TORONTO – Another recent attack on the fee-for-carriage issue by Rogers Communications shows carriers are desperate and have resorted to fear-mongering, said CTVglobemedia executive vice-president Paul Sparkes.
Last week, Rogers vice-chairman Phil Lind used an appearance at a Toronto conference to again urge the CRTC to dismiss broadcasters’ requests for a new fee for carriage of their over-the-air TV stations, calling any such new fee, if the Commission goes that way, to be dismissed as a new tax.
“Rogers is fear mongering,” said Sparkes. “We are seeing the politics of desperation here, and rather obvious and transparent attempts to divert this debate away from the real, core issue. Canadian consumers already pay cable companies to receive local TV,” he said, adding cable companies like Rogers “are pocketing all of these moneys. What we are witnessing is Rogers doing everything they can to keep this money-for-nothing scheme going, and they want to hold the government hostage in the process,” added Sparkes.
“Fee-for-carriage simply means cable companies, including Rogers, will have to pay to distribute our local TV stations,” said Sparkes. “It is that simple. We pay for what we use. Canadians pay for what they use. And Rogers should have to pay for what they use as well, including paying for our local TV signals.”
Sparkes also called the suggestion that there is a link between fee-for-carriage and government control over newsrooms a farce. This underlies their fundamental misconnect with Canadian consumers, Sparkes said of cable carriers.
“Fee-for-carriage now puts consumer first going forward,” added Sparkes. Canadians deserve access to the programs they value most. Local TV is what Canadian consumers value most. Fee-for-carriage will assist in maintaining local TV for consumers into the future.”
“We look forward to the CRTC completing its review of the broadcasting system,” said Sparkes, “and we hope this includes a positive decision on fee-for-carriage. Consumers, government decision-makers, and local television alike all benefit from a full and proper review by the CRTC. "
