CALGARY – Star Choice lashed out at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Friday, accusing it of misleading the public over carriage issues around the CBC Saskatchewan TV channel and RDI.
“The CBC’s suggestion that we are breaching regulatory rules is also wrong. Star Choice carries 79 local and regional television stations, including 16 CBC network stations and local affiliates. By comparison, Star Choice carries a total of 13 CTV network stations and local affiliates,” said Peter Bissonnette, president of Star Choice-owner Shaw Communications Inc.
In a complaint to the CRTC, the CBC accused Star Choice of being in breach of its condition of licence for carrying only eight CBC TV stations and 12 CTVglobemedia TV stations. CRTC rules specify that the number of CBC English-language owned and operated TV stations carried by satellite TV distributors cannot be lower than the number of English-language over-the-air stations by any other individual broadcast group that they distribute.
CBC Regina was among four channels dropped May 7 from Star Choice’s basic package.
“The CBC’s demand that Star Choice carry 12 CBC network stations (whose programming is identical) is completely unrealistic and a total waste of scarce satellite capacity. CBC itself controls two transponders on those satellites. If CBC wants its Regina station or other network stations carried on Star Choice, it should provide them on its own transponders,” noted Bissonnette in a statement.
He added, “The allegation that Star Choice does not carry the local and regional news from CBC Saskatchewan is simply wrong: CBC Saskatchewan news is carried twice every night on SCN, which is also part of Star Choice’s Essentials service. As well, Star Choice provides CTV news and Global news from Saskatchewan – both of which are very popular, so there is lots of news diversity.”
He further noted that adding more CBC affiliates would not bring programming diversity to Star Choice.
“The fact that CBC has blown this issue out of proportion and misled Canadians shows just how far its sense of regulatory entitlement has gone, and how little it thinks about customers,” Bissonnette’s statement said.
Star Choice added its decision to remove the four channels was done to please customers, and that the move is consistent with the Broadcasting Act and the government’s directive that the CRTC foster dynamic competition for Canadian DTH services.
Adding YTV, MTV, MuchMusic and CMT to its Essentials package will enhance choice and enable Star Choice to remain competitive, according to the statement by Shaw Communications.
