Canada’s telecommunications regulator has tweaked the rules for satellite carriers in a move that will force both Bell TV and Shaw Direct to carry more local TV stations.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said Wednesday that the telecom companies must carry all stations that are part of the Local Programming Improvement Fund, which was established in 2009 to support small- and mid-sized local stations.
The changes, which take effect on Sept. 1, will ensure that Canadian subscribers to both Bell and Shaw’s satellite services will receive the local affiliate station of each of the national television networks.
The move comes after the CRTC established the $100-million local programming fund to help broadcasters. The plan was funded by the cable and satellite corporations who promptly passed the fee on directly to consumers, who complained in the tens of thousands.
The new regulations also stipulate that Bell and Shaw must carry five English-language and also five French-language CBC stations and perhaps more, depending on availability.
They also must carry one television station per province from each major Canadian broadcasting ownership group, and two stations from other ownership groups.
“Canadians in all markets should have access to their local television stations, regardless of how they receive their programming,” CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said in a release.
“The carriage of additional local stations will put satellite distributors on the same footing as cable companies and provide their subscribers with more choice in local news and information.”
The CRTC’s move in support of local stations was praised by Canada’s public broadcaster, which said the regulator has made several significant policy decisions over the last few years to strengthen local programming.
“This is another critical step in that direction. We applaud their efforts,” said Steven Guiton, vice-president and chief regulatory officer, CBC/Radio-Canada.
“Local stations provide a fundamental public service to their communities,”‘ Guiton added. “They help citizens connect with their local government, businesses, schools and community organizations. They help define, build and sustain the local culture and local democracy.”
