The CRTC has shared its plan for implementing Bill C-18, the Online News Act, starting with the launch of public consultations this fall. The federal government allocated $8.5 million in the 2022 budget to develop a regime if the Act became law. Industry representatives, affected parties and the public will be invited to comment on how the bargaining and arbitration process with news outlets will work; the eligibility process for news organizations; a potential code of conduct to support fair negotiations; and the range of data the CRTC should be compelled to collect under the Act. The commission says it will publish the framework and code of conduct next summer and recruit independent arbitrators to begin considering applications for eligibility from news organizations. Mandatory bargaining isn’t anticipated to begin until late 2024 or early 2025. Read more here.
The Competition Tribunal has ordered the Commissioner of Competition to pay Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications more than $9.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively, to compensate for costs associated with the Competition Bureau’s legal challenge of the companies’ merger. In a decision filed this week, the Tribunal did not award costs to Quebecor’s Videotron, which was an intervenor in the case, primarily because it didn’t make a formal request for costs in its motion for leave to intervene. In its decision, the Tribunal said it agreed with the assertion from Rogers and Shaw that “the Commissioner’s pursuit of the Initially Proposed Transaction was intransigent and should now have consequences.” The Competition Bureau is reviewing the order.
Pattison Media has announced the company’s acquisition of Vancouver-based marketing solutions company, Western Media Group (WMG). WMG offers media solutions to advertisers, media buying services and ad agencies across digital and traditional media, including programmatic trading, digital audio, podcast advertising, television, radio, search and out-of-home. CEO David St. Laurent, who founded WMG in 2008, will continue working with the company, supporting President Marc Brasset during the ownership transition. Read more here.
SAVE THE DATE: The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) CONNECTION 2023 opens Tuesday, Nov. 7 with the OAB Annual General Meeting, followed by a special leadership discussion for members only. Following the Welcome Reception that evening, the conference on Nov. 8 will feature two streams, including a full day of topical sessions for leadership and a half-day sales training program. Ontario member stations are also invited to enter their work to be considered for one of four OAB Awards: the Best In Class Sales Award; Creative Award; Community Service Campaign(s) Award; and Promotion Award. Nominations are being accepted until Friday, Oct. 20.
The 37th annual Webster Awards will take place Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver, headlined by a fireside chat featuring veteran broadcaster Lisa LaFlamme, in conversation with Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC Radio One Vancouver program, On the Coast. CBC Vancouver News at 5 anchor Anita Bathe and CHEK News at 6 anchor Paul Haysom will host the evening. Learn more here.
