CBC licence renewal sent back to CRTC for not meeting objective of Broadcasting Act

The federal government is sending the CRTC's renewal of CBC/Radio-Canada’s licence back to the regulator in response to a slew of petitions calling for a revision. The decision states that “it is material to the reconsideration and hearing” that the CRTC ensures the CBC “makes a significant contribution to the creation, presentation, and dissemination of local news, children’s programming, original French-language programming, and programming produced by independent producers.” The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) – whose main gripe with the decision was the removal of a “key” licence condition requiring CBC to work with independent media producers in the development and creation of Canadian programming – commended the move in a news release. “Indie producers are small and medium-sized business owners, based in cities and towns across Canada, who develop content that reflects the different perspectives and experiences of Canadians; today’s decision will ensure these diverse stories continue to reach audiences from coast to coast to coast,” stated CMPA president and CEO Reynolds Mastin. In June, the CRTC granted sweeping flexibility for the CBC to shift toward a focus on digital outputs and away from its linear programming. The CBC got approval to spread its Canadian programming expenditure requirements out across its linear and digital offerings, and places no minimum expenditure requirement on its linear television services. In a rare move, two CRTC commissioners penned their own dissents to the decision. Ontario commissioner Monique Lafontaine wrote that by establishing no minimum spending requirements for Canadian programming on the CBC’s linear services, the decision neglects certain populations. The CRTC’s vice-chair of broadcasting, Caroline Simard, also criticized the flexibility of the expenditure requirements. In the following weeks, 16 separate petitions, including the CMPA’s, were sent to the governor in council requesting the decision be overturned and sent back to the commission. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre and National Pensioners Federation submitted a petition pointing out that the CBC did not make an application for online licences, as these fall beyond the purview of the CRTC. Digital media broadcasting (DMB) is exempt under the commission’s Digital Media Exemption Order (DMEO). No party to the proceeding, not even the CBC itself, had asked for the removal of the requirements, the organizations noted. Many called for a DMEO hearing after the government’s Online Streaming Act – also known as Bill C-11, which is currently before the Senate – receives royal assent. The petitioners argued that dropping the requirements derogates from Section 3 of the Broadcasting Act, which refers to economic and social needs of all Canadians of all ages. Many seniors do not have the technical expertise or the financial resources to migrate to digital, they maintain. The governor in council “is satisfied that the decision derogates from the attainment of the objectives of the broadcasting policy for Canada set out in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act,” Thursday’s decision states. Marla Boltman, the executive director of the Canadian broadcasting advocacy organization, Friends said in a statement that she is thrilled with the decision, however, she remains disappointed that the CBC’s branded content program, Tandem, was not included in Thursday’s decision. ACTRA, which filed a joint petition with the Directors Guild of Canada in August, also welcomed the decision with open arms. “Thank you to the government for standing up for Canadian performers, writers, directors, composers, producers and other creators by referring back this decision for reconsideration,” ACTRA national president Eleanor Noble said in a release. “The health of our domestic audiovisual production sector can be attributed to the rules the CRTC has historically put in place to prioritize the creation of Canadian stories by and for Canadians. We are pleased the Government understood our concerns and has taken this important step to protect Canadian content.” – Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca, with files from Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy

CBC licence renewal sent back to CRTC for not meeting objective of Broadcasting Act

Broadcast | September 22, 2022

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

CBC licence renewal sent back to CRTC for not meeting objective of Broadcasting Act

Broadcast | September 22, 2022

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Netflix pulling funding from Canadian arts programs due to Online Streaming Act

CTRC considering updating eligibility for Independent Local News Fund

Blue Ant joins broadcasters in call for CanCon relief

Meta considers blocking Facebook news in Australia

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us