Rogers Media, Bell Media, boost commerical wholesale rates
TORONTO – As of May 1st, TSN, RDS and Sportsnet will no longer be included in the basic TV packages of businesses which have a liquor licence (outside Quebec), Bell TV has told its business customers.
These channels will instead be offered separately in two premium sports packages at an additional cost determined by the business’ seating capacity, the company told customers. Without a business account number, we can’t see what the new costs are, but you can click here for the explanation.
UPDATE: Cartt.ca has learned that since this story has been first published that Bell is not the only one altering packages and increasing rates charged to bars, restaurants and hotels for sports channels. Both Bell Media and Rogers Media have boosted the wholsale rates charged for the TSNs and Sportsnets to such commercial clients by up to 30% one large carrier executive told us. That means all carriers, from Bell TV and Rogers Cable, to Shaw Communications and Cogeco Cable and smaller carriers, will likely be boosting rates the same way.
The change is being made, says Bell TV, because TV service providers “around the world have separate charges for sports channels to commercial establishments. The new rates are designed to more accurately reflect the commercial use of the sports channels and the value that these channels represent to commercial establishments. We believe that sports programming is a powerful attractor for bar and restaurant patrons, and that the investment to continue to receive these channels is a good business decision for most establishments,” says Bell’s communications to its business customers.
“This change applies to Business TV customers in all Canadian provinces (outside of Quebec), in possession of a liquor licence. To ensure the fair treatment of all customers, access to Sports channels will be restricted to paid subscribers.”
UPDATE: "Sports networks’ investments in live sports programming attract big audiences to public viewing establishments, such as bars and restaurants," said Rogers Media spokesperson Jordan Kerbel, in an email to Cartt.ca. "For many years, these establishments have paid rates for sports content that were not reflective of the benefits they’ve enjoyed, due to the volume of patrons and the sales that are driven by televised sports. Our new commercial package aligns with the value sports services bring to these establishments.”
Added Bell Media spokesperson Marc Choma: "There are significant costs in bringing TV customers the content they want, especially the high-end Canadian and international sports programming many of our business clients provide to their customers."
