Bell Media Applauds Pro-Consumer CRTC Decision Supporting Flexible Pricing Model

Bell Media Applauds Pro-Consumer CRTC Decision Supporting Flexible Pricing Model


-CRTC decision is a win for consumers, broadcasters, cable companies,
and Canada's television industry as a whole -



TORONTO, July 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Bell Media commends today's Canadian
Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling
supporting the balanced, pro-consumer carriage arrangement Bell Media
offered to the Canadian Independent Distributors Group (CIDG). The
CRTC's precedent-setting endorsement of Bell Media's final offer, with
its innovative flexible-pricing model, confirms Canadians will continue
to have access to one of the largest selections of television channels
available in the world, at some of the lowest costs in the world.



"Today marks a significant victory for consumer choice and packaging
flexibility in Canada," said Kevin Crull, President, Bell Media. "The
CRTC has sent a very clear signal that it supports carriage
arrangements that will deliver more packaging flexibility to consumers,
while allowing programming services to seek market-established rates to
ensure their financial viability. The CRTC's endorsement of the
well-understood commercial principle that the more subscribers a cable
company delivers for a service, the lower its per unit costs will be,
will ensure the stability of Canada's broadcasting industry, including
the production community, and will ultimately be of great benefit to
consumers. With this decision, Canada will maintain its position as a
world leader in providing consumers with both a wide array of
programming choices as well as packaging flexibility, all at affordable
rates."



In March 2012, the CIDG asked the CRTC to help resolve its negotiation
with Bell Media regarding the terms of carriage for 29 of Bell Media's
top specialty services. The CIDG was seeking access to Bell Media's
specialty services at lower than the established market rates. Bell
Media proposed a flexible packaging model designed to give cable
companies the ability to offer consumers the greatest flexibility in
choosing from the widest selection of television channels. In early
April, the CRTC provided guidelines for the ongoing negotiation. When
both parties failed to resolve the conflict, a final offer arbitration
(FOA) hearing was held in late June, resulting in today's decision.


About Bell Media


Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in
television, radio and digital. With passion and an unrelenting
commitment to excellence, Bell Media entertains, informs and inspires
Canadians. Bell Media owns 28 conventional stations, including CTV,
Canada's #1 television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012
Olympic Games, and owns and operates 29 specialty channels, including
TSN, Canada's #1 specialty channel and RDS, Canada's #1 French-language
specialty channel. Bell Media also owns 33 radio stations, dozens of
websites including the Sympatico.ca portal, and Dome Productions
Inc. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest
communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.


SOURCE Bell Media

Bell Media

CONTACT: Matthew Garrow, (w) 416.384.5258, (c) 416.859.5641, matthew.garrow@bellmedia.ca


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