No, I don't use them. But I love them anyway (hat tip LFR):

Jim Shaw is ticked off.

The CEO of Shaw Communications is tired of subsidizing the CBC. He's frustrated by spending five per cent of his company's annual revenues on television programs no one watches. He refuses to pay broadcasters a fee-for-carriage of their signals as well as part of the freight on their production costs. And he's prepared to blatantly breach CRTC regulations to make his point.

As the result of a typically blunt letter written by the burly, Harley-riding cable executive on Dec. 20, there are an awful lot of people scuttling about in the private and public sectors: Their fear is that Mr. Shaw's aggressive stance may set a precedent for other disgruntled cable companies.

The letter, obtained by the Citizen, expresses Mr. Shaw's "dissatisfaction" with the "performance, operations and governance" of the Canadian Television Fund.

That dissatisfaction has a steep price tag: about $56 million a year.

As the largest private sector contributor to the fund (all cable operators are required to contribute five per cent of their revenues to the fund, less the amount they spend on community initiatives), Shaw Communications is refusing to pay another nickel unless there is an immediate restructuring.

It's like corporate porn - I love this guy!

Labels: Canadiana