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Log on and help save local television |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Thursday, 14 May 2009 |
Residents of this area are fortunate to have four local television networks: CBC TV, Global, the “A” Channel and CTV. Between them, we get just about every program available.
If you were to take the weekly television listings and do a check list, I am willing to bet there is little from among Canadian and American programming that we are unable to access.
The local channels, through their national headquarters, pay big bucks to bring us top notch programming. For example, for the recently concluded series ER, CTV spent between three and four million dollars a year for the rights. Each network pays out millions of dollars for these programs.
Then of course there are the local programs, such as Live at Five, the evening news programs on the three main channels. A’s Breakfast Television, weekend news packages, etc. Imagine Christmas without Christmas Daddies, or the IWK losing their annual telethon. The possibility of this happening is real, very real.
The recession has hit the networks like a ton of bricks. When companies struggle, one of the first cuts they make is to advertising. I have never quite understood this, because more than ever they need to attract customers during tough economic times. Invoking the cone of silence makes absolutely no sense.
Compounding this shortfall in revenues for local networks is the fact that cable and satellite companies take the feed from these channels and send it to their customers. Not one penny of compensation is paid to our local channels. This is wrong. Dead wrong.
The Canadian television networks have been trying to make their case for a fee per customer with the CRTC. So far their legitimate plea has fallen on deaf ears.
This is a battle for survival and the CRTC has to take action to help stop the bleeding.
Do you want your news being delivered from Toronto or Vancouver, the weather forecast read by a talking head in Central Canada? Unless the playing field is leveled, this is exactly what could happen.
The cable and satellite companies take in billions. The small fifty cents per customer fee to local television companies is a mere drop in the bucket for them.
As I see it, the CRTC is there not only to manage the country’s communications, but also to protect the consumer. Further to that, they are definitely not there to assist the cable and satellite magnates in amassing huge fortunes.
What can we, as individual Canadians, do? One step would be to sign an online petition, supporting the television networks in their fight for fairness. Simply go to www.savelocal.ctv.ca. and sign up
Another effective action would be to email or call your Member of Parliament, asking for their support in saving this vital community link.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster whose son is employed by CTV)
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