CRTC expects new media to fill gaps in minority language broadcasting

Francophone and Anglophone minorities will have to rely on the Internet to get more programming in their own language, following a March 30 CRTC report to the federal government that rejects demands from some community groups that broadcasters and BDUs offer more minority language content. Released this week, the report is the result of a public hearing in January—called for by former Heritage minister Josée Verner last summer—to determine whether Canada’s broadcasters are doing enough to cater to the interests of minority French-and- English-language communities and to establish the role of digital platforms in enhancing delivery of broadcast services. The 27-page report comes as many conventional broadcasters are cutting local programming to make up for dramatic shortfalls in advertising revenue. Instituting new regulations that result in higher costs for broadcasters would have met with stiff opposition. The CRTC acknowledged that the system isn’t perfect, particularly for Francophones living outside of Quebec. But it won’t force broadcasters to carry more minority English- or French-language programming or require BDUs to carry more minority channels. Instead, it will rely on market forces and new media to fill the gaps. “In the medium and long term, the Commission considers that new media represent the best solution for ensuring access to a maximum number of services and for allowing a better reflection of official-language minority communities within the Canadian broadcasting system,” the commission writes. CBC urged to continue Olympics talks with CTV-Rogers CRTC commissioners expressed concern at the hearing that not all French-speaking communities would have full access to the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage. The CTV-Rogers Communications consortium that won the bid to air the games attempted to negotiate with the CBC to carry the games on Radio-Canada’s transmitters outside Quebec and in the National Capital Region, in order to reach Francophone viewers. But the public broadcaster turned down the request, arguing its mandate bars it from renting out its airwaves. The consortium told the CRTC that it had made provisions with Quebec-based broadcasters TQS, RDS, and RIS to ensure that coverage of the games is accorded to all by unscrambling their signals two weeks before the start of the games. In the decision, the CRTC accepted the consortium’s explanation but stressed that negotiations with the CBC must continue. “The Commission encourages the consortium and the CBC to continue discussions as soon as possible, while reminding the CBC of its mandate as a national public broadcaster and reminding the consortium that the licences it holds allowing it to use the public airwaves are issued by the government.” The decision also relieves BDUs of additional expenses related to the distribution of specialty French-language programming. In the hearing several interveners such as the Federation des communautés francophones et acadiene du Canada, Federation culturalle Canadienne-francais, and the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, the Commissioner of Official Languages argued that television services provided in minority French-language settings lack variety. Some of the interveners suggested that these services should have a mandatory distribution order under sections of the Broadcasting Act. But the Commission ruled that the issuance of a mandatory distribution order is an exceptional measure and privilege, saying it would only consider doing so after receiving an application and holding a public hearing. Broadcasters offering video-on-demand services also get a reprieve from potential additional costs regarding provision of services in both official languages. The commission noted that given the fact that subscribers generally have access to one VOD service, it deferring a ruling on the matter until it issues a decision on the regulatory framework for VOD services. Access to CBC’s two Ontario French-language CBC services was another issue raised during the hearing. Several interveners said Star Choice Communications and Bell TV should offer both services as part of its Ontario programming line-up. Currently, Star Choice distributes the Ottawa station and Bell TV offers the Toronto station. However, the CRTC ruled that while it is preferable that subscribers receive both, it would rather see the matter resolved through negotiations between Shaw, Bell and CBC. The commission also asked the government to encourage these discussions. According to the 2006 Census, 939,995 Francophones live outside of Quebec and 993,570 Anglphones live in Quebec. Some 50% of these Francophones live in Ontario and 25% live are in New Brunswick.

CRTC expects new media to fill gaps in minority language broadcasting

Broadcast | April 1, 2009

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