In one of his first formal talks as CRTC chair, Konrad von Finckenstein spoke of new media and the challenges of a borderless world in a speech to producers at the CFTPA’s Prime Time conference in Ottawa on Friday.

The self-proclaimed ‘new kid on the block’ zeroed in on the uneasy relationship between new media and the Broadcasting Act.

‘I consider this the principal challenge facing me… finding ways, in this ever more borderless world, to carve out a special place within the broadcasting system for Canadian voices, points of view and ways of expressing ourselves,’ he told the crowd, though he did not lay out any specific plans.

‘Business models that have been taken for granted for decades are being called into question. The same goes for regulatory models,’ he added.

Finding the right mix of market forces and regulation is also high on the list for the former judge.

‘The goal is to steer market forces so that they lead to the attainment of the objectives of the Broadcasting Act,’ he said. ‘The trick, of course, is to do that without losing the benefits normally associated with a competitive free market economy.

‘There is always a learning curve when one steps into a new job. This is where I find myself now,’ he said, noting that he’s been meeting with representatives of the broadcasting and telecommunications industry to hear about their issues.

Von Finckenstein spoke more bluntly on Thursday during an appearance before Parliament’s heritage committee, reportedly warning that the commission will take cable and satellite companies to court if they fail to support the Canadian Television Fund.

‘I will litigate, trust me, if there is a further breach,’ he said, referring to the recent pullouts by Shaw Communications and Videotron. Both cablecos have subsequently agreed to resume their monthly payments to the fund.

Von Finckenstein became the new CRTC boss on Jan. 25, taking over for interim chair Michel Arpin, who filled in after the departure of Charles Dalfen.