Bell’s Appeal Over Super Bowl Ad Policy Dismissed by Federal Court

The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed Bell Canada’s appeal of a regulatory decision to ban the subsitution of American ads with Canadian ones during the Super Bowl.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced the ban on simultaneous substituation of Canadian advertising over American broadcasts in 2015, but it only took effect during the last Super Bowl in February.

In a judgment released on Monday, Justice David G. Near wrote that there is a certain irony that legislation with an objective to protect the Canadian broadcasting industry is being used to allow broadcasting of American ads during the Super Bowl. However, he said that it is up to the CRTC to decide how to best balance competing policy objectives.

Bell Media spokesman Scott Henderson said in an email that the company hopes the regulator will take a close look at the clear impact of its decision on Canadian broadcasting and all those who work in the industry.

[via The Globe and Mail]

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