CBC fights Bell, Shaw over local TV

CBC-TV and companies that provide direct to home (DTH) satellite TV services are heading for a showdown at the CRTC over the provision of local television services in several Canadian markets.

The current rules require DTH providers to include a minimum of five CBC English and five French-language stations, including at least one from each time zone.

Bell TV carries nine of 14 CBC English stations while Shaw Direct carries 10.

That's created a situation where viewers in Edmonton, Regina, Windsor, Ont., Charlottetown, and Fredericton/Saint John can't view local CBC stations if they subscribe to Bell TV.

Subscribers to Shaw Direct don't get local CBC-TV if they live in St. John's, Fredricton/St. John, Windsor, Ont., or Charlottetown.

In those markets, viewers can only get CBC news and local programming from another city.

'The rules as they stand today are undermining our efforts.' —Steven Guiton, chief regulatory officer at the CBC

"For years now, CBC/Radio Canada has been working to establish strong regional roots and provide Canadians with programming that reflects their local communities," said Steven Guiton, vice-president and chief regulatory officer at the CBC.

"The rules as they stand today are undermining our efforts."

The direct to home satellite firms maintain that distribution of all local television stations is not feasible and could prevent them from being competitive with cable companies.

The CRTC will hear from both sides at a public hearing in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 16.

The commission is accepting public comments on the issue until Sept. 8.