CTV has told the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that it expects to lose $100 million in 2009.

The Globe and Mail, also owned by CTVglobemedia, reported on the issue late Friday on its website. It reported CEO Ivan Fecan's statement to the company:

Mr. Fecan told staff the company would resume its call to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to let the conventional TV networks charge fees for their signals. Only specialty channels can charge monthly fees, including those owned by the big broadcasters, such as TSN and Showcase.

The proposal has been a controversial one so far, since the cable and satellite companies have said they will pass the fees, of about 50 cents a month, to consumers. The networks have been turned down twice by the CRTC on the proposal.

In the US, New York Times columnist Gail Collins points to a possible solution for the TV problem: turn soap operas into soup commercials.

Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.