The CRTC is preparing to review its rules for cable and satellite broadcasters — taking a second look at topics including genre exclusivity, non-Canadian satellite services and ad time limits on specialty, pay and VOD outlets.

The federal watchdog, which held a similar review of over-the-air broadcasting earlier this year, has slated its review of broadcast distribution undertakings for January and, in a 21-page document released last week, floated a lengthy list of issues to be discussed. Among them, that it may be time to do away with the genre exclusivity currently in place for pay and specialty channels, whether more non-Canadian satellite services should be allowed in, and whether the current limits on advertising time on specialties should be relaxed or eliminated.

Ad time limits were lifted following the OTA review, and are set to disappear on the low end of the dial by 2009.

The CRTC says the rules are due for a rethink, noting that licensees face more competition on more fronts because of the rise of digital technology. The current BDU rules were laid down in 1997.

The BDU review is set for Jan. 28, 2008 in Gatineau, QC. The deadline for written comments is Oct. 9.