Why do Bell and the CRTC feel violent imagery is okay for 3 year olds?

Concerned Canadians,

It was a little over a year ago that I sat down to watch a movie with my daughters, aged 3 and 6. At the time, my youngest loved Bill Murray in the G-rated, Garfield, so I decided to order it from Bell ExpressVu's pay-per-view service. Fortunately for my family, as we waited for the movie, my daughters became bored with the advertising and were distracted by some toys. I proceeded to watch a series of fairly harmless trailers. However, what followed the trailers horrified me. Just before the movie started, the wise people at Bell ExpressVu decided to run a promo for some not-so-family friendly movies running on their service in December. But before I go any further, see what you think. I have attached the trailer that Bell broadcast last December. Even my grade 11 students found it inappropriate, and they are not easily offended. Please note the age rating following the promo.

(Please double-click "G Rated Expressvu Teaser.wmv")

After watching this trailer, all I could think was, what if I was not here to shield my children? How would they react to these images? Would they terrify them? Give them nightmares? And how many other children were out there at that moment watching these same images without a parent to protect them? A parent who, like me, assumed when you order a "G" rated film, you only see "G" rated images. Parents who trusted Bell. And why wouldn't they? Expressvu sells their service on "Parental Locks -control what your children watch" (Expressvu Programming Brochure) But they consider these images appropriate for all audiences? Shouldn't we be able to trust companies like Bell to not take advantage of our children? Apparently not.

In fact, Bell doesn't even feel they need to explain their actions. Over the past year, I have attempted to get to the bottom of this with little success. That is why I am sending you this message.

What follows is a brief synopsis of my response to this footage. (If you want to read the full transcript, double-click "Transcripts - CRTC and BELL .doc)

After taping this trailer, I immediately contacted the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission), the body entrusted with our airwaves, with my concern. After more than 5 months of idle threats and inconsequential deadlines from the CRTC, I finally received a response from Bell that said very little. It told me my concern would be brought up at a Broadcast and Production department review and I had no right to know the results of this meeting. No admission of error and no apology. The CRTC felt this was a satisfactory response. I do not.

If you agree that it should be unthinkable to use images like the ones in the teaser to advertise to young children, please take a few moments and forward this e-mail to the two men responsible at the organizations they work for:

Zia Bangash

Executive Resource Associate

Bell ExpressVu President's Office

Email User

K. Remy

CRTC Client Services

Email User

By doing so, you say, "I will not be ignored." I, no WE, deserve to know why you expose our youngest children to violent imagery. There must be an age that is not for sale. And we deserve to know why the CRTC does nothing. Why do they make idle threats when they must have some power at their disposal? What other purpose should be more important than the protection of our children?

We must not accept this mistreatment from companies and government. If you help me, we can get the answers we deserve.

Please forward this e-mail to all of your friends and family. They need to know this is happening.

Thank you for your help,

John Fearnall

Email User