Independent television stations accuse Meta of stealing content, seek negotiations

A group of independent television stations is accusing Meta Platforms Inc. of illegally posting content to Facebook and Instagram, and asking the CRTC to allow collective bargaining with the tech giant. The local independent television station group (LITS) filed its application on Feb. 4 and updated it on Feb. 23. The 15 stations serve 12 markets across the country with two members, ZoomerTV and YesTV, not providing news coverage. Any bargaining would be part of the Online News Act provisions. The stations are Newfoundland Broadcasting with one station; RNC Media with four stations in Quebec; Télé Inter-Rives, which operates three stations in Quebec; Channel Zero in Hamilton, Ont.; Thunder Bay Electronics with two stations in Ontario; Miracle Channel with one channel in Alberta; Pattison Media with two channels in B.C.; and CHEK television in Victoria, B.C. LITS maintains its content has been uploaded to Facebook, despite Meta claiming it no longer permits the distribution of news to Canadian users. “In anticipation of arguments from Meta that they are not in the business of news, and that any infractions or occurrences of news being made available are minor or incidental, we submit that this is irrelevant,” the filing states. “There is no ‘volume’ test for making available under the Act.” Meta halted the uploading of news content to Canadian Facebook and Instagram users in 2023. “...he making available by Meta of LITS news on its platforms is not merely incidental,” the document continues (emphasis in original). “Hundreds, if not thousands, of Facebook and Instagram users have been making available LITS news on a fairly regular basis.” Much of this content escapes the Meta blocking mechanism, the group alleges. “What Meta, apparently does do, is periodically do a ‘clean-up’ and take down links to news–after they have been up for a while,” the application says. LITS is calling for the commission to act quickly to force Meta to the bargaining table. It is worried the American giant will seek retribution of some sort against it. “Meta has already delayed required compensation for LITS news by over two years,” the group contends. “It will do everything possible to delay further. This should not be allowed.” An email to Meta representatives seeking comment did not receive a response. ppark@thewirereport.ca

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Independent television stations accuse Meta of stealing content, seek negotiations

Broadcast | By Paul Park |March 2, 2026

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Broadcast |
By Paul Park
|March 2, 2026