Telus calls on CRTC to "protect Canadian TV viewers"

OTTAWA – Canadian television viewers need protection from the “anti-competitive practices of the large broadcasting companies”, according to Telus.The telco made the comments Wednesday in reference to the “concentration of content ownership” as a result of the recent mergers of Shaw/Canwest and BCE/CTV. Telus suggested that the CRTC implement safeguards designed “to protect consumer choice and competitive pricing” as the Commission prepares to examine the issue of vertical integration at a hearing scheduled to begin on June 20, 2011.Telus’ proposed safeguards include:- Distributors should not withhold content from competitors in order to prevent anti-competitive programming blackouts;- Preferential or exclusive programming...