LET’S TALK TV: The CRTC must act to save local television

By Perry Hoffman

GATINEAU - Local TV is struggling mightily. Ad revenue is down and showing no signs of growth, while the ever growing lineup of new specialty channels and the rapid rise of Internet-based alternatives are blasting away at what has always been the bedrock of the television system in Canada.Some are telling the CRTC that it’s time to adopt a radically different approach for local TV, one that would bolster the revenue side of the ledger while also helping to encourage the development of compelling Canadian content.For example, Bell Canada and CBC/Radio-Canada suggest shutting down over the air infrastructure completely and...