CRTC public hearing next week to determine whether Quebecor's
broadcast licence should be suspended
MONTRÉAL, April 12, 2019 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell today welcomed an injunction from the Québec
Superior Court ordering Quebecor to return TVA Sports access to
Bell TV customers after Quebecor illegally cut off service just as
the NHL Playoffs began on Wednesday night.
TVA Sports will be restored to Bell TV customers at 6 pm eastern time tonight.
Quebecor must appear before the CRTC next week
The
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
yesterday ordered Quebecor executives to appear at a public hearing
on Wednesday April 17 to show cause
why the CRTC should not issue a mandatory order requiring the
company to permanently restore TVA Sports to Bell TV viewers, and
to explain why Quebecor's broadcasting license should not be
suspended following its illegal actions.
"Bell puts our customers first, and we're committed to doing
what it takes to get them the TV service they deserve," said
Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair,
Québec. "Quebecor denied TVA Sports to our Bell TV customers,
directly targeting sports fans just as the playoffs began, while
also falsely claiming it was Bell that was shutting off the
channel. It is reckless behaviour on Quebecor's part, and we are
glad the Superior Court put a stop to it."
Quebecor's illegal actions
Quebecor had earlier
violated two clear CRTC directives, including a legally binding
decision, that stated Quebecor must make TVA Sports available to
Bell TV customers. Quebecor also began its shutdown campaign with a
series of misleading statements that falsely claimed Bell itself
planned to remove access to TVA Sports, and directed Bell TV
customers to switch to Quebecor's Videotron cable TV.
"Bell has been invited to the CRTC's hearing and we will explain
how Quebecor's illegal actions and false statements negatively
impacted hundreds of thousands of Bell customers," said Ms.
Turcotte. "A responsible broadcaster cannot take matters into its
own hands even if it disagrees with regulatory rules or commercial
outcomes."
The dispute and the way it will be resolved
The
dispute stems from negotiations between Bell and Quebecor over
pricing for a range of specialty TV channels. As part of the
negotiations, Quebecor demanded that Bell pay more to access its
TVA Sports channel than Quebecor would pay for Bell Media's RDS
sports network. However, RDS is a far more popular French-language
sports channel with 67% more viewers in 2018 than TVA Sports,
according to industry-standard Numeris audience measurement.
Negotiating in good faith, Bell made three counter-offers from
its original proposal. Quebecor made none before ultimately walking
away and commencing its TVA Sports shutdown campaign. To finally
settle the dispute, Bell has filed a request with the CRTC to
resolve the issue through final offer arbitration. Quebecor has not
yet responded to this final offer arbitration request.
About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is
Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced
broadband wireless, Internet, TV, media and other communication
services to consumers and business customers throughout the
country, and a proud partner of the Montreal Canadiens and their
home, the Bell Centre.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access,
research and workplace leadership initiatives across the country.
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Media inquiries:
Caroline Audet
514 391-9794
caroline.audet@bell.ca
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada