Cogeco is calling on the CRTC to clamp down on Canada’s largest telecom and media companies, accusing them of abusing their dominance and threatening the survival of smaller distributors. The company made these statements at the CRTC’s hearing on June 20.
“We are dealing with large vertically integrated players who own a large number of channels, and they know we need them,” said Shaun Blake, Cogeco’s Vice-President of Products. “With dominant positions on both sides of the market, what economic incentives do these VIs have to deal with us? None.”
At the June 20 public hearing, Cogeco said companies like Rogers, Bell, and Québecor are squeezing independent distributors with unreasonable demands and threats. “In our experience, VIs are extreme bullies when negotiating for programming,” said Heidi Newman, who oversees content acquisition at Cogeco. “They waste time and resources by systematically making unreasonable offers and counter-proposals that completely disregard the Wholesale Code.”
Cogeco pointed to recent actions by Rogers after its acquisition of Shaw as a clear example of market power abuse. “We have recent, well-documented evidence of unjustifiable threats and suspensions of service without notice,” Newman said. “These tactics are timed deliberately to leverage negotiations, when going dark is most damaging to us. The rules must not permit these types of blackouts. Customers must not be taken hostage.”
At one point, Cogeco customers said they were unable to sign into the Sportsnet app during the NHL Playoffs.
The company pushed back on the idea that online streaming competition is enough to protect consumers. “Cogeco fundamentally disagrees,” Newman said. “This has led to higher prices, increased cord-cutting and some smaller providers exiting the video business altogether. Clearly, this is not a path the Commission should follow.”
Cogeco’s legal chief, Paul Cowling, said the current system is failing. “There is clear and increasing evidence of abuse by dominant providers. Competition, choice and diversity of voices are under threat.”
He called on the Commission to enforce its rules “on an immediate same-day basis” and prohibit content blackouts: “It cannot hesitate when rogue dominant players deny our customers access to content they have paid for.”
Speaking in French, Cowling also blasted a separate telecom decision published earlier that day, calling it “deeply troubling.” He said it would “expand the grip of Canada’s three telecom giants,” threatening “competition, affordability, choice and investment,” and warned Cogeco “will challenge this decision until it is corrected.”
Cogeco closed its remarks with a clear message: “Is the presence of independent distributors and media voices still important in Canada? In Cogeco’s view, more than ever, the answer is an unequivocal yes.”
Update June 25, 2025: This story has been updated to correct attribution and ensure all quotes are taken directly from the official CRTC hearing transcript, as per Cogeco.
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