Mediacaster: CRTC Chair makes bold statements at Banff World TV Festival

From Mediacaster Magazine

The head of the CRTC is calling for a rethink of the entire regulatory system, including the status of his own organization

In a speech prepared for the Banff World TV Festival, Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, outlined a number of media industry activities that are dynamically impacted by the new digital economy and emerging media creation and distribution platforms.

In his prepared remarks, von Finckenstein wrote that "Regulatory change is necessary in our new digital world. We need new legislation and a new institutional framework. We cannot make the most of new opportunities when we are limited by the practices and the structures of the past."

Some of those structures of the past include the current analog broadcast system, due to make its change over to digital over-the-air broadcasting at the end of August. Despite related economic costs for the industry, and some confusion that still exists in the marketplace, the CRTC is urging all players to meet the August 31 switchover.

The CRTC Chair says he is still uncertain about the impact of another new distribution structure, called OTT or 'over-the-top' - but there's little argument it is having a profound one already. Read more »

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