1 of 1- Leslieville Bill
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Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
I've avoided posting this because it's can easily become partisan and I know we want to avoid that on this board. I do think it's important though.
With Trump threatening tariffs as of late, I'm wondering is that is just a smoke screen to demand concessions on long held American beefs. Americans have always wanted access to our "sacred cows". (Not sure is that is a politically correct term these days but I'm using it.) Restrictions on US dairy sales and ownership of banks come to mind. Applicable to this board though is the issue ownership of Canadian broadcasting and telecommunication companies (Bell, Rogers, Telus, etc.). Would Trump demand an end to our protection? Would we cave in and change our Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts ownership laws if that meant avoiding tariffs? Would the Canadian Government secretly offer that as a bargaining chip? My hunch is that anything is on the table because we want to keep the economy going and avoid a deep recession plus the Americans have incredible economic power over us. Sigh. :/
Your thoughts?
Last edited by Leslieville Bill (December 11, 2024 1:56 pm)
- Not an industry person. Just a guy with a love of Toronto radio.
- ED1
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Re: Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
I’m fine with more foreign ownership of our telecom and broadcast companies at this point. The telecom sector needs more competition. As for the broadcast industry, if the CRTC mandates their Cancon quotas on any foreign owner/operators, then it’s fine.
- RadioActive
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Re: Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
I, too would like to see more competition. Whatever happened to Ryan Reynolds' Mint service that was rumoured to be headed across the border? Or Verizon headed north?
Until they break up the Rogers-Bell-Telus cabal, nothing will change because it won't have to.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
RadioActive wrote:
I, too would like to see more competition. Whatever happened to Ryan Reynolds' Mint service that was rumoured to be headed across the border? Or Verizon headed north?
Until they break up the Rogers-Bell-Telus cabal, nothing will change because it won't have to.
RA, it is with great sadness that I report that the American side of the deal is not any prettier than the Canadian side.
It just looks that way. Yes, rates are better, etc, but choice isn't (and is gradually, and quietly driving prices up there too!)
Long story short, Mint Mobile was sold to T mobile...the rest of the story is a lot like what happened here with
Microcell, the original founder of Fido, now a property of Rogers.
T Mobile bought Sprint, and now they are buying US Cellular: ,and%20fourth%2Dlargest%20wireless%20carriers.
Also, Cricket wireless was sold to AT&T. The choices are shrinking in the States also...
(long story short, using Cricket in the States today, would be like using Fido instead of Rogers in Canada today...)
Last edited by Radiowiz (December 11, 2024 3:47 pm)
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- paterson1
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Re: Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
I remember years ago when Verizon was rumoured to be looking to operate in Canada or partner with someone. As the story goes, after the company did the math, they would lose too much money and wouldn't turn a profit if ever in Canada for a long time. Sort of like the hard lesson that Target learned after they opened 120 stores here, only to close them down 18 months later.
The federal government has been trying to get a major foreign grocery chain to open in Canada to increase competition and hopefully lower food prices. So far no go, since the big chains from the US and Europe can't see any profits being made here for a long time.
Having said that, I wouldn't be adverse for a Corus or Bell Media being bought out by some foreign company. However like the others, it could also be that they don't see Canada as a place to make a lot of money. Maybe more TV and film production to save on costs, but not much profit running any radio or TV operations. Besides most of them are having their own money problems right now.
- pinto
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Re: Telecommunications and Broadcast Acts Under Threat?
Yeah.. it's all worked out soooooo well south of the border.