CRTC issues second ruling against Bell regarding TVA Sports
By Adnews Staff
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has issued a second statement to the effect that Bell is giving undue preference to its RDS channel at the expense of TVA Sports. According to TVA Group, the parties have received a letter stating that Bell's proposed new packaging structure still fails to comply with a CRTC decision issued in December 2019.
TVA Group filed a complaint with the CRTC in February 2019 alleging that Bell was “subjecting TVA Sports to an undue disadvantage and conferring an undue preference on RDS,” in violation of the CRTC’s broadcasting distribution regulations. The CRTC directed Bell to submit a new packaging structure that treats RDS and TVA Sports equitably. TVA’s response was that the new structure is insufficient. The CRTC has now issued an agreement.
In addition, TVA Group has begun proceedings against Bell in the Quebec Superior Court seeking compensation for damages.
“It is unacceptable that Bell has once again attempted to skirt the rules in order to continue favouring its own channel at the expense of TVA Sports,” said France Lauzière, president and CEO of TVA Group. “Bell's failure to comply with the CRTC's decision has been clear enough since February but it is now patently obvious to all.”