The Battle For TV Dollars

Some of Canada’s biggest names on the little screen came down hard on the CRTC at a rally on Parliament Hill.

L-R: 'Degrassi, The Next Generation' stars Dalmar Abuzeid, Charlotte Arnold, and Jamie Johnston make an argument for more Canadian content on prime time TV. Matthew Little/The Epoch Times

Some of Canada’s biggest names on the little screen came down hard on the CRTC, cable companies, and Canadian broadcasters Monday afternoon at an ACTRA-organized rally on Parliament Hill.

Actors from shows such as Little Mosque on the Prairie, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Beachcombers, and Kids in the Hall called on the federal regulator to put Canadian programming first by “ending the free-ride” for big cable and private broadcasters.

The CRTC began hearings on the future of TV broadcasting Monday amidst an ongoing media war between cable companies and broadcasters fought through an ad campaign where each side claims to be the champion of Canadian television.

“If they have so much money to spend on a media war, they should spend some on Canadian TV,” said NDP Canadian Heritage critic Charlie Angus, a writer, broadcaster, and musician who spoke at the rally.

Among other things, the broadcasters want to be able to negotiate a fee for their local channels from the cable and satellite companies on a station-by-station basis. In previous hearings, the CRTC has twice rejected the broadcasters’ arguments.