Canada-based independent distributor Alliance Atlantis Communications Corp. co-produces CSI:NY and the rest of the CSI franchise. The company also owns a number of Canadian television channels, including the History channel. The Alliance-Atlantis owned channel has been airing CSI:NY eighteen times a week and now finds itself in hot water with the federal broadcast regulator.

Last week the Canadian Radio-Television and Communications Counsel (CRTC) sent a letter to Alliance Atlantis requesting that the History channel remove the show from its line-up. The regulatory agency simply doesn’t buy Alliance Atlantis’ position that the show meets it’s license mandate be it “offers viewers a critically acclaimed look at forensic science in post-9/11 New York City.”

The History channel’s license mandate is to provide a national specialty service consisting of historical documentaries, movies, mini-series, and history programs that embrace current events and history related specifically to Canadians.

Maureen Parker, executive director of The Writers Guild of Canada, reported the violation to CRTC when she was watching the channel and noted how often the NY-set show is aired. “How can an American forensic crime show be considered Canadian history?” Parker asks. “They say [the show] is compliant because [New York] has become synonymous with one of history’s most significant and notorious events, 9/11. All of which is ludicrous. It is not an issue of taste, but rather one of integrity.” She continues on to add, “I would assume CSI:NY brings in good ad revenue. They’ve tried to fool the consumer.”

Nicola McIsaac, manager of corporate and public affairs for Alliance Atlantis, says, “We have received correspondence from the CRTC. We do think CSI:NY fits on the channel and we are in the process of determining next steps.”

Head over to Globe and Mail to read the full article.

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