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Canadian Telecoms Will Try to Justify Their 'Ripoff' TV Plans Today (vice.com)
Starting today, Canada's top telecom companies will have to answer to the government for "skinny" TV packages -- more popularly known as "ripoff" by Canadians. Motherboard reports: In 2015, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled that companies must offer a $25 "skinny" cable package, partly to benefit people earning a lower income. However, additional fees and installation charges added up so that the packages often cost a lot more than that -- in some cases, up to $100 per month. In response, Canadians called bullshit and complained to the CRTC en masse. Over two days of hearings beginning on Wednesday, Canada's top cable providers will have to prove that their skinny plans are in compliance with the CRTC's standards and that their packages meet the "spirit" of the skinny initiative. These hearings are part of the regulator's annual broadcasting license renewal process, meaning that if the companies aren't compliant, they could theoretically lose their license to operate in Canada.
Well, if it wasn't so cold. :) But seriously, how do we get something like this down in the US? Can we also get this for the Internet providers too?
But how? Canada is a socialist utopia?
$0
Cord cut years ago and it's so much better to live in a world where commercials are a novel occurrence (like watching TV in bars/family homes).
I spend much of the difference on media (Bluray, yes I still buy dead-dinosaur-discs) and streaming services.
Bye!
> These hearings are part of the regulator's annual broadcasting license
> renewal process, meaning that if the companies aren't compliant,
> they could theoretically lose their license to operate in Canada.
Just like Hillary Clinton could "theoretically" go to jail for running her own email server for government business. Don't worry about the fat cats. They just need to shoot a round of golf with the CRTC commissioners, and nothing will happen.
I'm not repeating myself
I'm an X window user; I'm an ex-Windows user
At least ban ads for the poor sods with cable. You don't pay for something with ads in.
The best way to deal with cable companies is to not deal with cable companies. Seriously who still even pays for cable TV?
Canadian Government imposes a price ceiling on a market, then proceeds to run around like a chicken with its head cut off wondering why the markets managed to react the way they did.
Price ceilings and price floors have predictable consequences, and for some reason we keep ignoring them.
It's also a great way to reduce competition, a direct result of left-shifting the supply curve of the supply/demand plot.
Wonder what the public key field is for?
TV is a luxury and not a requirement. Plus there are ways to view some channels without cable or satellite.
All the poor American's who will rush to Canada after Trump wins will need to be able to afford TV to watch the Daily Show.
Here in the states, they don't offer any "skinny" plans. The lowest plan is the "Fat" plan (also known as the Bronze package), next up is the "Fatter" (Silver), "Supersize me" (Gold), and the biggest plan of them all, "Your mom" (Platinum). Coincdentally, it has been shown that "Your mom" plan is popular when you are living with, you guessed it, your mom.
--sf
A whole rant and not once did you mention torrents? So disappointing.
Pretty much what you have is a protected monopoly and a government regulator that traditionally has been stacked with former industry CEO's pretty much if anything happens it's a slap on the wrist.
Just think of how long it took to get the national do not call list!
However I hope they actually do something, if not it's really time Canadians make it an election issue and ask that cable, Internet and Cell service markets open up to both Canadian and Foreign competition.
Only two days of hearings? Won't someone think of the lawyers?
If the CRTC didn't see that their "flexible" rules weren't going to be abused to the limit they are either idiots or complicit. To show their metal they should now say the skinny package should provide good value and be no more than $20 per month everything included including local taxes. With a total charge not to exceed $240 in the first year. Plus no contractual lock in.
Then when the telcos catch their breath the CRTC could then tell them that this will be reviewed every 6 months and if the general consumer sentiment is negative then the offending telcos will be broken up.
"But we reeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllly like money, and it's so much sweeter when we've hornswoggled it from people who can barely afford it."
Who did what now?
and turn the god damned TV off, and get off your ass.
The resume is totally inaccurate. As Canadians, we are incapable of calling "bullshit", that's way too impolite. What we said when we saw the packages was "Oh!" Yeah, I know, pretty strong word, eh. Shook the telecoms to their core.
Internet is cheaper in Québec.....
I work for a small Canadian cable company. It was us along with Other CCSA members who pushed for the skinny basic regulations. We were prevented from doing so because the big content providers only allowed us to sell packages a certain way. Getting the means to sell a skinny package was a great victory for us.
Now we sell a skinny basic package or $20 bucks a month, no contracts, no strings. Half the 30 or so channels are in HD and you get the radio channels as well as PPV.
Our charges at hookup are $50 for labour, and every basic HD receiver costs $100 or $6 a month to rent.
Without purchasing, with 1 receiver, you would be $76 for the first month, and $26 a month after that for as long as you like. you even qualify for a discount on our internet if you chose to bundle it with the skinny basic.
It doesn't surprise me that these big providers are trying to gouge customers. They fought the regulation changes hard.