OTTAWA – CTVglobemedia has penned its own letter to the Prime Minister asking that Stephen Harper not follow the advice of Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw and instead let the CRTC hearing into BDU and specialty policy play out.
Last week, as first reported by Cartt.ca, Shaw sent a five-page letter to Prime Minister Harper, expressing alarm over Shaw’s perception of the direction of the hearing that will conclude this week in Gatineau which is examining the re-setting of policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings and specialty services.
“After reviewing Mr. Shaw’s unprecedented letter, we felt compelled to correct several fallacies and set the record straight for your benefit,” wrote Paul Sparkes, executive vice-president CTVglobemedia in his own letter to the PM, dated April 22.
“I encourage you and your government to let the process continue and allow the CRTC to complete its review. Over the last nine months, stakeholders, including Shaw, have had the opportunity to put their positions and supporting facts on the record. This process has included three phases of written submissions and a formal public hearing. As a result, Canadian consumers and public decision-makers alike benefit from this open and transparent process,” writes Sparkes.
Shaw sees the process differently. “The Government’s objectives of driving innovation, investment and fair competition for the benefit of Canadians, and Shaw’s efforts to help realize them, are being undermined by the CRTC’s current review of cable and satellite broadcasting regulations,” Shaw said in his letter to the Prime Minister. “We need you to ensure that this does not occur.”
Shaw also decried the broadcasters push for a new fee-for-carriage saying any new cost would amount to a tax on consumers.
Wrote Sparkes: “This is not about new taxes, new subsidies or new regulations as Canada’s TV distributors would have you believe. These companies are trying to perpetuate unfair competitive advantage and dominance and dominance for their operations in our Canadian TV system.
“Canada’s cable and satellite companies, like Shaw, are trying to shield themselves from foreign competition while seeking new regulatory concessions that will deny real choice and diversity for Canadian consumers. Canada’s TV distributors cannot be allowed to consolidate their power as gatekeepers to determine what TV channels Canadians can and cannot watch and at what price,” added Sparkes.
“As it stands, these companies are charging Canadian consumers for our local TV signals, yet they do not pay for carriage. This free ride must end.”
– Greg O’Brien
