FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUPER BOWL: MASSE CALLS FOR REVIEW OF CROSS-BORDER TELEVISION ADVERTISING

OTTAWA, ON  – Today, NDP MP and Innovation, Science and Industry Critic Brian Masse is calling for a review of cross-border digital television advertising to promote authorized practices, to appropriately regulate and tax transactions, and to update critical protections for Canadians.

“From Super Bowl ads to sports betting and vital community alerts, Canadians deserve and expect next-generation protections along with maximum local benefits from new era of cross-border internet television,” Masse stated. “Television advertising not only funds local news and journalism but digital TV commercial insertion practices impact vital accessibility features that Canadians depend on, including closed-captioning services and regulations on commercial loudness,” he said.

Masse added, “While watching popular Super Bowl ads or streaming the children’s learning channel, Canadians need to know what data cross-border broadcasters will be able to collect from users, how they will use that data and how it will be stored and shared.”

Free TV is essential, and internet protocol (IP) broadcast offers promise but raises important privacy issues.  With new broadcaster capabilities to collect consumer data for targeted advertising and targeted content across local and distant over-the-air, cable, satellite, inter-tower and internet streaming distribution platforms, a review is essential.  Such a review could also look at cross-border television donations by Canadians.

“These are not transactions in borderless communications spaces,” said Masse, “but in local markets and communities like Windsor and Detroit. Canadian consumers need proper guardrails and a penalty box for telecommunications licensees.”

Since the digital switch in 2011, billions of dollars in cross-border advertising and donations have occurred. Taking steps now to initiate a review of cross-border digital television advertising complements online streaming reforms and provides for local economic spin-off.

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For more information: Brian Masse’s Office 613-996-1541 or [email protected]