“Shaw does not own any local television or radio stations, which means the transaction will not result in any further consolidation within Canada’s television and radio industries, nor will it reduce competition,” Ms. Watson said.
The CRTC requires broadcast distributors – companies that deliver television channels through cable, satellite or internet protocol networks – to contribute 5 per cent of their broadcasting revenues to local news and Canadian content. To fulfill part of its obligation, Shaw pays roughly $12-million a year to Corus, the television and radio station owner it spun out as an independent entity in 1999.
Ms. Watson said Global News is a “top station” in Western Canada with a news budget nearly $100-million a year higher than Citytv’s.
Local news is broken already.
What local news?