ClimateGate news

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Sun News Network update

The Globe and Mail has posted this re the Bell TV - Sun News Network battle:

Quebecor Inc., (QBR.B-T32.70-0.69-2.07%) which owns the channel, sent a letter to BCE Inc. (BCE-T35.57-0.18-0.50%) roughly two weeks ago demanding that the channel be removed from Bell’s satellite TV service if an agreement was not reached by May 3. Like most specialty networks, Sun News must negotiate with cable and satellite providers to determine the subscriber fee they will pay in order to carry the channel.

Those negotiations have so far been successful with western cable giant Shaw Communications Inc. (SJR.B-T19.98-0.20-0.99%) and, of course, with the cable service Quebecor owns, Vidéotron Ltée. But Bell has so far not paid the subscriber fee Sun News was requesting, said Luc Lavoie, senior adviser to Quebecor chief executive officer Pierre-Karl Péladeau.

“They’re saying that the conditions we’re asking for are not fair and not reasonable,” Mr. Lavoie said in an interview. “We’re not asking [as much as] CTV News Channel is getting, we’re not asking what Business News Network is getting. We’re not asking what CP24 is getting. And oh, what a coincidence, those three are owned by Bell.”
There's more at the link.

Keep the pressure on Bell to negotiate a fair deal with Sun News Network. You can contact Bell at 310-BELL (2355) or visit www.bell.ca

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