off Canadian airwaves last year to make room for NCN. Under the deal, the station name was to be changed to Country Music Television Canada. The deal was to be wrapped up by June last year, but it still hasn't closed. The U.S. has threatened to retaliate against Canadian communications companies operating in the U.S. The threats include blocking a Teleglobe Canada underwater cable project and banning Toronto-based video station MuchMusic from U.S. airwaves. Also, CMT says it will banish Canadian country music stars, such as Grammy awards nominee Shania Twain, from its programming. CMT has called on U.S. trade representative Mickey Kantor to make the issue a top priority for a new U.S. trade enforcement task force. CMT is owned by Group W Satellite Communications, a unit of Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. of New York.