Broadcast hearings not as dry as some think

Globe and Mail columnist John Doyle recently described the CRTC hearing room in Gatineau as a place where "the glamour of making television drama or comedy evaporates." But that's not to say the hearings aren't highly entertaining at times - like when CanWest Global head Leonard Asper and CRTC chair Konrad von Finkenstein waded in on the value of TV porn at the current BDU and specialty proceeding. Check out the highlights: Von Finckenstein: Is there any capacity constraint? We have heard various stories about whether there is a capacity constraint. Asper (president and CEO of Canwest Global Communications Corp.) : I am just looking down the Bell programming line-up. They have said that there are capacity issues, and then I look down at Channel 749, the Venus Preview Channel; Venus Adult Pay‑Per‑View, 750 to 756; Playboy Television; Adult AOV Movies, about nine or ten pornography channels....They don't have room for Montreal local TV, but they have room for porn. I know some people think that's good, but... Von Finckenstein: I won't touch that line. Ken Engelhart (Rogers Communications Inc.'s senior VP of regulatory): This has to be the only country in the world where profitable companies can come in and demand a subsidy. Von Finckenstein: You should talk to the steel industry Ian Morrison (Friends of Canadian Broadcasting spokesperson after being interrupted by the chair during his opening remarks): I did lose a minute there. Von Finckenstein: You shall have your extra minute. Morrison: Thank you very much. Two minutes is what the cable guys would want. Von Finckenstein: Indeed, yes. Gary Smith (president of the Bell Video Group) on negotiating distant signal fees: we think therefore that is best dealt with in a negotiated way rather than by the commission trying to mandate one solution which is not going to work for maybe some or all of the distributors concerned. Von Finckenstein: I entirely agree with you. If you can work it out and if we can stay out of it, that's fine by me. Glenn O'Farrell (Canadian Association of Broadcasters president and CEO): I haven't met too many people in the street who tell me genre protection's got to go. Von Finckenstein: Most people won't know what you're talking about. Alyson Townsend (Canadian Cable Systems Alliance president and CEO): Any fee that those networks would get from our members would not be of any huge assistance. It would be minimal. Vice-chair Michel Arpin: So you should not count only on the fees coming from these BDUs. Harris Boyd (CCSA regulatory consultant): Only if they need coffee money, I think. Arpin: Mr. Reaume, I will refrain myself to local avails and target of ad insertions in VOD. To whom should the money go, to the BDU or to the broadcaster? Bob Reaume (VP of policy & research, Canadian Association of Advertisers): It is your decision. Arpin: Yes, thank you. We are seeking help. Paul Temple (senior VP of regulatory and strategic affairs, Pelmorex Communications Inc.): We hope that distributors in English Canada carry francophone services, but it doesn't go to our count. Arpin: We all hope that, particularly when we go to hotels. Commissioner Rita Cugini, to Pelmorex on genre morphing: the CAB, when it was before us, on behalf of its members, suggested that all programming categories should be a free‑for‑all for all specialty services. Do you agree with that position? In other words, should you be able to show Twister...I was going to say The Wizard of Oz, but I thought that would be too cute. Luc Lavoie (executive VP, Quebecor Inc.): The distributor would say to sports channel, whatever, number one or two, might say: You know, I don't think that's what I negotiated with you. You were providing me with a sports channel and a sports signal. I may not be interested in your music because I have got three that are providing me with this. Von Finckenstein: I understand, yes, okay. Lavoie: This is what market forces are about. Von Finckenstein: No, I do understand market forces. Lavoie: I know. I'm sure you do, sir. Sean Ruzicka (manager of product development, Telus Corp., on targeted advertising): I think that we ultimately expand that opportunity to advertise, because it doesn't have to be Coke and Ford any more. It can be the pizza place down the street maybe, you know, based on the consumer's past behaviour. That is the level of granularity that it is conceivably possible we could get down to if the industry wanted to go there. Michael Hennessey (Telus' VP, wireless, broadband and content policy): I think Sean makes a good point. You can really start to tailor the ads. I think Ted Rogers missed that point at the hearing...because, you know, it's been a long time since he ordered a pizza.

Broadcast hearings not as dry as some think

Broadcast | April 22, 2008

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