Pierre Karl Péladeau once again sounded the alarm about the future of TVA and the entire broadcast sector in Canada, pleading with the CRTC to reduce the “regulatory straitjacket” that is both “outdated” and “archaic” and thwarts local companies from the advantage of American platforms.
Quebecor’s CEO and four other senior management members were the first to attend public hearings held by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on ways to support Canadian and Indigenous content.
Mr. Péladeau opened his speech by rereading a few lines from a 2011 testimony to the CRTC in which he warned of “the creation of an inevitable vicious circle” that would lead to local broadcasters favoring “Netflix.” “the world would fall” and the extinction of “local cultural industries”.
“Unfortunately, twelve years later, it is clear that absolutely nothing has changed and that the problems have only worsened,” noted Mr. Péladeau.
Given the strong competition from “foreign” – especially American – online platforms, the manager wanted to send the message that local and American broadcasters are fighting “on unequal terms.”
There must be a binding basic service for broadcasters with mandatory distribution channels, broadcast and program quotas or even the obligation to provide “report by report”.
“The only solution over which the CRTC can exercise real control to ensure the sustainability of our businesses is, in our view, a significant and immediate reduction in the regulatory and financial burden on traditional Canadian businesses,” he said.
Mr. Péladeau returned to the cuts within the TVA group, which have resulted in the departure of more than 600 employees since the beginning of the year, pointing out that this is a plan “for the survival of TVA, which is now reaching its limits encounters, is of crucial importance.” .
Mr Péladeau called on the CRTC to act “swiftly”.
“Canadian companies can no longer wait for the end of the long process of implementing the new broadcasting law. Our media is exhausted and our democracy is at stake. We have taken the necessary measures to adapt our business models and try to overcome this crisis. It is now up to the Commission to act without further delay.”