Attention to the new specialty tv applicants has been eclipsed by the latest flurry of plot twists in the ongoing broadcasting battles ­ the Juneau study directed tax proposal for the Telefilm/nfb/cbc pot, long queues in the appeals court lineup plus fresh cases like wic turning its litigation efforts towards CanWest, not to mention the potential powder keg of crtc head Keith Spicer’s current tv violence crackdown efforts (exploring blacking out some violent u.s. shows being delivered by cable to Canadian kids, in the v-chip interim).

And things are expected to heat up during the access hearings.

The Canadian Cable Television Association informed the industry it d’esn’t expect to have analog capacity for new specialty services, as most cable systems are, or close to being, full up.

The ccta proposes any remaining capacity be used for ppv, as this is necessary for them to compete with dth. Coincidentally, Rogers is launching some 10 to 15 new ppv services this month, prior to the hearings.

According to the cable industry, in terms of analog capacity (unless someone wants to offer its service for free), to warrant the cost, the service would have to be attractive enough to increase the penetration of existing tiers.

Therefore, they say, digital is the option. Broadcasters, as you might expect, beg to differ.

There’s a chicken/egg problem here for applicants submitting a business proposal without a handle on what the penetration would be when the cable industry rolls out digital boxes. The new services need a good reach to build a strong channel, and the cable providers will need tempting packages to drive consumer desire.

Add to the already bubbling pot conventional broadcaster desires such as Izzy Asper’s that the cable companies pay for his signal.

Begging the question, what happens when the telcos cross the roadŠ Is it at this point, once cablecos have the digital network in place, that anyone meeting basic Cancon requirements who bellies up to the licensing bar may finally be greenlighted by the crtc and toddle off to fend for themselves, attracting deliverers and audiences as best they can?

Broadcasters and consumers are tired of hearing about the 500-channel universe, but never getting to see it. Gauging by rumblings from both sides of the screen waiting for the technology to be put in place, patience is wearing thin.

There are still a lot of niches to fill out there, but the folks at the plate could be losing eyeball potential as both the telco lobby and Web capabilities gain momentum and favor, and would-be Canadian services launch elsewhere.

One place where you can find new entertainment series spawning more rapidly than Friends clones die is on the Net.