MONTREAL and TORONTO – Broadcasting and distribution behemoths Bell, Rogers and Shaw said Friday in press releases that they are advocates for more flexible packaging and channel selection options for Canadian consumers. The comments come as part of their respective submissions to the CRTC's Let's Talk TV consultation, (which Cartt.ca will be breaking down in a series of stories over the coming weeks, beginning Thursday).
Bell said that BDUs should have “continued flexibility” to include discretionary Canadian services in basic packages and offer a range of TV packaging options, while also having the ability to make all Canadian discretionary services not in basic available to consumers on a pick and pay basis. It added that the proposal would depend on a commercial marketplace that enables negotiations between broadcasters and distributors for any channel without carriage rights.
Rogers maintains that TV service providers should offer their customers “new flexible packaging options” that are based on what their customers actually want to watch, a move that will allow them more control over their TV experience at the same time as contributing to “the health of the production sector and enabling the creation of compelling shows Canadians love to watch”.
"Our comments build on the CRTC's proposed changes and provide a way forward to give consumers more choice, while protecting Canadian jobs in the cultural sector and ensuring the availability of programming that reflects our diverse society", said Rogers’ SVP Regulatory Ken Engelhart, in a statement. "Delivering more choice for customers depends on the CRTC banning unreasonable contracts that prevent TV providers from offering channels on a pick and pay basis. The CRTC is taking a look at this barrier to choice and we're confident they'll do the right thing for consumers."
Shaw has submitted a new set of what it is calling "Market Guidelines" to steer the industry into the future. The two main points from its press release say that: cable and satellite providers should offer a majority of programming services on a standalone basis and that licensed programming services must allow their services to be offered on a standalone basis; and consumers not be forced to purchase certain high-cost services (like sports) as part of their basic package – instead, consumers would be given the option to receive these services on an enhanced basic, through a discretionary package or on a pick-and-pay basis.
"These guidelines respond to the Commission's and the Government's desire for more choice and flexibility for Canadians and could take effect immediately as a policy framework that provides the Commission and industry with the means to oversee market conduct," said Shaw Communications president Peter Bissonnette, in the release. "In today's highly competitive environment, Shaw will continue to meet our customers' expectations for choice and flexibility by investing in technologies and services that enable greater personalization and customization of content choices."
Bell also proposed a new model for local TV that it says addresses “the structural deficiency of an advertising-only funding model". Using the U.S. as an example, the idea would involve converting local conventional TV stations into local specialty services, which would continue to be subject to local programming requirements and be carried as part of basic packages. Like other specialty services, the local channels would then be able to charge wholesale rates to broadcast distributors, subject to existing CRTC must-carry regulations applicable to local broadcasting, as well as sell advertising. Bell said that the combined revenue from advertising and wholesale fees would support “a stable and sustainable future for local programming for all Canadians”.
“Canadians everywhere value local TV because it connects and informs them about their communities”, said Bell Media president Kevin Crull, in a statement. “We need to act now to ensure local TV can continue to fulfill this mandate. The CRTC’s consultation offers the opportunity to consider an innovative and up-to-date model that aligns with what consumers want from their broadcasting system.”
The CRTC will use the summer to mull over these proposals (where the words "flexible, or "flexibility" are used umpteen-thousand times…), and many more, before they are discussed at the public hearing scheduled to begin on September 8. Cartt.ca will break down the major issues in a series of stories beginning Thursday.
