Public hearing to begin October 18-Finding digital space for French-language channels could take several years: CCTA

Cable subscribers living outside of Quebec may have to wait another decade or longer to receive more French-language TV services, even if they upgrade to digital. As part of its cross-Canada consultation on expanding the distribution of French-language channels, the CRTC is looking at using the expanded channel capacity made possible by digitalization to bring more French services to Franco-phone minorities across the country. A public hearing on the issue begins Oct. 18. "The proposed policy and the intended mechanics of its implementation are predicated on the rollout of digital distribution technology now taking place in the cable industry."CRTC PN 2000-38Under the proposed policy, Class 1 and 2 cablecos would have to carry on digital tiers one French-language service for every 10 English services in areas where at least 5,000 people or 10 per cent of the market’s total population have knowledge of French. (CCR, May 25/00). The policy would result in seven or eight French services being added to a digital tier. But the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) warns that even digital cable has a finite amount of capacity, particularly during the transition period. Releasing one analog channel may free up space for up to 10 digital channels, but with digital penetration at such low levels, few licensees are willing to give up their coveted analog space. "We’re not talking about taking anything off analog," says CCTA president Janet Yale. "We’re just talking about new requirements that are on digital. The CRTC, on the one hand, wants to have us carry all the category 1 (digital specialty services that are to be licensed by year end). Then there’s pressure associated with minority language services..." "I think it’s a question of the commission being clear on what are the most significant priorities," she adds. "I don’t think it is realistic to think you can carry every service that is out there – English or French – in a new digital environment." Regional consultations have been held in St. Albert, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toronto, Cornwall, St. Boniface, Sudbury, Windsor, Moncton and Halifax. Another is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Vanier ON. In consultations out West, some French speakers complained about access to French-language channels, saying the real challenge was for radio and TV stations to reflect their respective communities. Lyne Lemieux, representing the French-Canadian association of Alberta, said the CRTC should create incentives for cablecasters to carry French-language services. If there are repeated complaints by viewers and listeners, she added, then punitive measures should be taken. Another concern of the group was that distribution of the new French arts service la Télé des arts was not mandatory, which will result in many of the 180,000 people in Alberta who can understand French and the 60,000 who use French regularly not being able to get the new channel. Ensuring continued access to analog channels is another concern during the changeover to full digitalization. The French-language services currently being carried on cable want the CRTC to ensure they won’t be the ones dropped from analog to free up space. Michel Arpin, corporate secretary at MusiquePlus, has already seen the French-language music specialty channel lose carriage on some cable systems. When CHUM’s MuchMoreMusic and CTV Sportsnet launched about two years ago, MusiquePlus was dropped in British Columbia, and years before that Shaw dropped the service in parts of Ontario. Charles Vallerand, director of planning and research at TV5 agrees "analog is here to stay for a long while," because many consumers aren’t willing to pay more for digital." He says the digital transition issue should be looked at separately from the current review of French-language services. Given that full digitalization isn’t around the corner, the CCTA wants criteria for determining how many Francophones are in an area to be based on the "first official language spoken," rather than on "knowledge of French." Alternately, the CCTA says it would want to see one French channel for every 10 English services in markets where at least 15,000 people or 15 per cent of the area’s total population understands French. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters says larger cablecos using digital technology should distribute all licensed French-language services where the number of persons with knowledge of French amounts to at least 20,000 or 20 per cent of the market’s total population. But Vallerand says it will be difficult to apply a quota-type of regulation. "You’ll get into arguments and counter arguments on exactly who’s Francophone and speaking the language. It’s going to be mind-boggling to apply such a policy." The Specialty and Premium Television Association wants the CRTC to require BDUs to carry all Canadian French-language services in digital, which would eliminate any ambiguities over formulas and what constitutes knowledge of French. "What we have said is that when there is capacity, then all French services should be offered. None of the cable services should be forced to remove any of the services they have on analog now, but as soon as they have the capacity, they should offer the French services," states Arpin. He says cablecos could solve the digital capacity problem by investing more in their infrastructure. The CRTC hopes to render its decision by September 1, 2001.

Public hearing to begin October 18-Finding digital space for French-language channels could take several years: CCTA

News | 10/13/2000 4:00 am EDT

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