sun news response to interventions crtc 2012 0687 1
TRANSCRIPT
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A Response to Interventions
Reerence #2012-0687-1
Submitted Mar 18, 2013
CanadianTvFirst.ca
1
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CanadianTvFirst.c96o original Canadian television content/hours week
Sun News Network produces
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Table Of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................. .................
2. Canadas Broadcasting Act .....................................................................
3. Strong Role For The CRTC ......................................................................
4. 9(1)(h) as a Last Resort ..............................................................................
5. Does Sun News Qualify for 9(1)(h)? ....................................................
6. Move to Digital ............................................................................. ..............
7. A Radically New Market.........................................................................1
8. The CTV News Channel Licence ........................................................1
9. Where This Meets Consumers ...........................................................1
10. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council .................................1
11. Foreign Interventions ..............................................................................1
12. Conclusion ................................................................................... ................ 2
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Distribution undertakings should give
priority to the carriage of Canadianprogramming services
(Broadcasting Act, SC 1991, c 11, s 3.1(t)(i))
1.1 Further to the case laid out in the Supplementa
for Sun News application for mandatory distrib
we would like to take this opportunity to respon
some specic issues raised by interveners oppo
our application.
1.2 To help provide additional context we would lik
step back and place our application in the broad
legal and regulatory framework that governs th
distribution of television content.
1. Introduction
CANADIAN BROADCASTI
SHOULD BE CANADI
- Pierre J
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2.1 To say the promotion of Canadian content is an important
part of the Broadcasting Act would be an understatement.
It is the primary purpose of the Act, both in spirit and letter.
2.2 From its very rst words, the Act is packed with clause after
clause designed to ensure more Canadian programming is
both created and distributed.
Broadcasting Policy For Canada
2.3 This objective is very broadly laid out in the Act, which
states: each element of the Canadian broadcasting system
shall contribute in an appropriate manner to the creation
and presentation of Canadian programming(Broadcasting Act, SC 1991, c 11, s 3.1(e)).
2.4 But it is the clause pertaining to the distribution of
broadcast services which is of particular importance to the
case of Sun News. The Act states that distributors should
give priority to the carriage of Canadian programming
(Broadcasting Act , SC 1991, c 11, s 3.1(t)(i)). We will have
more to say about this shortly.
2.5 In administration of the Broadcasting Act, the CRTC has
traditionally taken a very active role in ensuring Canadian
content requirements are met in a meaningful way. For
example, the CRTC has long required a portion of Canadian
content be aired in prime time, not simply relegated to
timeslots when most Canadians are not watching. We
believe BDUs giving Sun News 40% market penetration
and placement in the stratosphere of the dial, is the
modern equivalent of airing Canadian programming
at 2am on a Sunday.
EachelementoftheCanadianbroadcastingsystemshall
contributeinanapp
ropriatemannertothecreationan
d
presentationofCanadianprogramming
2. Canadas Broadcasting Act
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4.1 A 9(1)(h) order is in the CRTCs own words an
exceptional tool that should be used sparingly
- and we agree.
4.2 It is a nal backstop to ensure the fulllment of the
letter and the spirit of the Broadcasting Act.
4.3 In an ideal world, Sun News would not have to make
such an application. As a channel that is 100% Canadian
and produces 96 hours per week of rst-run Canadian
content, our broadcast system was envisioned in a
way that channels like Sun News would be distributed
widely, without intervention
by the regulator.
4.4 The challenges Sun News has encountered obtainingdistribution with BDUs has left us with no realistic
option other than to seek a 9(1)(h) order. In
consideration of this order, we encourage the CRTC
to keep in mind the following citations from the
Broadcasting Act and Broadcasting
Distribution Regulations:
i The Broadcasting Act requires distributors to give
priority to the carriage of Canadian programming
services and, in particular, to the carriage of local
Canadian stations
(Broadcasting Act, SC 1991 c11, s 5.2(e)).
ii The Broadcasting Distribution Regulations state
that, except as otherwise provided under a
condition of its licence, a licensee shall ensure, in
respect of each of analog and digital technology,
that a majority of each of the video and audio
programming services that are received by a
subscriber are devoted to the distribution of
Canadian programming services
(Broadcasting Distribution Regulations,
SOR/97-555).
iii The Broadcasting Distribution Regulations forbid
undue preference to any person, including itself,
or subject any person to an undue disadvantage
(Broadcasting Distribution Regulations,
SOR/97-555).
4.5 The fact that Sun News, oering 100% Canadi
programming, is only being distributed in 4 o
10 households raises the question: In the case
Sun News, are BDUs living up to their obligatio
promote Canadian content?
4.6 The low-level of distribution of Sun News is m
more oensive by the fact that English Canadi
broadly oer hundreds of channels that are fo
primarily feature content, including a number
all-news channels. In cases such as with Telus
Sun News isnt even oered at all. In the case o
BDU, Rogers, Sun News even found itself repla
the dial by the new Rogers owned City News C
4.7 Granting Sun News Network a 9(1)(h) order wo
a clear message to distributors that their oblig
Canadian content are not mere words on a pa
4.8 Sun News also recognizes that a 9(1)(h) order
of a present day remedy than a long-term solu
Thats why we have suggested a 5-year limit fo
distribution order. This is consistent with the re
ruling on The Weather Channel and MtoM
where the Commission noted that the rapidly
broadcasting landscape made it appropriate
issue the mandatory distribution order only fo
limited time (also ve years)
(Broadcasting Order CRTC 2009-340).
3. Strong Role For The CRTC
1.1 As the guardians of the Broadcasting Act, the CRTC
has been entrusted with ensuring these objectives are
met. To help them in this task the Commission has been
given extraordinary powers to intervene when necessary
to ensure the Act is enforced. The Act states the
broadcasting system should be regulated in a manner
that: facilitates the provision of Canadian programs to
Canadians (Broadcasting Act, SC 1991, c 11, s 5.2(e)).
3.2 Among the extraordinary powers available to the CRTC is
to require a channel to be distributed under section
9(1)(h) of the Act.
3.3 A power the public supports. Despite the many changes
to the Canadian television market over the last decade,
support for the CRTC to play an active role remains
strong.
4. 9(1)(h) as a Last Resort
FIGURE 4.1
64.0% of Canadians thin
the CRTC should play amore active role in ensuCanadian television channow owned by Rogers, Sand Bell are distributed
66% of Canadians think tha
new Canadian televisionall-news channels should bgiven a similar advantage toallow them to compete witCBC News and CTV News.
Fig. 5.7 p 25. Cable News and the Cable and Satellite Industry.
Abacus Data Inc. 2012 AABBAACCUUSS DDATATAA
n this newenvironmenthe CRTC has
an importantole to play in
ensuring channelshat broadcast00% Canadianontent are made
available in thebasic package.
54%
A Majority of
Canadians Agree
54% OF CANADIANS AGREE
GURE 3.1:
FIGURE 3.2: Intervention #2064; Beverly Miller o Dundas, ON
TC Mandate or Basic Cable and Satellite Television
s. Abacus Data Inc. 2013 A B ACU S D ATA
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5.1 Several interveners raise the question if Sun News qualies
for 9(1)(h) status for meeting the measures laid out in 3(1)(d) of
the Broadcasting Act.
5.2 A more fulsome response was already provided in our
Supplementary Brief and Deciencies Letter. However, it is
worth pointing out the measure of whether any given channel
serves to safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political,
social and economic fabric of Canada is inherently a subjective
one (Broadcasting Act, SC 1991, c 11, 3.1 (d)(i)). In a pluralistic,
democratic country, achieving agreement on such a measure is
impossible for it will always be in the eye
of the beholder.
5.3 Despite the subjective nature of the measures laid out in
3(1)(d) of the Broadcasting Act, it is absolutely clear that SunNews and other Canadian news channels by the very nature of
their content do as well.
5.4 In the case of Sun News, 53,000 Canadians signed a petition in
support of our channel, and thousands more wrote personal
letters to the CRTC describing why they love Sun News and how
it reects their values and view of Canada. For a new channel
which only 38% of the public has even heard of, with very limited
distribution, this is an astounding gure.
5.5 How many more Canadians would feel this passionately
about Sun News if they knew it existed and had an
opportunity to watch?
5.6 Sun News has also sparked strong emotions amongst some
Canadians opposed to its broadcasts. Close to 20,000
Canadians signed a petition to say Sun News does not reect
their values or view of Canada. Many of those who wrote to
the CRTC in opposition explicitly called for the network
to be shut down.
5.7 We submit that the silencing of voices in the media, in the way
suggested by these opponents, runs counter to both freedomof speech and freedom of the press. Moreover, having a
government agency take action to shut down a media outlet
because it had provided a forum for views held by millions of
Canadians would be a dangerous and undemocratic act.
5.8 It is impossible for any single media outlet, regardless of its size,
to reect the views of all Canadians. Canada is a far too large
and diverse country for that. Many Canadians would not see the
CBC as passing the test of 3(1)(d) if the question was posed in
relation to their programming, but they would be wrong.
5. Does Sun News Qualify for 9(1)(h)?
he newsmedia in
anada isominated by aw voices whol think alike.
23%
57%
% OF CANADIANS AGREE
OF CANADIANS DISAGREE
5.9 We submit that news programming by its very nature
touches on all criteria laid out in 3(1)(d). For example, Sun
News has spent a large amount of time covering aboriginal
issues, has been the only broadcaster to provide special
live coverage of election results in Manitoba, Alberta and
Saskatchewan, and has brought a wide range of stories
from Quebec to a wider audience in English Canada. E zra
Levants special series on the far North still stands as one
of the highest rated broadcasts since the launch of
the network.
5.10 Sun News, by and large, does not cover the same stories
being carried by CTV News Channel and CBC News
Network, and when it does it generally covers them in a
dierent manner. Nor are the opinions and voices found
on the network the same as those found elsewhere. Thatuniqueness gives voice to millions of Canadians that dont
see their own Canada reected in the television news
options on the dial today.
5.11 Therefore, it is our belief that a vibrant, diverse
of Canadian news channels not only serves con
well, but also strengthens our democracy. It en
stories are told and more voices are heard.
Sun oers a needed alternativemainstream media in Canada. commentators such as Ezra LevBrian Lilley, Michael Coren an
Charles Adler cover cross counnews events with insights you wnd anywhere else.
FIGURE 5.2:
Provincial Breakdown o Signatures Collected on CanadianTvFirst.ca
FIGURE 5.1:
Intervention #2082; Thomas Rooney o Ottaw
p 5. Cable News and the Cable and Satellite
. Abacus Data Inc. 2012 A B ACU S D ATA
URE 5.1:
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1 In the early days of cable, the CRTC had to balance
consumer demand for popular US programming, and
its mandate to distribute Canadian television in a the
context of a very limited dial. But with the advent of
digital cable and satellite technology, the CRTC saw a
solution to this problem. The near innite bandwidth
of digital meant the problem of carrying Canadian
channels would be greatly alleviated.
2 Sun News believes bandwidth is, and always has been
precious. And it has been central to almost every
decision the CRTC has made with respect to Canadian
content.
3 While the CRTC moved to a more laissez-faire approach
to digital distribution, it was done predicated on
BDUs living up to their commitments under the Act todistribute Canadian channels. After all, the new digital
world would eliminate the bandwidth restrictions that
had long been used as an excuse for not doing so.
6.4 Back in 1996, the CRTC laid out rules around television
distribution (Public Notice CRTC 1996-60). The notice
laid out as a Guiding Principle the following:
As a undamental principle, distribution
undertakings must give priority to the
distribution o the services o licensed
Canadian programming undertakings.
Accordingly, the Commission considers that
the access rules should include a general
requirement that a broadcasting distribution
undertaking distribute the services o
all licensed Canadian programmingundertakings appropriate or its market.
In this context, the services o licensed
programming undertakings should be
given priority over the services o exempt
programming undertakings.
6.5 In a later ruling, Commissioner Andre Wylie was even
blunter about the intent of CRTC 1996-60:
The Commissions intent was to ensure, by
regulation, transparently air and equitable
access or Canadian programming services,
in recognition o the continued dominant, and
in many cases the monopoly, power o the
cable industry in the distribution o Canadian
video programming.
(http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/PB96-120.htm)
. Move to Digital
I currentlty subscribe to theTelus cable network in Alberta,as part of a package thatincludes, as well, phone line andInternet service. For some timeI have been very frustrated thatTelus does not carry Sun News... I fnd it incomprehensible that
I get a whole slew of AmericanNews Channels (most of whichI have no interest in watchtin),but cannot receive the fullcomplement of Canadian newschannels.
I currentlty subscribe to theTelus cable network in Alberta,as part of a package thatincludes, as well, phone line andInternet service. For some timeI have been very frustrated thatTelus does not carry Sun News... I fnd it incomprehensible that
I get a whole slew of AmericanNews Channels (most of whichI have no interest in watchtin),but cannot receive the fullcomplement of Canadian newschannels.
I currently subscribe to theTelus cable network in Alberta,as part of a package thatincludes, as well, phone line andInternet service. For some timeI have been very frustrated thatTelus does not carry Sun News... I fnd it incomprehensible that
I get a whole slew of AmericanNews Channels (most of whichI have no interest in watchtin),but cannot receive the fullcomplement of Canadian newschannels.
FIGURE 6.1:
Intervention #654; Ron Voss o Cochrane, AB
FIGURE 6.2
BDUs OFFER MANY NON-CANADIAN
AND FOREIGN CHANNELS AS PART OF BASIC CABLE
FIGURE 6.2
BDUs OFFER MANY NON-CANADIAN
AND FOREIGN CHANNELS AS PART OF BASIC CABLE
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7.8 There is certainly much cause for the CRTC to be
concerned on behalf of both content producers and
consumers that can be found in the interventions made
against Sun News.
7.9 While Telus may feel their news pack is already
crowded, that doesnt change their obligations under
the Broadcasting Act. Their decision to list RTV (an
English language Russian television channel) as a part
of their basic package while saying there is no room for
channels oering 100% Canadian content is, to use their
words, self-serving and disingenuous.
7.10 Moreover, the assertion of MTS Allstream that there is
little interest in Sun News on the part of their customers
strains credibility, and is countered by the market
research data we have already provided to the CRTC.
Sun News operates a studio in Winnipeg and has as a
host Charles Adler, one of the most popular broadcast
personalities in the province. Sun News is also the only
news channel to oer extensive coverage of the recent
Manitoba election campaign, including an election-
night special that was broadcast coast-to-coast.
7.11 In addition to being given inadequate distribution,
BDUs are paying a fraction of the price for Sun News
that other (in many cases their own) news channels
receive. As gure 8.2 demonstrates, Sun News is asking
for a fraction of the average price paid for other English
language Canadian all-news channels.
7.12 The suggestion by Rogers that Sun News oe
same service as CBC and CTV ignores the obv
unique nature of the story selection and edito
commentary oered by our channel. And it is
the point with respect to the distribution of ch
containing 100% Canadian content.
p 5. CRTC Mandate or Basic Cable and Satellite Television
Abacus Data Inc. 2013
It is safe to say that in 1996, the CRTC had not
contemplated a future where the private broadcast
industry would be consumed by cable and satellite
distributors.
The takeover of CTV by Bell, Global by Shaw and CityTV
by Rogers has dramatically altered the television market
in Canada. It would be folly to not take a second look at
the intent of prior CRTC rulings in this context.
Research shows that Canadians would agree.
Consumers are skeptical that that these acquisitions by
cable and satellite companies have improved choice.
With respect to preferential treatment, 79% of
Canadians believe that cable and satellite companiesfavour their own channels over those they dont own.
Given Rogers treatment of Sun News, they have good
reason to hold that belief.
In fact, it is an argument that Bell brought forward
with respect to City News Channel when it came
to the CRTC for a licence, stating: Given Rogers
dominant position in the broadcast distribution sector
in Ontario, licensing the proposed service would give
it an overwhelming advantage over competitors. In
a fully digital world, Rogers will be able to guarantee
its CITY News service preferential channel placement,
widespread distribution as part of digital basic and
signicant subscriber revenues. Such a result would
be highly detrimental to CP24 (https://services.
crtc.gc.ca/pub/ListeInterventionList/Documents.
aspx?ID=72402&Lang=e).
The use of free market rhetoric on the part of Telus
and MTS, both former crown corporations whose
businesses were established on the basis of government
sanctioned monopolies, is particularily ironic.
In their intervention Rogers suggests, that there are
already two Canadian national all-news channels
being distributed. The clearly stated objective of the
Broadcast Act, backed by hundreds of rulings, public
notices and statements by the CRTC, is to encourage
MORE Canadian programming.
A Radically New Market
Te concentration o contentcapacity in the hands o thechie carriers, Bell, Shaw, Rog-ers and the status o Rogers,Bell and elus as the chie cellphone concerns in the country presage a degree o concen-tration o content and deliverythat is unlike that in any other
serious country in the world.
Conrad Black,Feb. 22, 2013 National Post
Tose o us who hold out hopeor a true multiplicity o voices or, say, a true le-leaningnews and opinion channel,which Canada lacks - shouldthink about supporting Sun
this time around.
Simon Houpt,Jan. 25, 2013 Globe and Mail
Eight in ten Canadians, surveyed by Abacus Data, agreed that the ch
in ownership will lead to cable and satellite companies favouringown channels overs those that they do not own.
Abacus Data asked Canadiathe aquisitions by cable andsatellite companieshas impchoice or consumers?
ONLY 22% AGR
AABBAACCUUSS DDATATAA
TotalMarket
100%
0
FIGURE 7.3
FIGURE 7.2
FIGURE 7.1
FIGURE 7.2
AB ACUSDATAp 6. CRTC Mandate or Basic Cable and Satellite Television Services. Abacus Data Inc. 2013
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8.1 A number of interveners have pointed out that
the licence granted to CTV News Channel was
not identical to that which was granted to CBC
News Network when it launched. While this is
technically true, even Bell concedes in its own
submission that CTV News Channel did have
mandatory distribution when it was rst licensed
(Bell Media Intervention #12644, par. 20).
8.2 The names and classications of CRTC licences
have evolved over time, as has the cable/satellite
distribution market. This makes perfect apples
to apples comparisons impossible. As such we
suggest a more binary, real-world test: Did the
licence granted by the CRTC result in carriage ofthe channel as a part of the basic package -
yes or no.
8.3 In the case of CTV News Channel the answer is
clearly yes as it was with other channels,
such as HGTV, TreeHouse, The Comedy Network,
that were granted similar licences at that time.
8.4 Bell goes on to say this was not preferential
treatment because it was simply a function of
the regulatory rules at the time
(Intervention #12644).
8.5 We have never suggested CTV News Channel
or CBC News Network received inappropriate or
unduly favorable treatment under the rules at the
time, rather we state the obvious: the regulatory
environment they launched into was more
favorable to that which exists for us today.
8.6 There is no doubt that CTV News Channel would
never have launched, without a licence that
included mandatory distribution. And there is nodoubt that they would not have survived had they
not been distributed across the board.
8. The CTV News Channel Licence
FIGURE 8.1: PM Jean Chrtien joins CTV News1 or their launch FIGURE 8.3: Intervention #4157: Cynthia Bredeltt o Carleton Place, ON
SomeBDUs
pay6forS
FIGURE 8.2: News Channel Per Month Subscription Fees or English Canada
PerMonthSubscriptionFee
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1 Included in the interventions against Sun News was
a survey commissioned by the Strategic Council and
referenced by a number of BDUs. For example, Eastlink
used the data to conclude: Canadian consumers are
increasingly frustrated with regulations that force them
to take and pay for services that they do not want.
2 It is important to note that for the most part it is not
any sort of regulations that force customers to take
and pay for channels that they do not want. Like most
cable and satellite providers (with the notable exception
of Videotron) Eastlink bundles channels. Eastlink
oers 31 dierent bundles meaning if you want The
Golf Channel in HD you also have to pay for 16 other
channels ranging from the World Fishing Network to
ESPN Classics Canada as part of the Sports 1 package.
3 Its not just channels mandated by the CRTC that are
included in basic packages right now.
4 Including channels in the basic oering is clearly about
choice for the distributor.
5 The Strategic Council also asked Canadians whether
they support or oppose adding a number of new
channels to the basic tier along with the cost proposed
in the various applications. Not surprisingly their
ndings, seen in Figure 9.2, show that Canadians are
no more interested in paying specically for new
channels than they are for ones that are currently there.
6 To make a direct comparison, Abacus Data closely
replicated the methodology used by the Strategic
Council to test channels that are a part of the Shaw,
Rogers and Telus basic packages to gauge support in
the same way done for Sun News and other applicants.
7 This Abacus Data survey, seen in Figure 9.3 fromAppendix A, clearly negates the point brought forth
by some that Sun News is less worthy than others who
came before them or less equal to those who are there
now.
8 This raises a simple and straightforward question: if Sun
News were to be added to a BDUs basic cable package
why could they not simply remove a narrow-casted
foreign specialty channel to make room for it? This
would mean no additional cost to customers.
9.9 It should be noted again that Canadians strongly favour
a pick-and-pay model like the one used by Videotron.
This approach does not exist in most of the country.
9.10 Beyond the package model, a more troubling concern
exists for customers looking to pick-up a channel
not oered by their current provider: switching is a
daunting task. As bundling of services becomes a
more common practice, 72% of customers say Canadas
telecom companies make it very dicult to change an
individual service to get a TV channel or mobile device
not oered by your existing provider.
9.11 Beyond the packaging, there is another big challenge
to consumer choice. Millions of Canadians have chosento package their television, mobile and internet services
with a single BDU. Many of these contracts are multi-
year and involve signicant cancellation penalties. This
makes the option of changing providers in order to get
a single channel, like Sun News, a completely
unrealistic option.
. Where This Meets Consumers
the bundling o services ... makesit very difcult to ... get a V channelor mobile device not oered by yourexisting provider.
72%
AGREE
8%
DISAGREE
FIGURE 9.2: Support or Mandatory Distribution o Each Channel at Specifed Cost
FIGURE 9.3: Support or Each Channel at Cost o 18
p 9. CRTC Mandate or Basic Cable and Satellite Television Services.
Abacus Data Inc. 2013 AABBAACC UUSS DDATATAA
p 16. CRTC Mandate or Basic Cable and Satellite Television Services. Abacus Data Inc. 2013 AABBAACCUUSS DDATATAA
Intervention #12696 - p 18. Subscriber Assessments o Mandatory Distribution,The Strategic Counsel. 2013
FIGURE 9.1:
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I am grateful to haveCanadian News Net
that reports on the tthat are closest to mheart and home anddoes so without prejcensorhip or politicacorrectness.
10.1 A number of individual interventions made
complaints about the editorial nature of content
aired on Sun News. From a complaint about Charles
Adlers skepticism on climate change to concerns
about Ezras ringside commentary during the
Trudeau/Brazeau ght, Sun News has elded its
share of grievances.
10.2 Sun News is a member in good standing of the
Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), the
body that arbitrates complaints of this nature on
behalf of the CRTC and Canadian broadcasters. Sun
News abides by the same codes of decency and
journalistic ethics that all CBSC members adhere to.
10.3 Since launch, the CBSC has received 6,963complaints from individuals and made rulings on 30
dierent broadcast events. The CBSC has ruled in
favor of Sun News in all but two of these cases, after
which Sun News complied with the remedy outlined
in the CBSC ruling.
10.4 With respect to individual complaints, it is worth
noting that 6,676 of these complaints were related
to a single interview that Sun News anchor Krista
Erickson had with Canadian dancer Margie Gillis.
The CBSC ruled in favor of Sun News in this case.
10.5 Of the two cases that Sun News lost, one was
with respect to inappropriate language used by
a host (Sun News host Ezra Levants use of the
phrase Chianga tu madre), and the second was
an error of fact relating to public housing for
artists in Edmonton. In the second case, Sun News
voluntarily corrected the error as soon as it was
brought to our attention, well in advance of
the CBSC ruling.
10.6 Like every media organization in the world, from
time-to-time Sun News makes a mistake. The sign
of a condent media outlet is one that is willing to
make corrections and endeavor to rectify mistakes
so they do not happen again. In this light, when
we believe we have made an error or violatedthe CBSCs codes, we have voluntarily issued a
correction and apology. For example, we did this
proactively in the case of comments made on The
Source in relation to the Roma people.
10. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
Margie Gillisrelated complaints
Total requests forrulings by CSBC
Total requests forreview of CBSCrulings by CRTC
Total rulings in whichCBSC found breach bySun News
Complaints sincelaunch (excludingGillis complaints)
More and more news managers are adoptinphilosophy that goes something like this: Weputting out a daily product under erce dead
pressures. Mistakes are inevitable. No longer willpretend we are inallible; were not. Its crucial or
credibility to admit we make mistakes o all ki
every day. And we are willing to correct our erro
- Alicia C. ShepFormer AJR senior writer and NPR ombuds
FIGURE 10.1: Breakdown o CBSC Complaints Directed to Sun News NetworkFIGURE 10.3
Intervention: Kevin, Paul and K
Beasley o Peterborough, ON
I am grateful to havCanadian News Ne
that reports on the that are closest to mheart and home andoes so without precensorship or politicorrectness.
FIGURE 10.2
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1.1 One intervention was made by a radical US-based
political group operating under the name Avaaz.
Previous campaigns by Avaaz included a political
campaign where they targeted Conservative Cabinet
Minister John Baird. They have also conducted a
massive campaign against Rupert Murdoch, CEO of
Newscorp, in an apparent attempt to have Fox News
and other Newscorp holdings shut down.
1.2 While this is relatively harmless, run-of-the-mill
political activism, the campaigns this group have
run against the state of Israel would be considered
concerning to many Canadians.
11.3 Various points raised in their brief have been
addressed in other areas of our response, but it is
clear: Avaazs motivation is ideological, and their goal
is to shut down Sun News permanently. The view
that voices you disagree with should be silenced is
markedly un-Canadian. It runs counter to our Charter
of Rights and counter to the proud history of our
country.
1. Foreign Interventions
YANKEE
GO HOME
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12.1 We humbly encourage the Commission to look to the
Broadcasting Act when considering our application.
For we believe the case for Sun News is spelled out in
both the letter and the spirit of the law.
12.2 We also humbly encourage the CRTC to keep the
following questions in mind as it deliberates on our
application:
12.3 Clearly, we do not believe the BDUs have acted
in good faith with respect to their treatment of
Sun News, nor do we believe they have met their
obligations under the Broadcasting Act.
12.4 It is unfortunate that we have come to the point
where the only way to rectify this situation is for the
CRTC to exercise its power in granting 9(1)(h) status to
Sun News for a period of 5 years.
12.5 We believe in granting this request the CRTC will
ensure Canadian consumers will have a proper chance
to view Sun News and judge it for themselves. Wealso believe it will send a strong message to BDUs
that they are expected to fulll their obligations under
the Broadcasting Act with respect to the distribution
of Canadian programming.
12. Conclusion
The truth o the matter is th
The Sun News Network
VERY capable o competin
on an even playing eld
and thats the problem to tho
who would oppose them
My husband served this gre
Nation or 30 years as a
Air Force Ofce
I served 20 years as a
Air Force Ofce
His son is in his 16th ye
o Service as an Army Ofce
Wtake the DEFENCE O
FREOM VERYSERIOUSL
The truth o the matter is t
The Sun News Networ
VERY capable o compet
on an even playing el
and thats the problem to th
who would oppose th
My husband served this gr
Nation or 30 years as
Air Force Of
I served 20 years as
Air Force Of
His son is in his 16th y
o Service as an Army Of
Weake the DEFENCE
REEDOM VERYSERIOUS
The truth o the matter is th
The Sun News Network
VERY capable o competi
on an even playing eld
and thats the problem to tho
who would oppose the
Danielle T. Smi
Major, Re
Intervention #18
CanadianTvFirst.caFIGU
i Have the BDUs met their obligations under
3(1)(t)(i) of the Act to give priority to the carriage
of Canadian programming in the case
of Sun News?
ii Did Rogers show undue preference by removing
Sun News from their basic package, and giving
their dial position to their own all-news channel?
iii When the CRTC moved to a more deregulated
model for digital television, was it done in
a dramatically dierent market, and on the
assumption that the additional bandwidth would
make it easier for channels broadcasting 100%
Canadian content to be listed?
iv Does the CRTC believe the channels that are
included in the basic package of various BDUs in
English Canada reect the interests of consumers,
or the interests of the BDU?
v In a market where the bundling of wireless, internet
and television services is commonplace, is it
realistic that consumers will change BDUs in order
to receive a channel their current BDU
isnt oering?
vi Do the contents of the basic package reect the
objectives laid out in the Broadcasting Act with
respect to the distribution of
Canadian programming?
My husband served this gre
Nation or 30 years as
Air Force Ofc
I served 20 years as
Air Force Ofc
His son is in his 16th ye
o Service as an Army Ofc
We take the deence
reedom very serious
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