CBC wants new Canadian only basic cable packages

[classicsat]

Local stations are good, the more the better. Competition makes them better.

What isn't so good is having so many locals not particularily local to me on my basic satellite tier. Sell (or give) me just my locals, and I'll but some of the others if I wish.

Now, as for a one local per market, I would be for that, as such;
Stations would be operated as commercial stations, soliciting local advertising, sponsorships, and investment.
Funding would also come from the commercial "national" networks, in exchange for their rights and obligations to local programming, plus, said national broadcasters would be obligated to carry these local stations as a digital sub-channel on their transmitter.
The local stations would have to locally progam at least 50% programming, including Primetime, at least 50% Cancon, and have all station facilities in house except the transmitter.

[vjose78]

20 Channels of each??? You must be on satellite because that is the only way you'll get 20 channels of each and the reason for that is because that basic package covers all of Canada not just one area.

Anyhow, there is one thing I don't think anyone has mentioned in all of this. CBC's proposal would be an all-Canadian basic package. So the US networks would be on another tier. In that case it should also be mandated that simsubbing be discontinued since we would have to pay extra for those channels and since the local networks would be getting their tv taxes! At least that's what I would do and everyone would be happy.

[billhome]

I have no problems with CBC's proposal, but under 2 conditons:

- CBC should not get any money, since they are already tax-payer funded.
- This basic package is optional. I can get the U.S. network package or other packages without having to get this one.

[vjose78]

That will probably not happen, but I don't care, as long as they don't simsub the US networks that would be good enough.

[travisc]

There's no way they would allow the basic package to be optional.

[windows7]

I have no problems with CBC's proposal, but under 2 conditons:

- CBC should not get any money, since they are already tax-payer funded.
- This basic package is optional. I can get the U.S. network package or other packages without having to get this one.

Yeah, but the greedy Canadian networks want their cake and eat it, too!

They'd want American OTA networks in a separate package but STILL want simsub. So we'd absolutely NOT be getting something we're paying for.

It's different than it is now where US & Canadian networks are in the same basic package where they can and do simsub.

They simsub and I say "I'm not getting something I'm paying for (the US signal)". They can argue "well, it's all in the same package and you're getting other basic cable channels also, so you're not really getting cheated".

But if they put American networks in a package called "American Nets" and charged (say) $4.00 a month and the Canadian networks get to simsub, then I'm not getting the EXACT channels I want and pay for. Doesn't matter if they air the same program at the same time. I want to see American commercials and promos and station IDs I am purposely seeking in subbing to this package.

[nakedgord]

The new CBC head was appointed by the Conservatives so I suspect this plan has been sent down from the feds as a possible solution to defuse the FFC issue.

For this reason I wouldn't be too hard on the CBC for getting tax dollars and being part of the FFC campaign since under the old Liberal appointed chair they didn't seem to have an opinion on FFC one way or the other. Somehow I actually suspect if FFC goes through and the CBC gets a cut of it the Cons will use it as the excuse to cut off all federal funding.

As far as this plan goes...no. Full ala cart for me without charging extra if they are an ala cart subscriber or I'm never subbing to any CDN service again thanks to OTA DTV and TV on DVD. NEVER.