CALGARY – Shaw Communications Inc. says it’s “extremely disappointed” with the CRTC’s decision last week to deny its application to add USA Network to the list of eligible foreign satellite services for digital distribution, as Cartt.ca reported last week.
“The CRTC is continuing on a path of protectionism for the benefit of certain Canadian programmers at the expense of Canadian television customers,” said Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Communications.
“Shaw strongly believes that Canadians deserve access to the best national and international sources of programming – that is what the Broadcasting Act promises,” he said in a statement.
In January 2007, Shaw applied to add USA Network to the lists of non-Canadian services that Canadians are allowed to receive. The CRTC turned down the application, saying there is “considerable overlap” in the types of programming offered by USA Network and Mystery TV, owned by CanWest Global.
“In light of the above, the Commission is of the view that there is sufficient overlap between USA Network and Mystery TV with respect to program genres in general, and programming in the crime drama category in particular, for it to conclude that USA Network would be competitive with Mystery TV,” the decision said.
Shaw, however, disputes that, arguing that Mystery TV airs only three of the same programs.
“Even CanWest, which owns Mystery TV with TVA, acknowledged in its intervention that ‘USA Network is truly a general interest service’, and does not limit itself to any one particular genre.
“The CRTC’s decision to prevent access to the USA Network is particularly surprising given its statements in recent speeches and proceedings about the need to focus on consumers and respond to the challenges of black market satellite, the internet and other new technologies.
“We find it paradoxical that the CRTC released this decision while in the middle of a hearing to ensure that a diversity of voices is available to Canadian audiences,” Bissonnette said.
“As we told the Commission last week, the health of the broadcasting system depends on providing Canadians with the greatest possible diversity of both Canadian and non-Canadian choices. Shaw is doing everything in its power to provide our customers with that choice and diversity.”
Shaw had also wanted the Commission to alter its approach to adding new foreign services to the digital lists. That will be looked at under the broadcast distribution undertaking regulatory framework public hearing in January.
