NDP wins parliamentary committee study on TV crisis

OTTAWA – Parliamentary hearings are set to begin to examine the unprecedented crisis in local television programming. The hearings were proposed by NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. The committee will hear testimony on the impacts of the dramatic downturn in local programming.

Angus says parliamentary hearings are necessary in order to shine a spotlight on the deterioration of Canada’s media landscape.

“All across Canada we are seeing the loss of regional stations and the disappearance of local voices. It is simply not good enough for parliamentarians to sit on the sidelines with their fingers crossed," Angus said. "Members of all parties must work together to try and find solutions to the crisis facing the television industry.”

Angus’ motion, adopted at yesterday’s meeting, will have the committee examine a number of factors facing the beleaguered television industry -- including the impacts of growing media concentration, falling ad revenues and the implications of the transition from analogue to digital.

“There are a host of issues facing our struggling broadcasters. We have to do more than just pass the buck to the CRTC. The Government of Canada has a key role to play in ensuring that the broadcast landscape of Canada retains a healthy balance of local, regional and diverse voices.”

The hearings are set to begin on March 25 with testimony from the CRTC’s Chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein, as well as Vice-Chairman of Broadcasting, Michel Arpin, and Director General of Television Policy and Applications, Peter Foster.