OTTAWA – The iconic American talk show Late Show with David Letterman may have wrapped up last week, but it’s still top of mind with some angry Canadian viewers, and the CRTC.
The Commission has fired off letters to Rogers Media, Rogers Communications, and Shaw Communications over alleged simultaneous substitution errors made by the companies during the show’s much-hyped finale on May 20. According to the letters, dated May 27, the Commission has received “several complaints regarding improperly executed simultaneous substitutions” that took place near the end of the show.
Referencing Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-25, where the CRTC said that it would introduce “meaningful consequences” should broadcasters and distributors make recurring, substantial simultaneous substitution errors, the letters give Rogers and Shaw until June 2, 2015 to answer a series of questions on how the errors occurred, provide details of any compensatory measures offered to subscribers who complained, and to explain what new measures will be taken to avoid similar situations in the future.
“As you are aware, being the last David Letterman show, this was a significant television event. This program was extensively advertised and a large number of viewers were expected to watch the program, either live or on a delayed (recorded) basis”, reads the letters, signed by CRTC senior manager of distribution regulatory policy, Donna Gill. “With such focus put on the execution of simultaneous substitutions in the last few months, it is surprising that these errors continue to happen – particularly during such a widely-publicized television event.”
