Rogers attempts to assuage Ottawa PBS viewers but fails
It appears that Rogers has started to realize that WPBS viewers in Ottawa are not happy. However, according to a story in today’s Citizen it seems that they think we’re unhappy because we think it will cost us more money.
They’re wrong.
I’m concerned about the fact that WPBS has a much greater link to Ottawa than the public broadcaster in Detroit does. As I mentioned in my first entry about this, Ottawa viewers account for 70% of the money WPBS raises though their funding drives. Thus, their programming line-up tends to reflect the preferences of the Ottawa viewers. I doubt we’ll receive that kind of attention from the Detroit station.
And what’s going to happen to WPBS afterwards? Is it going to be able to survive without the money it raises from Ottawa viewers?
Sadly, it looks like Rogers is going to dig their heels in and ignore its Ottawa subscribers and pull WPBS from the basic cable service in Ottawa on August 18th.
If you’re upset about this decision, the best thing you can do is let Rogers know ASAP. You can reach them by phone at 1-888-764-3771 or through their website at http://www.rogers.com/contactus. |
AKA Keeper of Maps, I'm a geocacher who lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Phoning Rogers or logging a complaint on their website seems to be having little effect. Letters to management result in form letters in response.
There are things that you can do. First of all join the open forum on Facebook – there is lots of background info there and Rogers is reportedly monitoring the responses. Second, send a letter directly to the president of Rogers: Nadir Mohamed
President, Rogers Communications, Inc
855 York Mills Road
Don Mills,
Ontario M3B 1Z1
with a copy to the CRTC. Make your copy the CRTC into a formal complaint via the CRTC website. (http://www.crtc.gc.ca). That way the complaint is logged, it goes on Rogers file and Rogers are obliged to provide a response (not a form letter).
Make sure you file the objection on valid grounds based on the 2003 CRTC decision giving Rogers permission to drop WPBS in the indefinite future subject to certain conditions. Those conditions, particularly the one relating to “equivalent programming” have not been met. If you need more info on this it’s on the Facebook site.
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