(Winnipeg – July 6, 2009) Canwest Global Communications Corp (“Canwest” or the “Company”) said today that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) decision will help conventional broadcasters through the current economic downturn but added fundamental change is still required to rebalance the system and ensure they get fair compensation for their signals.
“Today’s decision represents a good first step,’’ Canwest Broadcasting President Peter Viner said. “We’re pleased that the Commission recognizes the local broadcasting industry is under pressure and is moving quickly to address the issue of fair compensation for signals in a comprehensive policy review that will begin on September 29, 2009. We look forward to playing an active role in that process.’’
The one-year licence renewal in today’s CRTC decision harmonizes local programming levels that had ranged between 9 and 42 hours of local programming per week to new levels of 7 hours of local programming in smaller markets and 14 hours per week in larger centres such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
Mr. Viner pointed out that the local programming requirements represent minimums that broadcasters must adhere to. He said Canwest remains committed to local programming and that in some markets the Company will exceed these minimums. An increase to the Local Programming Improvement Fund (“LPIF”) to 1.5% of revenues from cable and satellite companies announced today will help reduce some of the ongoing losses at some local stations.
“We are also pleased that today’s decision will, for the first time, enable Global Television to sell local advertising in Toronto and Montreal,” said Mr. Viner.
About Canwest Global Communications Corp.
Canwest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwest.com), (TSX: CGS and CGS.A,) an international media company, is Canada’s largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, Canwest is Canada’s largest publisher of English language daily newspapers and owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels and web sites in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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For further information, media contacts are:
John Douglas, Vice President, Public Affairs
Tel: (204) 953-7737
Canwest
jdouglas@canwest.com
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