OTTAWA – Telelatino Network (TLN) has lodged a complaint with the CRTC regarding Telus’ Optik TV service urging it to force Telus to add at least one Canadian Italian third-language service.
It contends that since Optik TV now carries Italian foreign service Rai Italia, to comply with section 27(4) of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations it needs to add at least one Canadian third-language service offering at least 90% Italian language programming. In its complaint TLN notes that Telus does not distribute either Mediaset Canada or Sky Tg24 (Canada) which are the only two Canadian third-language services offering all Italian language programming . Telus has contended in the past that TLN`s argument is “without merit.
TLN states that Telus’ non-compliance has had a “material adverse impact on TLN’s third-language services as well as TLN given the uncertainties relating to the buy-through requirement that needs to be addressed as expeditiously as possible.”
TLN says it has raised the issue since it can’t confirm if Telus’ online or print materials relating to its Optik TV service ever featured Rai Italia and TLN. “The two programming services appear to be offered as separate standalone services with Rai Italia retailing at $3/month and TLN at $2/month,” writes TLN in its complaint.
It adds that this move by Telus has denied Canadian audiences with access to the Canadian Italian third-language Category B services Mediaset Canada and/or Sky Tg24 (Canada) which offer Canadian content.
TLN also claims that Telus distributes its channel without any formal affiliation agreement, even though TLN has been in longstanding discussions “both long before and since the launch of the Italian foreign service Rai Italia in September 1, 2011, to establish formal detailed carriage affiliation terms for TLN Telelatino and the family of digital channels operated by TLN.” But added they have “not progressed in any meaningful way.”
TLN says on January 18th, 2013 it was notified by Telus finance of a retroactive “claw back” extending from January 1, 2011 to April 2012 in relation to unspecified “Internal” and “TOPS” subscribers of TLN will be added.
