Commission rules on Diversity of Voices

The CRTC today concluded its Diversity of Voices initiative by introducing three policies to ensure a plurality of editorial influence in Canada that in many ways resemble the three recommendations put forth by CBC during September's public hearings. The three policies introduced by the commission today are: a person or entity will only be permitted to control two of the following types of media that serve the same market: a local radio station, a local television station or a local newspaper; one party cannot control more than 45% of the total television audience share as a result of a transaction; andtransactions between companies that distribute television services (such as cable or satellite companies) that would result in one entity effectively controlling the delivery of programming in a market will not be approved.As well, the CRTC reaffirmed its common ownership policies governing the number of conventional television and radio stations a person may control in the same market, noting it "is satisfied that the broadcasting system currently provides Canadians with a range of news and information programming." This opinion aligns with that voiced by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and its largest members during the Diversity of Voices hearing in September. "The current system is working very well and no new rules are necessary....While critics suggest that consolidation undermines format diversity, the opposite is true," said CAB president and CEO Glen O'Farrell, when he addressed the commission in the fall. CBC, however, advocated quantifiable policy changes. At the September hearings the public broadcaster recommended the commission adopt the two-out-of-three media outlets rule, as well as the provisions that no broadcaster own more than 33% of all the discretionary channels in Canada and no company own more than two BDUs in any one market. While the CRTC's policies differ slightly from what CBC suggested, they essentially serve the same purposes. It should come as no surprise that the commission adopted CBC's recommendations as a basis for its policy. CBC was the first intervener to appear before the CRTC in September, and throughout the remainder of the hearings commission chair Konrad von Finckenstein and the rest of the commissioners continually questioned other interveners on the merits of the CBC proposal. Although many interveners opposed the CBC recommendations, the commissioners were persistent in seeking opinions on a specific set of rules. "Wouldn't it be fair to have some guidelines to work with going forward instead of waiting for problems to happen? Isn't it more comforting to work under a set of rules instead of operating on a case-by-case basis?" a visibly frustrated Stuart Langford questioned CanWest MediaWorks Inc. Clearly the commission thought so. "With these new policies, we have developed a clear approach to guide us in assessing future transactions in the broadcasting industry," said Von Finckenstein in today's press release. "It is an approach that will preserve the plurality of editorial voices and the diversity of programming available to Canadians, both locally and nationally, while allowing for a strong and competitive industry."Canadian Communications Reports will have reaction to the new policies in the coming days. Journalistic Independence Code approvedThe CRTC today also conditionally approved the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC)'s Journalistic Independence Code. "The principles set out in the Code will ensure a diversity of professional editorial voices and will eventually apply to all broadcasters who own a newspaper in the same market," wrote the CRTC.Some of the commission's key determinations in assessing the proposed code include: structural separation of newsgathering activities is not required to be part of the code; and the CBSC is the appropriate body to administer the code. The commission is now waiting for the CBSC to include a minimum number of journalists on the panels that study complaints and to formalize the process used to select panel members.

Commission rules on Diversity of Voices

Broadcast | January 15, 2008

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