Bell is asking the CRTC to stop regulating the price and structure of basic TV packages, arguing that the current rules are outdated and unfair.
Speaking at a CRTC hearing this week, Bell’s Assistant General Counsel, Lenore Gibson, said it doesn’t make sense that the Commission still controls how much TV providers can charge for their cheapest package, known as the “small basic.”
The CRTC is holding its ‘The Path Forward – Working towards a sustainable Canadian broadcasting system’ hearings this week in Gatineau, Quebec.
According to Gibson, “It is highly unusual that the Commission regulates the price and offer details for the basic service provided by just one type of service provider among many in a competitive market.”
Bell says that most Canadians now get their content from a mix of sources—over-the-air broadcasts, cable, streaming, and satellite—and that the old rules no longer reflect how people actually watch TV. Gibson added that the CRTC should “eliminate retail price regulation in a highly competitive market and allow [Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings] BDUs greater flexibility in designing and marketing entry-level packages.”
BDUs essentially refers to cable, satellite and fibre TV subscription services in Canada.
The company also wants more control over what’s included in the basic package. Gibson said providers should be able to “add discretionary program services to the small basic package,” something that’s currently restricted.
Bell pointed out that the price of the basic package has stayed frozen for a decade (it has remained to start at $25/month). “The price of the small basic package has not increased in 10 years, even as [Consumer Price Index] CPI has increased dramatically,” said Gibson. She also argued that the CRTC has made things worse by adding more required channels to the package and increasing the cost of others, even though providers can’t raise the overall price.
Any price increase of “skinny basic” TV packages from $25/month will likely hurt those on low incomes, seniors and more.
Basically, Bell says that keeping price controls in place while forcing TV companies to carry more channels is making it harder to offer affordable, appealing options. “By eliminating the unnecessary and anachronistic regulation of BDU retail offerings,” Gibson said, “the Commission will enable BDUs to better align their offerings with customer expectations, enhance affordability and retain subscribers within the regulated system.”
Last month, at a previous CRTC hearing, Bell said the Commission’s outdated rules hurt Canadian broadcasters.
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If Bell had its way they would offer less channels in its basic package than it does now and they would want like $60-$70 for those channels.
A Basic package should include all the Canadian channels like CBC, CTV, Global, TVO, Weather Network etc at $25/mth then we could add extra channels ranging from $2-$5 per channel and allow us to pick only the channels we want and not force us into bundles just for one channel out of say ten that the bundle has etc.
Bell ………………. arguing that the current rules are outdated and unfair.
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All those decades having a monopoly on phone service in this country yet still being part of an oligopoly – still Bell whines.
This company reminds me of a child who has been spoiled for so long, they feel entitled to a constant stream of perks and privileges.
Time to grow up.
Bell one of biggest crooks in the industry!! @##$ em!
Bell continues to get worse and worse!
Even AFTER they hit bottom.