TIME FOR CRTC TO SET CONDITIONS ON CTV/CHUM MERGER NDP Release As the days tick down on the CRTC review of the massive CTVglobemedia merger with CHUM, the NDP say a rubber stamp of the deal isn’t enough.
NDP Canadian Heritage Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) says 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.
“Where is the benefit to the Canadian consumer from this mega-merger? If we look at CTV’s prime time viewing schedule its ‘All American, All the Time.’ 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.”
Angus says this merger has raised disturbing questions about the loss of diversity and of voices on Canada’s airwaves. “The day this merger was announced, CHUM fired 300 staff. What steps will the CRTC take to ensure this media super-giant commits to local programming and job protection?”
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. 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.
Angus says the onus is on the CRTC to prove their relevance to the public by either rejecting the merger or laying down some rules with teeth.
“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.”
The $1.7 billion CTV takeover of CHUM is just one of three controversial mergers coming before the CRTC. The others include: CanWest Global Communications Corp.'s acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Communications Corp. and Astral Media Inc.'s purchase of Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd. |