Imagine the CMC - the Canadian Media Commission.
The CMC regulates media so as to promote the public good recognising that the public owns the right to sell magazines and newspapers and there are only a limited number of such items that can be distributed to the public.
The CMC does not limit media by content but, as a practical matter, by making it more difficult to start a new publication the CMC has the effect of promoting the status quo.
This all sounds ridiculous -- but how is the CMC much different from the CRTC? The CRTC limits the number of cable stations in the public interest -- and I see that as based on outdated models and presently senseless.
The days of 12 potential channels, all coming through on rabbit ears are long gone -- I barely remember them. Back then it did make sense to limit television stations -- in a place like Hamilton three stations were gone to America, six were unusable because of interference and so Canada had three available slots. The CRTC makes sense in such a world -- today with no limit on the number of cable stations, and high speed internet streaming allowing anyone to set up the equivalent of a broadcast centre in their basement - heck on their cell phone - how does it make sense to have the CRTC regulate cable stations?
In fairness, the CRTC does not act as a censor -- but what useful role is played by having it approve new television stations?
If anyone can print a newspaper why shouldn't anyone open a cable television station?
2 comments:
There are two points I would like to make about the licenses: the CRTC does still regulate the content that each station may carry. For example, a news station may or may not have permission to show movies. The same may hold true for a sports station. However, nowadays, cable stations seem to bend the rules a lot. For example, how much music content is on those music stations now?
Second, the CRTC can regulate which tier a cable/satellite station is placed. There are some stations that cable companies are required to air; there are others that are optional for the cable companies to air and place for optional viewing. For example, my cable company shows the CBC and CTV news channels, CNN, and BBC World in the lower tier. It shows RT (Russian Television news) in a higher tier. Fox News and Al Jazeera English are optional for viewers.
I don't think it would be difficult for Sun TV to get a cable news licence. I do think Sun TV wants a news station available and shown to everyone on the lower tier. There is little value being placed in a third or fourth tier.
"The CRTC limits the number of cable stations in the public interest"
What is wrong with this statement?
Limiting cable stations is in the public interest?
Are we living in China?
WTF?
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