OTTAWA – With less than a month before the CRTC hearing into the purchase of CHUM Ltd. by CTV and rumours swirling as to who might emerge as the winning bidder for CHUM’s A-Channels (see below), the NDP says the CRTC has to set up some tough content conditions governing the combined company.
NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus said Friday "that if the CRTC is going to give the green light to this unprecedented merging of television media, clear and binding conditions must be laid down."
Angus is calling for enforceable targets for new prime time drama, for example. “Where is the benefit to the Canadian consumer from this mega-merger? If we look at CTV’s prime time viewing schedule its [sic] ‘All American, All the Time.’ (Ed note #1: Except for Robson Arms, Jeff Ltd., Degrassi, Instant Star and the top-rated Corner Gas and Canadian Idol).
"If CTV wants to lock up the number one and number two television markets in key urban areas they must make commitments to new drama during prime time," said Angus.
“The day this merger was announced, CHUM fired 300 staff," added Angus, decrying the shrinking number of media voices. "What steps will the CRTC take to ensure this media super-giant commits to local programming and job protection?”
(Ed note #2: The job cuts did happen that day but were planned well in advance of merger talk, according to CHUM’s Jay Switzer, who talked with Cartt.ca then)
"Last month, CRTC Chair Konrad Von Finckenstein announced that a public review of the merger would include issues of growing media concentration in the country. Two weeks into the review, however, Von Finckenstein flip-flopped (Ed note #3: Er, at the behest of complainers like the NDP and others).
"He is going to wait until after a spate of controversial media mergers take place before allowing any public discussion of the impacts of media concentration," said Angus.
“The CRTC has done little in the face of a disturbing realignment of media into fewer and fewer hands. This merger is the test case. If it goes ahead we want to see hard rules that insist on local programming, mandating independent news headquarters and increased commitments to funding Canadian programming," said the Timmins-James Bay MP.
The other mergers facing the Commission include: CanWest Global Communications’ acquisition of Alliance Atlantis and Astral Media’s purchase of Standard Broadcasting.
(Ed note #4: Rumours of who might buy the A-Channels have included the usual suspects – but with a twist or two. Rogers Media has not only been rumoured to be negotiating to buy the CHUM small market channels, but also CanWest Global’s CH stations across the country. At the same time, Shaw Communications has also been rumoured as a potential A-Channel suitor, given CEO Jim Shaw’s comments at the TV Policy Review hearings late last year.)
– Greg O’Brien
