I believe that politics has no place on a blog like this, but it’s my blog and I can do what I want. The clock is ticking for people to take action in the discussion about how conventional television in Canada is going to survive. Write or call your MP, write to the CRTC or check out localtvmatters.ca.
Secretary General
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N2
Submitted via fax (819) 994-0218
RE: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-614
Dear Secretary General,
Please accept the following comments in response to the above-referenced Notice of Consultation.
I strongly support local television and the introduction of a sustainable broadcasting model in Canada for consumers.
In the modern age, when a growing majority of people get their information and entertainment from the Internet, there remains one thing that the Internet does not provide: A national identity. The World Wide Web is exactly that, it operates without borders, indiscriminately disseminating culture and artistic endeavours into every home it touches, neutralizing the concept of national identity. Despite the unabated growth of the dominance of new media, television remains the most effective source of relevant Canadian content in Canada, but without Canadian broadcasters to provide that content, consumer choice is reduced to imported American networks and specialty channels with no interest in coverage of local issues.
If cable companies are able to sell the locally created content that Canadians want without paying for the use of that content, broadcasters won’t have the revenue to compete with the regionally ambivalent specialty channels and encroaching American networks. It is only fair that Canadian networks should be able to negotiate for the value of the programming that cable providers are selling for a profit.
Nobody should expect Canada to support more than one state-funded broadcaster, but all Canadians should at least be provided with the opportunity to partake in our national identity through the medium of local television. Please support the right for Canadian broadcasters to negotiate with cable providers.
Sincerely,
Steve Johnston
