TORONTO – By the end of this year, more Canadians will have broadband than cable TV.
That it just one of the points Rogers Communications made in its submission to the CRTC today on the future environment facing the Canadian broadcast system. As instructed by Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda in a speech at the Banff TV Fest, the CRTC is conducting a broad ranging proceeding which is looking for input on the impact that new technologies are having on how Canadians access audio-visual content and the impact that is having and will have on the Canadian broadcasting system.
In its position paper (and Cartt.ca has asked for the submissions from many companies and interested parties and will have a comprehensive report on them as soon as we can. If your company has one, send it to us at editorial@cartt.ca), "Rogers agrees that changes in technology and consumer behavior have already transformed the communications landscape in Canada," said the company’s press release.
Despite these changes, Rogers believes that the broadcasting and cultural policy objectives enshrined in the Broadcasting Act remain relevant today. It recommends however, that for them to remain relevant in the future, the government must adopt a new approach to broadcasting policy and regulation focused on:
* Fostering consumer choice and program diversity
* Rewarding innovation and encourage investment in new technologies and services
* Maximizing the ability of all stakeholders to compete on a fair and flexible basis
As most will know, Rogers’ interests cut across all fields in cable, radio, television and telecom and other media. The company is the largest cable company in Canada, the largest wireless providers and a serious national home phone competitor, one of the largest broadcasters with 40-plus radio stations and TV interests such as Rogers Sportsnet and the OMNI conventional broadcasters, and is one of the largest magazine publishers.
Rogers argues that "properly designed and implemented," a regulatory approach that is consistent with the principles it has announced "will encourage consumers to continue to rely on the Canadian broadcasting system as one of their key sources of audio-visual content," says the release.
"While Rogers is not advocating wholesale legislative change in the broadcasting sector, we are calling for more regulatory flexibility" said Phil Lind, vice-chairman, Rogers Communications, and the company’s regulatory point-man. "We believe that Canada’s regulated broadcasting system can continue to play an important role in the lives of Canadians, in part because of the opportunities that the global digital communications environment presents, but only if regulatory flexibility becomes a hallmark of our system."
