Leonard Asper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canwest Global Communications Inc., with Ivan Fecan President and Chief Executive Officer, CTVglobemedia and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc.
— CRTC receives overriding principles, supporting research and key answers necessary to preserve and enhance the broadcast system for Canadian consumers –
OTTAWA, April 17 /CNW/ - In an historic joint appearance before the CRTC, Canada’s two leading private broadcasters came together to present a unified vision for the future of Canadian TV.
“We embrace the future,” confirmed Mr. Ivan Fecan, President and Chief Executive Officer, CTVglobemedia and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc. “We have come together with solutions. We look forward to working cooperatively with the CRTC to rebalance our regulatory framework to preserve real choice for Canadian consumers.”
“The Canadian TV system is the best in the world,” added Mr. Leonard Asper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canwest Global Communications Inc. “Canadians are offered unparalleled choice and diversity. We are determined to keep this diversity and choice a reality for Canadian consumers.”
Affordable TV for Canadians
Mr. Asper encouraged the Commission in delivering the option of a small basic Canadian TV service, including all local and regional channels, educational services and those other channels currently deemed mandatory.
“All Canadians should be guaranteed access to an affordable package of core Canadian TV channels,” added Mr. Fecan. “This is a positive step for Canadian consumers.”
Regulations that provide for balance, diversity and Canadian choice
Going forward, Mr. Asper and Mr. Fecan confirmed Canada’s regulatory framework needs to provide balance within the broadcast distribution system.
“Our system needs to protect against enshrining the dominance and unfair advantage for Canada’s cable and satellite distributors in regulation,” said Mr. Fecan. “We cannot let TV distributors consolidate their power to decide what channels get carried and what they get paid.”
By highlighting the robust capacity of Canada’s broadcast distribution industry, Mr. Asper noted that there is no supporting rationale to modify current “access” rules. “Maintaining the access requirements just means that Canadians will have more TV choices and the power to decide for themselves,” confirmed Mr. Asper. “Canadian consumers deserve diversity and choice.”
On “genre” exclusivity, Mr. Fecan confirmed that the current approach is maintaining diversity and it works for the Canadian consumers. “Genre exclusivity simply keeps the specialty in Canadian specialty TV.”
Reward contributions and end free rides
Acknowledging the significant obligations and investments made in Canadian programming by Canadian broadcasters under the Broadcasting Act, Mr. Asper and Mr. Fecan reconfirmed their commitment to continue to make their contributions.
“By working with rebalanced regulations, we can continue to meet our obligations and contributions to Canadian television,” said Mr. Asper.
“Ensuring a fair system includes paying our local stations for their signals,” maintained Mr. Fecan. “In terms of distant signals, our consent must be obtained and carriage subject to direct negotiations.”
“The free ride has to end for Canada’s TV distributors,” concluded Mr. Asper. “It is only right; it is our product and we should be paid for it.”
Canadian programming for Canadian TV viewers
CTVgm and Canwest research overwhelmingly confirms that Canadians place a high value on Canadian content, in particular local programming.
“We want to continue to invest in and produce Canadian programming, including the local programming that Canadians value” confirmed Mr. Asper.
“This is why we are Canadian broadcasters. No other countries do this - 60% of our schedule is made up of Canadian content, the highest level in the world.”
Mr. Fecan concluded: “Our passion is Canadian TV. We are always looking for the next Corner Gas. This is what we love to do.”
About CTVglobemedia:
CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada’s premier multimedia company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s No.1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s No.1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 35 specialty channels, including Canada’s No.1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 35 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s No. 1 FM station. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and the Air Canada Centre; and an interest in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities.
About Canwest:
Canwest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwest.com), (TSX: CGS and CGS.A,) an international media company, is Canada’s largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, Canwest is Canada’s largest publisher of paid English language daily newspapers and owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, web sites and radio stations and networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.