(Gatineau) Several independent television producers and associations have asked the CRTC to provide more guarantees and tangible benefits in the proposed takeover of Shaw Communications by Rogers Communications for 26 billion.
Speaking at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission hearings in Gatineau this week, presenters such as the Ethnic Channels Group, WildBrain and the Canadian Communications Systems Alliance voiced concerns about the market dominance that Rogers would get if the transaction was approved.
CRTC hearings focus on the implications of the deal for the broadcasting industry.
While Rogers’ direct competitors such as Telus and BCE adamantly opposed the deal during the hearings, companies that depend on Rogers and Shaw to host their programming have expressed more specific comments, with many requests focusing on maintaining the status quo for a certain period.
Ethnic Channels Group has asked the CRTC to require subscription revenues for independent ethnic producers not to decline for five years, and children’s television content producer WildBrain has asked the regulator to force Rogers to continue broadcasting. independent shows currently hosted by Rogers or Shaw for five years. Others have asked that Rogers be required to maintain the satellite broadcast services that Shaw currently provides.
For his part, the CEO of the Canadian Media Producers Association, Reynolds Mastin, called for more tangible benefits from the deal, saying the 5.7 million total benefits offered were not commensurate with size. of the agreement.
The Unifor union has raised concerns over Rogers plans to take back the $ 13 million a year Shaw is giving Global News for an expansion of its own CityNews network, saying the plan risks reducing the diversity of voices in the country. small markets.