LET’S TALK TV: Worried about VI power, independents, ethnic broadcasters, plead their cases

By Perry Hoffman

GATINEAU - Canada’s independent and ethnic broadcasters faced off before the CRTC on Thursday, with the more established Category A services arguing the removal of buy-through provisions which sustain their businesses would be detrimental to Canadian content – while the newer Category B licensees want them eliminated so they can take advantage of more channel packaging flexibility.“The BDUs have every incentive to substitute us“ and “without mandatory distribution and buy-through, Canadian programming is compromised,” argued Connie Sephton, director of corporate affairs at Fairchild Television under questioning from Quebec commissioner Yves Dupras.In its presentation, the company questioned the merits to the...