TORONTO – The CRTC has been told by VisionTV’s owner S-VOX that a mandatory basic package consisting predominantly of Canadian channels is a must in order to preserve the diversity of the entire system.
S-VOX called for rules to ensure that Canadian content providers hold "pride of place" within the country’s television system, says its press release
S-VOX operates the analog multi-faith channel VisionTV, as well as two digital services: One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel and The Christian Channel.
The submission follows on the heels of a proposal to the CRTC by Rogers Communications and other cablecos that call for reducing the size of the basic package.
S-VOX proposes a basic package in which at least two-thirds of the channels are owned and operated by Canadians. To be eligible for inclusion in this basic tier, a channel must offer a minimum of 65% Canadian content, and invest at least 50% of its revenue in Canadian programming, says the release.
This basic package should also include minority language services, should deliver content for diverse audiences, and should offer educational and community programming.
Cable companies and other broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs) “govern access to the market, controlling distribution, packaging, pricing and channel placement. This puts programming services at a disadvantage – particularly those smaller, independent channels such as VisionTV that deliver, as a condition of licence, high volumes of Canadian content,” adds the release.
"We cannot rely on market forces alone to ensure that viewers enjoy access to Canadian programming that reflects our country’s diversity," said Bill Roberts, president and CEO of S-VOX. "The success of Canadian television over the years has been the result of achieving a balance between market forces and a judiciously measured degree of regulation. This is the model that will ensure that our television system continues to thrive."
