MPs ask head of CRTC to clarify comments

Konrad von Finckenstein says he turned down proposal for carriage fees because broadcasters wouldn’t commit to funding local shows. But Global and CTV say they agreed to funding local programming. Man, TV is a mess these days.

Summary of Day 2 of the CRTC new media hearings

Follow all the action at Michael Geist’s blog.

The hearing opened with several Quebec creator unions (L’Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l’image et du son, l’Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec, la Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec, la Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma, la Société du droit de reproduction des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs au Canada, la Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec, et de l’Union des artistes), talking about the usefulness of new media in promoting Quebec culture and arts, while warning that the current model is threatened by those who do not believe the CRTC should regulate new media.

The Unions expressed particular concern with the CRTC’s 1999 decision to grant a new media exemption.  The Unions argued that things have changed since 1999 and that Internet broadcasting services are growing and will only continue to grow. Moreover, while Canadian companies are well represented in new media, they do not offer substantial Canadian content. The Canadian content will only lessen over the next few years due to foreign competition. Regulations are therefore necessary for the future of Canadian content and the CRTC should not renew the exemptions.

The Unions argued that new media regulations should be similar to the regulations for traditional television and radio broadcasts. Moreover, following the example of the Canadian television industry, licensing conditions should be set out for the specific obligations of Canadian content. The Unions argued there was no reason why ISPs should not be governed by the same regulations as satellite and cable companies.