Group Licensing: Von Finckenstein 'disappointed" during hearing's final days

By Perry Hoffman

GATINEAU - There were some pretty big surprises as Canada’s large broadcast groups took the stand one last time during the CRTC’s group licensing proceeding in Gatineau last week. While it should come as no shock that Bell Media maintained its position on symmetrical regulation of Canadian content spending requirements – 30% on Canadian production expenditure (CPE) and 5% programs of national interest (PNI) – Rogers Media shocked commissioners when it asked to be excluded from the group licensing regime. For Bell, complying with the new group licensing approach is simple: all large broadcast groups should follow the same rules....