TORONTO – Rogers, Bell, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) have banded together to file a complaint with the CRTC alleging that CTV has violated the Broadcasting Act by airing a “one-sided and unbalanced coverage” of its own advocacy campaign.
As reported by Cartt.ca, CTV has been promoting its ‘Save Local TV’ campaign across its television properties in an apparent attempt to pressure the government and the CRTC for fee-for-carriage. But incorporating the campaign into their local newscasts violates the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters own Code of Ethics, say the group of BDUs.
"While we fundamentally disagree with CTV’s position on a TV tax, the issue here is not about their position, it is about a blatant violation of respected journalistic principles," said Phil Lind, Rogers’ vice chairman, in a statement. "The public should expect better and not be manipulated with one-sided reporting masquerading as ‘real news’. No advocacy group should be able to hijack the newscasts of Canadian broadcasters, and that is especially true when the advocacy group is the broadcaster itself."
Rogers said that in the letter to the CRTC, the group referenced the Broadcasting Act which requires broadcasters to "provide reasonable, balanced opportunity for the expression of differing views on matters of public concern". The Canadian Association of Broadcasters Code of Ethics also emphasizes that news programming "shall be presented with accuracy and without bias."
The correspondence, signed by Rogers, Bell, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and the CCSA, urged the CRTC to take immediate action “to correct the situation and terminate these violations”.
