GATINEAU – The CRTC has called TVA Group to an expedited hearing at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17 over the company’s decision to yank its TVA Sports signal from Bell TV – and it warned the broadcaster the its sports channel’s broadcasting licence hangs in the balance.
Specifically, the Commission has called the company in to “consider whether TVA Group Inc. (TVA) is in violation or has violated section 15(1) of the Discretionary Services Regulations (the Regulations) by withdrawing TVA Sports’ signal from distribution by Bell Canada (Bell) and related undertakings or otherwise interfering with the signal in a way that is preventing Canadian consumers from viewing the service,” reads the Commission announcement this afternoon.
We’ve been covering this story for more than two weeks as Quebecor (TVA’s parent) CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau launched his own consumer information campaign decrying the state of business between BDUs and broadcasters. Click here for yesterday evening’s story, which has additional background.
Section 15(1) of the regulations requires that during a dispute, neither company is allowed to remove TV signals from paying customers.
So, “pursuant to section 12 of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), the Commission calls TVA to this public hearing to show cause why the Commission should not issue a mandatory order requiring the licensee to comply with section 15(1) of the Regulations at all times during the dispute with Bell, as well as why the Commission should not suspend the broadcasting licence pursuant to sections 9 and 24 of the Act.”
The CRTC is also requiring TVA not be represented by its lawyers, but by its corporate officers (it’s not clear now if they also mean Péladeau).
Bell is also invited to appear at the hearing.
Cartt.ca will be there, too…
