Giant Bell supports pick-and-pay TV packages

Bell Canada says it supports so-called ‘pick-and-pay’ choices for all television stations not contained in basic packages and has proposed new to sustain local programming within an era of growing consumer choice.

Bell supports greater competition among programming services and increased flexibility for all channels to make sure Canadians continue to have use of top quality viewing options. The proposal would depend on the commercial marketplace that enables negotiations between broadcasters and distributors for just about any channel without carriage rights.

Bell provides convert local conventional TV stations into local speciality services, which may continue to be susceptible to local programming requirements and be carried included in basic packages. Like other speciality services, local channels could charge wholesale rates to broadcast distributors, susceptible to existing CRTC must-carry regulations applicable to local broadcasting.