Local TV Matters

Lately, I find myself bombarded by TV and print ads which push me to choose sides in the TV vs Cable/Satellite war, and I can remain silent no more. Forced to choose sides, I declare myself a Soldier for Local Television.

Living in Northern Ontario, I've come to depend on local television to keep me updated on local happenings, good and bad. My community is too small to have a local station, but stations in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie have a presence and do an excellent job of carrying the local message. Where is my Cable company and how are they keeping me informed of local happenings. Other than by carrying local stations, and a scrolling channel which tells me who's having a birthday, and where I can get a cheap sofa, they do absolutely nothing to help get the message out.

Local television provides local jobs which helps the local economy. Eastlink Cable, our local Cable company, have moved a big chunk of jobs out of province, apparently they believe someone in Halifax can better serve the needs of Northern Ontario than someone in Sudbury could. Cable and Satellite providers are quick to point out the Net Operating Profit of all the TV Networks combined, they claim it is around $400 million, hm, what is the Net Operating Profit of the Cable/Satellite providers combined, I bet it's many times more than $400 million. Who earns more from the work and programing that Local TV and the Networks provide?

I've yet to see a local event sponsored by Eastlink Cable, yet MCTV (a local CTV Affiliate) sponsors many events in my community. Sponsorship helps the community host events which would otherwise not be available to them, where are the Cable and Satellite providers when the community needs help to fund an event?

Who should pay the proposed Local TV Tax? The viewers who are already overpaying for cable services; the local stations and networks who support the local economy and keep the community informed, all without getting a dime from the providers; or the Cable/Satellite providers who stand to make millions in profit on the blood, sweat and tears of local and network programming? You can decide for yourself but for me, it's a no brainer! We don't need a TV Tax, we need Cable/Satellite providers to start paying their share, we the viewers already do!