TORONTO – With a number of provincial and municipal elections scheduled for this year, Canada’s biggest news organizations have laid down the law on the use of their footage in political ads.
In an open letter dated April 22, representatives from CBC, Radio-Canada, Bell Media, Shaw Media and Rogers Media forbade the use of their respective content in political advertisements without their express consent.
“Accordingly, in anticipation of the upcoming elections, we wish to advise that effective immediately our organizations will not accept any political advertisement which uses our content without our express authorization”, continues the letter. “Additionally, we will not accept and will cease to broadcast any political advertisement if notified that such advertisement uses any other broadcaster's content without its authorization.”
The letter is signed by Jennifer McGuire, General Manager and Editor in Chief, CBC News and Centres; Wendy Freeman, President CTV News; Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President, Global News and Station Operations, Shaw Media; Michel Cormier, Executive Director, News and Current Affairs; and Dave Budge, General Manager – CityNews (Rogers).
