CREDIT: CNW GROUP/CRTC


Everyone with cable or satellite television has suffered from the same dilemma at one point or another – how to get the channels you want without paying for ones you don’t want. Until now, the easiest way was to simply steal the channels by rigging your connection, but it looks like the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission may be trying to provide a legal alternative.

The CRTC is an organization that is responsible for regulating all of that. In light of the average cost of basic TV and the myriad of consumer complaints, the CRTC is attempting to step in on behalf of Canadians.

They’ve kicked off a set of hearings entitled “Let’s Talk TV” at which cable/satellite/internet providers are making their cases for the future of television that they envision. “Pick and pay” is the hot topic so far at the hearings that are slated to run through September 19 and it involves building a bundle out of individual channels chosen by the consumer.

The idea is being bandied about, with some providers like Bell showing support, but others like Rogers stating that it would simply lead to higher costs for individual channels and no actual reduction in price compared with the current system.

A major obstacle to lowering the cost of basic cable or satellite is the current way in which media conglomerates purchase their material. When Rogers bought the broadcasting rights for the NHL in late 2013, the price paid was drastically higher than any competitor could afford. Rogers was willing to pay an astronomical amount for exclusive NHL broadcasting rights because they plan to fleece the consumer for every penny. Whether it’s through sub-licensing games to Bell or CBC stations, or just through their own cable subscriptions, Rogers expects that their monopoly will make them their money back.

The current system for purchasing a television package is a lot like purchasing car insurance – deliberately confusing. Bundled channels enjoy undeserved popularity because they’re purchased simply as an add-on to the channel the consumer actually wanted.

Our current system is the worst of both worlds. On one hand, it’s too monopolized for independent channels to have a chance at survival. On the other hand, it allows channels that generate no original content whatsoever to thrive because of bundling.

Despite being the worst of both worlds, it’s probably not going to get any better. While you may eventually be able to buy individual channels, Rogers’ dire prediction that your overall cable bill won’t go down is probably bang on. An independent evaluation of Canadians’ access to the Internet, television, and cellphone service puts us in pretty uncomfortable company.

In sum, we Canadians pay more for sub-standard services than most countries we generally compare ourselves to.

The fact that the CRTC allowed things to reach this point will make it all-but-impossible for them to rectify matters. The unfortunate reality is that the only body with the power to change any of this missed the boat by failing to react to the changing media landscape as it evolved. And Canadians can expect to spend the next decade paying for it, literally.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.