CRTC locks out hotel TV distributor of arbitration deal for TVA Sports

OTTAWA – The CRTC on Monday denied an arbitration request from television distributor Coopérative de câblodistribution Hill Valley for a deal to retransmit Quebecor’s TVA Sports. Quebecor has said it refuses to engage in negotiations with Hill Valley, after the Federal Court found it violated the Montreal company’s copyright by restreaming its channels to hotel customers without its consent. The commission ruled Monday that Quebecor is under no regulatory requirement to provide its channel to Hill Valley, and its refusal to engage in negotiations “leaves no room for process to unfold.” Despite Quebecor’s intention, the CRTC continued to encourage the...