MONTREAL – IDNR-TV (Natural Resources TV) is hoping a new survey that shows six in ten Canadians would support free access to the channel devoted to the nation’s natural resources industry will provide sufficient proof to the CRTC that it deserves to be given mandatory carriage status.
According to the Harris Decima survey commissioned by IDNR-TV, 60% of respondents said they are in favour of having free access to the natural resources channel. Broken down by province, respondents in British Columbia (64%), Ontario (63%), Quebec (51%), and the Maritime Provinces (67%) showed interest in IDNR-TV’s programming, which is currently only available in Abitibi and Fermont, Quebec.
IDNR-TV CEO Ivor Barr mentioned the survey results to the CRTC during the Commission’s hearing held last month on the must-carry status of cable and satellite channels as outlined in section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act. IDNR-TV is one of 16 new applicants applying for must-carry status with Canadian BDUs. Barr claims that, as the survey’s results are “not influenced by the age, sex, status, income or education level of respondents” that represents “a clear indication of the universal character of the interest expressed by those participating in the survey.”
Barr also argues that the channel would also benefit college and university students by educating them about an industry that generates 11.5% or $142.5 billion of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP), and dispelling “multiple prejudices fuelled by legends and circumstances of another bygone era.”
