OmegaSource

GATINEAU, QUE.–Independent broadcasters are urging the federal regulator to step up enforcement of existing rules governing cable and satellite companies, arguing those TV service providers are not competitive enough to protect the programming interests of consumers.

Their plea comes as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is mulling whether to relax regulations controlling how cable and satellite companies carry, package and market TV in this country.

Small broadcasters maintain “an imbalance of bargaining power” favours cable and satellite, making it difficult for them to get air time or suitable channel placement.

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As long as I remember, small satellite businesses and Canadian viewers wanted to “open” the sky and allow Canadians to subscribe to channels from other country’s like HBO from USA or RTPi from Portugal. However due to strong opposition from big boys like Shaw and Rogers it has not happened.

It wasn’t in their interests as technology was limiting their ability to broadcast all that was desired, so by allowing Canadians  access to other channels would jeopardize their control of the market.

However times changed now, and they want the piece of the pie, they could not have before.  They want CRTC to change the rules now, that they will be allowed to bring the channels and rebroadcast them on their systems so they can make more money. And since the independent satellite industry has been crushed and destroyed, they have nothing to be afraid now. The market is theirs.
So my “predictions” is that this time “it” will happen. They will be successful in the hearings and CRTS will change the rules now. Why now? Well because the BIG BOYS want it.
Bellow is a press release from  Reuters, reporting more on this subject.  Enjoy.

Click here to rea the rest of the story.

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