Elevate your local knowledge

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

OTTAWA – A prominent cabinet minister says the federal government plans to force cable and satellite TV providers to offer consumers so-called pick-and-pay services.

Industry Minister James Moore says the move will be part of a consumer-first agenda to be unveiled by the Conservatives in this week’s Speech from the Throne.

Moore says consumers are frustrated over being forced to buy large bundles of channels they don’t want when they sign up for satellite and cable TV services.

The minister notes that companies such as Videotron in Quebec are already moving in that direction, largely because consumers are shying away from traditional TV and are instead watching programming over the Internet.

Moore says there’s no reason why television service providers can’t offer consumers the ability to pick and choose the channels they want.

He says the throne speech will also lay out the government’s plans for ensuring air travellers are somehow compensated when they are inconvenienced by airline overbooking.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.