TORONTO – While the CRTC’s approval of BCE’s purchase of CTV will put more than $140 million into new Canadian television, digital and radio programming, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is “disappointed” that less than half of the total package will be going to new on-screen programming initiatives.
Monday’s decision requires BCE to contribute 10% of the value of the television assets to public benefits, however ACTRA says that those funds should have been directed towards more Canadian dramas, documentaries and award shows that promote Canadian culture.
“We’ve come a long way from the start of this process when BCE had the audacity to offer Canadians nothing in return for the privilege of becoming Canada’s largest vertically integrated media conglomerate,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s national executive director, in a statement. "The good news is Canadians will be getting an additional $140 million worth of new programming. The bad news is that the CRTC is letting BCE put too much of the "public" benefits back into their own pockets to cover the costs of doing their business.”
ACTRA also commented that it is “pleased” that the Commission responded to concerns about the potential for unfair practices when distributors and content creators become one by imposing a moratorium on exclusive content deals until the Regulator’s hearing into vertical integration in June.
