Mr. Ian Boyko from Unifor reports
CRTC RULING UPHOLDS ROGERS' RESPONSIBILITIES TO MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING
A Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling today rebuffed Rogers
Broadcasting's request for sweeping regulatory relief for its
Omni ethnic television chain in spite of recent financial losses at
those five stations.
In the same decision, the CRTC will require Rogers to enhance its
commitments to original local programming broadcast from its national
chain of City stations.
"Multiculturalism is part of what makes Canada great, and we fought to
keep ethnic and third language services alive in Rogers's licence," said
Unifor media sector director Howard Law. "Rogers Communications is a
very profitable corporation and can easily afford to maintain the
current level of programming at Omni, diminished as it is."
Rogers applied for a renewal of their City and Omni licences in the fall
of 2013 with a proposal to reduce commitments to ethnic and Canadian
programming, particularly during the prime time evening period. Unifor
testified before the commission in April, 2014, arguing that Rogers's
claims about revenue problems at the Omni stations were overreaching
and underdocumented.
"This ruling is a victory for growing newcomer communities who rely on
this programming," said Mr. Law. "We are very pleased the commission stood
firm. But we feel strongly that Rogers can do even better for ethnic
and local programming in the future."
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