Media crisis: Commercial radio was not saved

Hearings continue by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on updating the regulatory framework for broadcasters.

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The consultations, which took place over three weeks, heard from many newspaper company leaders who have heard or will hear about the current media crisis, and it was Bell’s turn to present her position and the issues she faces and must confront.

Cogeco Media, which has 21 radio stations across Quebec, is calling for the current regulatory framework to be updated.

“This morning my team submitted 140 forms to respond to one CRTC commitment,” said Ms. Caroline Paquet, President of Cogeco Media. “This is unprecedented bureaucracy, and when we talk about modernizing the system, that’s all it is.”

The president believes that radio suffers the same consequences as television and print media, and has joined her voice with leaders of other newspaper companies to advance the cause.

“We’re asking the web giants to contribute to the Canadian radio broadcasting system and create a ‘news’ fund,” she explains. “Radio is the great thing that the CRTC has forgotten and the great thing that has been forgotten in all the subsidy schemes. “The radio does not receive any support, we only pay royalties.”

The President also believes that although radio is a different form, it suffers the same consequences as television and print media.

Ms. Paquet also regrets the fact that Ottawa has granted a tax credit for journalism, which will increase from 25 per cent to 35 per cent over the next four years, only for print journalism.

“The radio receives no support, we only pay royalties,” Ms. Paquet says. “The CRTC must act now, because what is dangerous is that from coast to coast we will have media deserts.”

Watch the full interview with Ms. Paquet in the video above.