OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) said that it is “pleased” with the CRTC’s decision to require BCE to allocate $100 million to independently-produced programs of national interest as part of its acquisition of CTV.
“This decision ensures there’s new money to put new Canadian programs on our screens – programs that otherwise would not be made,” said president and CEO, Norm Bolen, in a statement. “And it means these new programs will be produced by independent, lean, entrepreneurial companies that reflect a diversity of voices from across the country.”
However, the organization expressed disappointment that the Commission approved BCE’s proposal to allocate $60 million to building capacity for its Bell TV service. The CMPA and a number of other interveners had strongly opposed this aspect of BCE’s proposed benefits, calling it “self-serving, anti-competitive and a cost of doing business for BCE”.
The CMPA represents the interests of almost 400 screen-based media companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and new media content in Canada.
