The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday edition that some of the country's largest cable and satellite TV providers urged the federal telecommunications regulator on Monday to reject a number of channels that are vying for guaranteed spots on the dial. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post says Shaw Communications, Rogers and regional telecom MTS Allstream are among those opposing what is known as mandatory carriage, which would force them to include the channels on their basic cable and satellite packages. "(Mandatory carriage) status should be reserved for services that make an exceptional contribution and serve an audience with an extraordinary need," said Shaw lobbyist Barbara Williams. "Movie, news and general-interest services clearly do not satisfy the commission's criteria as they serve a mass audience." The providers say costs would increase if the CRTC forces them to add channels to their basic cable and satellite packages. CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais has said the bar for being granted mandatory carriage is set "very high." The providers argued none of the applicants meets the CRTC's threshold to qualify for mandatory carriage. The CRTC is hearing from 22 applications for mandatory carriage.