CTV-Canwest See Future of Canadian TV

[cablewithaview]

Canada's two leading private broadcasters have joined forces - to present a unified vision for the future of Canadian TV.

"We embrace the future," confirmed Ivan Fecan, President and Chief Executive Officer, CTVglobemedia and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc. "We have come together with solutions. We look forward to working cooperatively with the CRTC to rebalance our regulatory framework to preserve real choice for Canadian consumers."

"The Canadian TV system is the best in the world," added Leonard Asper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canwest Global Communications
Inc. "Canadians are offered unparalleled choice and diversity. We are determined to keep this diversity and choice a reality for Canadian
consumers."

Asper encouraged the Commission in delivering the option of a small basic Canadian TV service, including all local and regional channels,
educational services and those other channels currently deemed mandatory.

"All Canadians should be guaranteed access to an affordable package of core Canadian TV channels," added Fecan. "This is a positive step for Canadian consumers."

Going forward, the two confirmed Canada's regulatory framework needs to provide balance within the broadcast distribution system.

"Our system needs to protect against enshrining the dominance and unfair advantage for Canada's cable and satellite distributors in regulation," said Fecan. "We cannot let TV distributors consolidate their power to decide what channels get carried and what they get paid."

By highlighting the robust capacity of Canada's broadcast distribution industry, Asper noted that there is no supporting rationale to modify
current "access" rules. "Maintaining the access requirements just means that Canadians will have more TV choices and the power to decide for themselves," noted Asper. "Canadian consumers deserve diversity and choice."

On "genre" exclusivity, Fecan said that the current approach is maintaining diversity and it works for the Canadian consumers. "Genre
exclusivity simply keeps the specialty in Canadian specialty TV."

Acknowledging the significant obligations and investments made in Canadian programming by Canadian broadcasters under the Broadcasting Act, Asper and Fecan reconfirmed their commitment to continue to make their
contributions.

"By working with rebalanced regulations, we can continue to meet our obligations and contributions to Canadian television," said Asper.

"Ensuring a fair system includes paying our local stations for their signals," maintained Fecan. "In terms of distant signals, our consent must be obtained and carriage subject to direct negotiations."

"The free ride has to end for Canada's TV distributors," concluded Asper. "It is only right; it is our product and we should be paid for it."

CTVgm and Canwest research overwhelmingly confirms that Canadians place a high value on Canadian content, in particular local programming.

"We want to continue to invest in and produce Canadian programming, including the local programming that Canadians value," said Asper.
"This is why we are Canadian broadcasters. No other countries do this - 60% of our schedule is made up of Canadian content, the highest level in the world."

Fecan concluded: "Our passion is Canadian TV. We are always looking for the next Corner Gas. This is what we love to do."


mediacastermagazine.com - Mediacaster - 4/18/2008