Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is disputing arguments made in an open letter published by three of Canada’s biggest private broadcasters that urged the CRTC not to reconsider its decision on Canadian program spending, “The broadcasters…claim that the CRTC decisions enable them to focus on the promotion, marketing and export of Canadian content,” Reynolds Mastin, CMPA president and CEO said in the Thursday letter. “This claim is belied by what they tell advertisers, and by the broadcasters’ marketing strategies and schedules, where the overwhelming focus is squarely on foreign content.” The claim in question was made by Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. and Corus Entertainment Inc. in a Wednesday advertisement in the Hill Times newspaper, which is owned by The Wire Report’s parent Hill Times Publishing. The broadcasters said in the ad that the CRTC’s May 15 licence renewal decision — which creative groups previously said would reduce spending on programs and harm Canadian production — was an appropriate move away from “protectionist measures” and toward “a modernized approach focused on marketing, promotion and export.” Mastin, who said the broadcasters’ “near-complete dominance” over TV is due to “decades of regulatory protection,” added in the letter that “history has taught us that vague, unenforceable commitments are no substitute for mandated contributions.” Statistics previously commissioned by the CMPA noted that the decision could result in a $900-million fall in production volume over the five-year period that licenses are renewed. In the ad, the broadcasters said they have a proven record of exceeding spending requirements on Canadian programming. In a separate press release Thursday, the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) also took issue with the letter. “Reduced programming commitments to Canadian drama and documentary is only a ‘giant leap forward’ if your vision of the future is less Canadian programming,” WGC said. “Considering that the business strategies of these broadcasters has for decades been to resell foreign, predominantly U.S. programming into Canada, what they propose now looks more like a giant lurch backwards.”

Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

Brief | August 3, 2017

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

Brief | August 3, 2017

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Telus’ arguments for incumbent access to wholesale regime not supported by competitors

Bell won’t participate in subsidized broadband projects if wholesale access for Big Three continues, signs agreement with CNOC

Rogers’ purchase of Bell’s MLSE stake not being challenged by Competition Bureau ‘at this time’

Telecom industry players look to Senate for greater copper theft prevention

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us