OTTAWA – The country’s television broadcasters may be a little more worried about the threat from foreign over-the-top (OTT) services than they have let on.
A group of some 35 senior private sector executives from the country’s distribution, telecommunications, broadcasting, production and creative sectors have formed a loose coalition called Over-The-Top Services Working Group to counter, or at least mitigate, the impact that these services could have on their traditional media businesses.
Founded by Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), the group counts industry heavyweights like Bell and Rogers amongst its members. And it has been meeting quietly over the last few months to devise its strategy, which includes pushing the CRTC into regulating the likes of Netflix.
The group sent a letter to the CRTC dated April 1st, and made public this week, calling on the Commission to hold a public review of its new media exemption order, which allows new media platforms such as video delivered over the Internet to remain free from regulation. The group is also recommending that the Commission compile a questionnaire for Netflix et al in order “to obtain sufficient relevant information on their activities in our country”.
“In due course, the Working Group hopes to propose to the Commission what could be an appropriate form of questionnaire and a list of the foreign over-the-top operators that to our collective knowledge have a sufficient presence in Canada to warrant receiving a questionnaire”, reads the letter, which is signed by the group’s chair, industry consultant and former Bell exec Alain Gourd.
The group is also strongly endorsing a report released last month from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommending that the CRTC review “non-Canadian broadcast players in the new digital realm”, and solicit public input on how these companies “should support Canadian cultural programming."
“The Working Group believes indeed, like the Standing Committee, that foreign over-the-top services are becoming a significant presence in the domestic market”, continues the group’s letter to the Commission.
While the Commission has confirmed receipt of the letter, it has yet to formerly respond. Stay tuned, as they say.
– Lesley Hunter
