Rogers to contribute more than $27 million in initiatives that will benefit the broadcasting system
Today, the CRTC approved Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw’s broadcasting services, subject to a number of conditions and modifications. The CRTC has also set out several safeguards to ensure that the transaction benefits Canadians and the Canadian broadcasting system. As part of this transaction, Rogers is acquiring 16 cable services based in Western Canada, a national satellite television service and other broadcast and television services. This approval only deals with the broadcasting elements of the transaction.
The CRTC has also required Rogers to pay five times more in benefits to the broadcasting system than it had originally proposed. As a result, Rogers will contribute $27.2 million to various initiatives and funds, including those that support the production of content by Indigenous producers and members of equity-seeking groups. Benefits will be directed to the Canada Media Fund, the Independent Local News Fund, the Broadcasting Accessibility Fund and the Broadcasting Participation Fund, among others.
Rogers must also report annually on its commitments to increase its support for local news, including by employing a higher number of journalists at its Citytv stations across the country and by producing an additional 48 news specials each year that reflect local communities.
Furthermore, the CRTC is imposing safeguards to ensure independent programming services are not placed at a disadvantage when negotiating with Rogers. For instance, Rogers must distribute at least 45 independent English and French-language services on each of its cable and satellite services.
The CRTC has also imposed safeguards to ensure that cable providers relying on signals delivered by Rogers will continue to be able to serve their communities, including those in rural and remote areas.
The home telephone, wireless and Internet services that Rogers is also seeking to acquire are not subject to the CRTC’s prior approval and are being reviewed by the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.