CTVglobemedia threatened to pull its over-the-air signals, block programming it holds the rights to, and shutter stations if it doesn’t receive compensation from Canadian distributors, as the CRTC’s hearings into fee-for-carriage kicked off.

Sounding a more moderate tone than those heard earlier at the hearings in Gatineau, Quebecor Media president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau called for a rebalancing of the TV system that would see some subscriber fees now earmarked for specialty channels diverted to conventional TV. This, said the head of the media conglomerate that owns both TVA and Quebec’s largest cableco, Videotron, would save consumers from rate increases that other distributors insist will follow if fee-for-carriage is introduced.

More moderate plan would see specialty cash redirected to conventional. Our U.S. partners won’t like that, retorts Asper

Lacroix calls for ‘skinny’ all-Canadian cable packages at hearings, citing consumer choice and cash for locals. Bell shoots it down as ‘destructive to our business’

No payment? No signal. U.S.-style fee model put forth by Fecan could see programming blocked across the board. Blame game continues before CRTC

The CRTC has turned down a bid by Slice to reduce its annual Cancon requirements to 60% from the current 82.5%. The regulator also rejected the specialty channel’s request to spend just 45% of the previous year’s gross revenues on Canadian content, down from 71%.

Cancon and spending requirements will stay as is, Canwest channel told

Time spent in front of the tube was down last year, losing to the lure of online, says report. Revenue up at CBC, down again at commercial networks