"Stronger local news" - union to CRTC

OTTAWA - BroSadcasters must be held to their commitments to stronger local news if the CRTC makes subscribers pay more for local TV stations, Canada's largest media union told the CRTC today at its hearing into a TV fee for carriage.

"Lack of oversight, transparency and accountability in the current system has let broadcasters across Canada downgrade or eliminate their local news operations whenever they want," says Peter Murdoch, Vice-President Media, for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union.

"So if the CRTC intends to ask cable subscribers to pay for obligations that broadcasters should be meeting now, there must be an accountable and transparent auditing system. Canadians need to know they get what they pay for."

CEP also will tell the CRTC that the broadcasters' cuts to local news in some markets has created a second class audience with more limited access to news and information programming. "Broadcasters have eliminated hundreds of television news jobs in the last year alone," he pointed out.

"If broadcasters aren't going to treat the communities they operate in equally, and with an appreciation for regional diversity, the CRTC should let others who want the job apply to use these licences," says Murdoch.

Murdoch says many of CEP's members who work for the broadcasters fear that subscriber fees will end up in shareholders' pockets, without any benefit to subscribers and audiences.

"Unless the CRTC takes its public policy mandate seriously, Canadians will end up paying for improvements they never receive. Canadians' interests must be protected."

Murdoch said the announcement yesterday of TQS withdrawing from news altogether and laying off over 270 employees is a slap in the face to the CRTC, to the intent of the Broadcast Act and to consumers. "It will be yet another test for the CRTC," says Murdoch. "We will soon find out if the CRTC is watchdog or lapdog."