Sunday, December 28, 2025
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

    Vancouver Park Board Commissioner endorses free Wi-Fi in Vancouver Parks

    Vancouver Park Board Commissioner endorses free Wi-Fi in Vancouver Parks
    Vancouver Park Board commissioner Trevor Loke, will introduce a notice-of-motion at the regular board meeting tonight asking the city to monitor the possibility of providing free Wi-Fi at public parks. 

    Vancouver Park Board Commissioner endorses free Wi-Fi in Vancouver Parks

    Husband arrested in Jagtar Gill Slaying in Ottawa

    Husband arrested in Jagtar Gill Slaying in Ottawa
    The husband of an Indian-origin woman, who was found dead in her house in South Ottawa in Canada's Ontario province, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife.

    Husband arrested in Jagtar Gill Slaying in Ottawa

    900 Social Insurance Numbers stolen from CRA website due to Heartbleed bug

    900 Social Insurance Numbers stolen from CRA website due to Heartbleed bug
    Canada Revenue Agency says that approximately 900 social insurance numbers were stolen from its system due to Heartbleed bug. The federal tax agency stated in a press release Monday that the "malicious breach of taxpayer data" occurred over a period of six-hours.

    900 Social Insurance Numbers stolen from CRA website due to Heartbleed bug

    Vancouver celebrates a colourful and joyful Vaisakhi

    Vancouver celebrates a colourful and joyful Vaisakhi
    The annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan celebrated with much joy and vigour in Vancouver once again displayed the generosity and togetherness of the Sikh community. Hundreds of thousands came out to celebrate the harvest festival that also marks the New Year and the birth of the Khalsa in 1699.

    Vancouver celebrates a colourful and joyful Vaisakhi

    Vancouver mother guilty of infanticide of two new born sons

    Vancouver mother guilty of infanticide of two new born sons
    Sarah Leung, 28, has been convicted of two counts of infanticide in the separate deaths of her two newborn sons.

    Vancouver mother guilty of infanticide of two new born sons

    Double dose of joy for Brampton couple who won 18.7 million lottery after having baby

    Double dose of joy for Brampton couple who won 18.7 million lottery after having baby
    Brampton residents, Jaspreet and Gurbhej Sran are on cloud nine. In merely three weeks, the couple's world has completely transformed from being new parents to also becoming millionaire.

    Double dose of joy for Brampton couple who won 18.7 million lottery after having baby