CRTC Blocks Shaw’s Efforts to Bring USA to Canada

CALGARY, September 25: The Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has turned down Shaw Communications’
petition to add NBC Universal’s USA Network to its cable platform lineup.

According to Shaw, the application was turned down to
protect the niche Canadian digital service Mystery TV, owned by CanWest and
TVA, which airs three programs broadcast by USA.

"The CRTC is continuing on a path of protectionism for
the benefit of certain Canadian programmers at the expense of Canadian
television customers,” said Peter Bissonnette, the president of Shaw
Communications. "Shaw strongly believes that Canadians deserve access to
the best national and international sources of programming—that is what
the Broadcasting Act promises."

Bissonnette continued: “We find it paradoxical that the CRTC
released this decision while in the middle of a hearing to ensure that a
diversity of voices is available to Canadian audiences. As we told the
Commission last week, the health of the broadcasting system depends on
providing Canadians with the greatest possible diversity of both Canadian and
non-Canadian choices. Shaw is doing everything in its power to provide our
customers with that choice and diversity."