They could indeed actually re-new their license as a specialty service only but they do not want that neither as that implies that they loose their current privileges such as , low number location on cable, the right to simsubing, forced to be carried on local cable markets, they also loose their OTA frecuencies and maybe a few more benefits.

They are just playing another powerful card they have now with the new life OTA digital TV has brought to the table. They are just in other words capitalizing on the oportunity , but heck this is a capitalist society not a socialist one , so why blame them eh?, lol.

If they move to specialty service they will actually probably loose money as big Ads money is in the weekly primetime slot for the major US shows and remember they will also loose the exclusive rights with those US shows probably too.

As I posted on the Bell TV technical forum it will be fun to see how this palys out in the end and for me at least the role the "regulator" plays in this case.