Canadian TV doomed without help: CTV chief

Ivan Fecan told the House of Commons heritage committee that there must be regulatory reforms to boost revenue and reduce programming obligations.

But the president of cable provider Shaw Communications Inc. countered that private broadcasters are responsible for their own troubles and taxpayers shouldn't be forced to bail them out.

Fecan insisted CTV is not seeking a bailout. However, he said broadcasters must be able to charge cable TV providers for the right to carry their over-the-air signals – known as fee-for-carriage.

Alternatively, he said, networks should be relieved of their obligation to provide specified amounts of local news and Canadian content. That would be a less desirable solution, Fecan added, since there's not much point in providing local television stations if there's little local content on it.

Without a solution, Fecan predicted there will be no future for conventional television.