Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Telecom giant says U.S. channels need to be included in smaller basic cable

Darpan News Desk Canadian Press, 11 Sep, 2014 12:54 PM

    One of Canada's biggest cable service providers is rejecting the idea of allowing Canadians to pick TV channels one at a time.

    Rogers Communications has told the country's broadcast regulator it agrees with a proposal to offer its customers a smaller basic service.

    But it says the price for that service should not be capped, and it should include channels from the major American TV networks.

    The company has also strongly rejected a proposal to ban the simultaneous substitution of Canadian advertising over American ads.

    The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is holding two weeks of public hearings on how Canadians receive TV programming and how they pay for it.

    One proposal on the table, which is being promoted by the federal government, would see a so-called pick-and-pay system established.

    The proposal, if enacted, would allow Canadians the ability of picking individual channels, on top of a smaller basic service made up of Canadian channels.

    The CRTC is also debating the notion of capping the cost of basic service at between $20 and $30 per month.

    Rogers also slammed a proposal to include the online revenues of broadcasters in the definition of broadcasting revenue.

    Rogers executive Keith Pelley said that would put Canadian online services at a competitive disadvantage to non-tradition online broadcasters, such as Netflix.

    The Ontario and Quebec governments, along with the CBC and cultural organizations, have suggested that the CRTC regulate Netflix and other online video services to force them to contribute to Canada's television content production system.

    But the Harper government has warned the CRTC that it will reject any attempt to created what it has dubbed a "Netflix tax."

    Rogers executive Phil Lind, who has been with the company for decades, told the commission that the current set of hearings are the most important for Canada's television industry that he's seen in his career.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Jury selection set to begin in murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta

    Jury selection set to begin in murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta
    MONTREAL - Jury selection begins today in the first-degree murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta.  

    Jury selection set to begin in murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta

    Baird in talks with EU foreign policy chief Ashton as Ukraine ceasefire simmers

    Baird in talks with EU foreign policy chief Ashton as Ukraine ceasefire simmers
    OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is hosting his European Union counterpart, Catherine Ashton, for high-level talks today.

    Baird in talks with EU foreign policy chief Ashton as Ukraine ceasefire simmers

    Mother of girl found dead in rural Alberta charged with first-degree murder

    Mother of girl found dead in rural Alberta charged with first-degree murder
    The mother of a nine-year-old girl found dead in a vehicle on a rural  road in west-central Alberta has been charged with first-degree murder.

    Mother of girl found dead in rural Alberta charged with first-degree murder

    Jim Prentice already beginning transition to Alberta premier's office

    Jim Prentice already beginning transition to Alberta premier's office
    EDMONTON - Alberta's incoming premier is already getting down to work as he prepares to take over the scandal plagued Progressive Conservative government.

    Jim Prentice already beginning transition to Alberta premier's office

    NDP's Tom Mulcair predicts three-way fight in 2015 federal election

    NDP's Tom Mulcair predicts three-way fight in 2015 federal election
    OTTAWA - Tom Mulcair predicts the next federal election will be an historic first: a three-way battle for power among Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals.

    NDP's Tom Mulcair predicts three-way fight in 2015 federal election

    More classes cancelled as B.C. teachers strike goes into second week of school

    More classes cancelled as B.C. teachers strike goes into second week of school
    VANCOUVER - All half a million of British Columbia's public school students remain locked out of their classrooms at the start of the second week of the school year as the teachers strike continues.

    More classes cancelled as B.C. teachers strike goes into second week of school