TORONTO, May 22 /CNW/ - Rogers today, along with Bell, Telus, Cogeco,
Eastlink and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. (CCSA), filed a
complaint with the CRTC that CTV has violated the Broadcasting Act by airing
one-sided and unbalanced coverage of its own advocacy campaign.
CTV, in order to pressure the government and the regulator to impose a TV
tax on Canadian consumers, has been promoting its "Save Local TV' campaign
across its media television properties. Incorporating the campaign into their
local newscasts violates the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of
Broadcasters own Code of Ethics.
"While we fundamentally disagree with CTV's position on a TV tax, the
issue here is not about their position, it is about a blatant violation of
respected journalistic principles," said Phil Lind, Vice Chairman, Rogers.
"The public should expect better and not be manipulated with one-sided
reporting masquerading as 'real news'. No advocacy group should be able to
hijack the newscasts of Canadian broadcasters, and that is especially true
when the advocacy group is the broadcaster itself."
Rogers argues in its letter to the CRTC that the Broadcasting Act
requires broadcasters to "provide reasonable, balanced opportunity for the
expression of differing views on matters of public concern". As well, the
Canadian Association of Broadcasters Code of Ethics emphasizes that news
programming "shall be presented with accuracy and without bias."
The correspondence signed by Rogers, Bell, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and
the CCSA, urged the CRTC to take immediate action to correct the situation and
terminate these violations.
Rogers is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are
engaged in wireless voice and data communications services through Wireless,
Canada's largest wireless provider and the operator of the country's only
national GSM/HSPA based network. Through Cable, we are one of Canada's largest
providers of cable television services as well as high-speed Internet access
and telephony services. Through Media, we are engaged in radio and television
broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports
entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:
RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further
information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.