Here's the follow up report released by the CRTC yesterday on the consumer impact of the new fees:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publicatio...s/rp100323.htm
Of particular note is section 4.0 where "skinny basic" and "pick and pay" service pacakges are discussed. It sounds as though changes are set to take effect in August 2011 that would help eliminate many of the regulatory barriers that prevent "pick and pay". This report, however, doesn't seem particularly in favor of either scenario. Seems to be some flawed logic at play too:
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The Commission also heard evidence that few subscribers may be interested in a skinny basic service as the vast majority of consumers subscribe to optional or discretionary services in addition to the current basic services.
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An alternative explanation could be that consumers are subscribing to those optional or discretionary services because that's the only way they can gain access to the handful of channels they desire outside of the basic service tier.
As Michael Geist has pointed out, the most interesting part of these reports from the CRTC is probably the Minority Report filed by Commissioner Michel Morin:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publicatio...00323.htm#tocB
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I can only applaud the Commission's decision (the Decision), as set out in The implications and advisability of implementing a compensation regime for the value of local television signals, to finally recognize the right of private conventional broadcasters to negotiate the value of their signals. On the other hand, I can only deplore the Commission's lack of will to establish a skinny basic service – less expensive and competitive – that would have given consumers the choice whether or not to pay the new subscription rates that could result from the negotiations between local broadcasters and broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs). I say yes to the freedom of the undertakings to negotiate, but yes also to the freedom of consumers to choose when it comes to conventional services, the complimentary delivery of which is seriously threatened by the Commission's Decision.
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For those upset with the news surrounding the CRTC's findings, you should find some solace in Morin's comments. Hopefully, the government gives due consideration to the Minority Report.