The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that the Canadian broadcast system is facing challenges as streaming takes over, prompting old-school media and telecom companies to call for a lighter regulatory touch from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that the commission is consulting on how to adapt to the shift from traditional TV to international streamers, part of its efforts to implement the Online Streaming Act. This consultation, begun in January, aims to understand market dynamics as Canadians increasingly favour streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ over traditional broadcasting and cable.
Filings were due Monday and the CRTC also will hold a hearing in May in Gatineau, Que.
In its submission, Rogers Communications argued rules implemented by the CRTC to govern the traditional cable and satellite TV markets are now putting those companies at a disadvantage against on-line streaming companies. Rogers argued in its filing, "Many of the commission's existing regulatory tools are ineffective because they undermine the competitiveness of Canadian broadcasting undertakings vis-a-vis global streaming giants."
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