Bad for consumers and citizens | FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting

Proposed changes to broadcasting regulations up for discussion starting this morning would not be good for Canadian broadcasting and they won't do consumers any favours either.

Though the government has promised consumers lower prices, cable and satellite companies who sell the services say consumers can expect no significant savings from pick and pay.

Instead, pick-and-pay along with the other significant changes on the table – such as the proposal to end simultaneous substitution -- will likely harm local broadcasting, especially local news which is the kind of programming Canadians think is most important.

In fact, local independent broadcasters/stations? in small and medium sized markets are blunt that the changes could force them off the air. Even Bell Media has expressed doubt about the future of its CTV2 network that serves smaller cities such as London and Barrie.

The changes will produce winners and losers.

Small, niche Canadian services like Treehouse, Biography, Mystery and Bold that have made expensive programming commitments to the CRTC will find it difficult to survive in a pick-and pay-world, reducing the choices currently available to Canadians. CBC NewsNet, CTV News Channel and that favourite of the Conservative caucus, Sun TV News will also lose. Canadian programming in general will lose too as the changes will drain hundreds of millions of dollars from the system broadcasters use to finance Canadian shows.

The law of the land - the Broadcasting Act - directs the CRTC to ensure the Canadian broadcasting system is predominantly and distinctively Canadian because this helps to define and enhance our cultural sovereignty.

According to a Nanos survey released last week, Canadians are skeptical about the changes proposed by the CRTC. See over for highlights.

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For information: Jim Thompson 613-447-9592

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