1 of 1- RadioActive
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CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
Do you ever watch CPAC, the Canadian cable channel that brings you coverage of the House of Commons and other government hearings? You pay for it in your monthly bill, even if you've never watched a second of it. Now the folks who run the public service network are looking for more money.
Admittedly, it's not a lot - they're asking the CRTC for a 3 cent per subscriber increase, bringing their per household amount to 16 cents a month, which most people will barely notice. It equals just under $2 a year.
"Despite CPAC's careful use of resources, constant efforts to realize efficiencies and key cost-saving measures taken in recent years, we cannot continue to provide our core services with the current approved wholesale fee beyond the broadcasting year ending August 31, 2026.
This application is therefore necessary to ensure that CPAC can continue to offer its core Parliamentary and public affairs programming. It will not be possible for CPAC to provide the same level and scope of programming as we do now beyond this time frame without the proposed modest and realistic upward adjustment to our wholesale fee."
Those in charge at CPAC complain that cord cutting has hurt their bottom lines and they need the increase to keep going. If approved, the new charge would not go into effect until September 2026.
I think CPAC is a valuable service and you can see it online as well as on TV. But I'm curious if anyone here has ever actually spent any time watching it..
- Chrisphen
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
Aren't they still using pre-HD broadcasting equipment?
- mace
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
I have never watched CPAC. I don't even know the channel where it is located. Not that I really care. Gee I wonder how much I am paying for the Home Shopping Channel? It could be worse. I could be a non sports fan U.S. cable subscriber who is saddled with the $8-$9/month for basic tier ESPN.
- RadioActive
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
As a former big dish user, ESPN was always responsible for the bills going up. They were notorious for prying cash out of subscribers' wallets, who had no choice but to accept the must carry channel. As a non-sports fan, this used to drive me crazy when my bill went up every few months to help them pay for ever-increasing sports rights.
Sad to see, not much has changed!
That said, I don't think paying $1.92 extra a year for CPAC is going to kill anyone.
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
RadioActive wrote:
As a former big dish user, ESPN was always responsible for the bills going up. They were notorious for prying cash out of subscribers' wallets, who had no choice but to accept the must carry channel. As a non-sports fan, this used to drive me crazy when my bill went up every few months to help them pay for ever-increasing sports rights.
Sad to see, not much has changed!
That said, I don't think paying $1.92 extra a year for CPAC is going to kill anyone.
You are correct RA. Molson Canadian Tall Boys [473ml cans for non beer consumers] went up .75 this week at my local pub. If I can afford that, the $1.92 bump for CPAC won't be a problem.
- Binson Echorec
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
The truth is probably that not enough people (including myself) watch CPAC. Sure, it's like watching paint dry but people might be more invested if they watched and consumed for a bit.
Last edited by Binson Echorec (July 26, 2024 12:23 pm)
- paterson1
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
CPAC is really for those who are interested in politics. They do have shows and proceedings that I find of interest like Outburst and Public Record. CPAC also carries some programming from the UK Parliamentary Channel and C-SPAN in the US.
The network is bilingual so there are features in French with English translation. It is not for everyone, but they have programming, public hearings and debates that you won't see anywhere else. CPAC has no commercials.
Last edited by paterson1 (July 26, 2024 12:35 pm)
- RadioActive
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
I know a producer who used to work at CP24 in the old days, who would take copious amounts of CPAC and air it live. It wasn't always riveting, but sometimes Question Period would be like watching a bare knuckle brawl when the heads of two particular parties would go after each other (through the Speaker, of course) trading insults and accusations.
If you picked the right day, it could be like watching a prize fight where nobody wins, especially the voters of Canada! But I'll admit, sometimes it was very entertaining.
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Thread Starter- paterson1
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
Years ago, on a flight back from Houston, I had a great conversation with a US businessman and former army captain about US/Canadian politics. He commented to me how much he loved watching Question Period from our parliament in Ottawa. He thought it was amazing how the prime minister and government in power are held accountable by the opposition and grilled daily on live television. He felt that this was real democracy.
I asked him what channel in the US would carry our Question Period and he said that C-SPAN did when parliament was in session, even repeat it later in the day or evening. I don't know if they still do, but this gentleman loved watching the political theatre from Ottawa.
- Radiowiz
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
The increase should only apply to regular cable customers and NOT to those who are on a special discounted rate due to income.
Rogers Connected for success is fighting hard to make the price of cable and internet stay as low as possible for those who are lucky enough to qualify.
Adding 3 cents to something with a .99 on the end of the discounted price makes it look a lot more expensive to the eye.
If the price ends with .49, then adding 3 cents might not be a problem...but it will look a bit weird to the eye.
Rogers Connected for Success for those on disability or low income (or lucky enough to qualify) needs to stay low and not increase by a single penny for ANY reason. PERIOD.
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- Tq345
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
Years ago, on a flight back from Houston, I had a great conversation with a US businessman and former army captain about US/Canadian politics. He commented to me how much he loved watching Question Period from our parliament in Ottawa. He thought it was amazing how the prime minister and government in power are held accountable by the opposition and grilled daily on live television. He felt that this was real democracy.
I asked him what channel in the US would carry our Question Period and he said that C-SPAN did when parliament was in session, even repeat it later in the day or evening. I don't know if they still do, but this gentleman loved watching the political theatre from Ottawa.
I always get a chuckle when I see the scene from Seinfeld where Kramer asks Jerry to use his VCR because he's using his own to tape Canadian parliament on C-SPAN.
- paterson1
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Re: CPAC Wants A Few Cents More A Month From Cable Subscribers
"I always get a chuckle when I see the scene from Seinfeld where Kramer asks Jerry to use his VCR because he's using his own to tape Canadian parliament on C-SPAN."
There is one Simpsons episode where Homer is watching TV and talking to Marge, in the background you can hear the audio from the TV. You can hear that the Saskatchewan Rough Riders had drafted a linebacker from the Toronto Argonauts. Homer apparently was watching the CFL draft on ESPN2. So funny, so subtle.
Last edited by paterson1 (July 27, 2024 11:05 am)