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CTV has launched an online campaign to position itself in the battle against cable companies over fee for carriage. Viewers in some service areas, such as Calgary, will also see public service announcements in which the importance of local television is explained.
CTV has asked the CRTC to approve carriage fees, which would force cable companies to pay local stations for programming.
In its online postings, CTV says " '[c]urrent regulations in Canada allow cable and satellite companies to take CTV and "A" programming without compensation. These companies then charge you, the consumer, for the programming they take for free. Most TV subscribers in Canada hold the false belief that part of their basic monthly bills goes to their local TV stations. This isn't true. Television service providers, including cable and satellite companies, are reaping huge profits at the direct expense of local Canadian TV stations that are going out of business.' "
Cable providers argue that if carriage fees are approved, the cost will be passed directly onto consumers.
Source: Mediacaster, 05/12/2009
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