GATINEAU, Que. – The very existence of small and independent broadcasters depends on the CRTC maintaining the rules and regulations that enable specialty channels to provide niche programming for underserved audiences at affordable prices. That was the concern voiced today by S-VOX President and CEO Bill Roberts at the CRTC’s public hearing on the future of the broadcasting system.
S-VOX, which operates the multi-faith and multicultural specialty television service VisionTV, was invited to make a presentation to the CRTC’s ongoing review of the regulatory frameworks for BDUs and specialty television services.
Speaking to the Commission, Roberts warned against allowing the pursuit of mass-market success to destroy the spirit of the Broadcasting Act, which is designed to ensure that all Canadians have access to programming from a “plurality of voices” reflecting the country’s unique character and diversity, he said.
“In a cultural industry such as television – of significance in the daily lives of so many of this country’s citizens – mass appeal cannot be the sole measure of success,” Roberts said. “Excellence in Canadian television must also be about social responsibility and reflection of the positive values that hold our social construct together.”
Roberts went on to say that small and independent specialty channels, such as VisionTV, “will have no assured carriage or guaranteed access on terms that permit sustainability” under the digital distribution regime being proposed by the cable and satellite industry.
S-VOX was part of a group of independent specialty services that appeared today before the Commission. Roberts said his company supports the independent services group’s recommendations, which include basic carriage for independent services at a minimum regulated wholesale rate, continued access to distribution, and maintaining genre exclusivity for Canadian specialty services.
“It is the responsibility of the regulator to ensure a plurality of voices within the new digital universe, for services such as VisionTV, which is uniquely positioned to reflect faith-based communities in a spirit of diversity and accommodation. Without regulation, many such channels that reach underserved audiences will be paved over,” Roberts said.
