Rogers asks CRTC to redefine PNIs, change conditions of licence

Rogers Communications Inc. is asking the CRTC to amend the conditions of licence (COL) for its broadcasting properties to allow for more independently-produced programming and to expand what is defined as a program of national interest (PNI). Under its current COL, Rogers must spend five per cent of its annual gross revenues on PNIs – 75 per cent of which must be made to an independent production company. In a June 12 letter to the commission, the company said it seeks to direct 100 per cent of its PNI expenditure requirements to independent production companies provided it is “also given the flexibility to devote those expenditures to other television program categories.” “The requirement to devote five per cent of our annual gross revenues to expenditures solely on PNI has become unduly restrictive,” the letter stated. The company pointed to its recent hit series Canada’s Got Talent, which does not count as a PNI. Giving the firm more flexibility will bolster the CRTC’s goal of supporting independent productions without compromising funding for other areas, Rogers said. Covering Canada’s Got Talent out of Canadian Programming Expenditure (CPE) funds takes away money that could be used for news and local programs. If granted, the new terms would apply to Rogers’ network of CityTv stations across the country and specialty channels Viceland, G4, Outdoor Life Network, FX, FXX and Sportsnet 360. The broadcaster pointed out that the list of PNIs has not been updated since 2010, and foreign streaming services now dominate the broadcast landscape, which wasn’t the case a decade ago. It says that half its PNI spending goes on the production of one series, the drama Hudson & Rex. Since 85 per cent of viewership for drama is foreign-based productions, the economics of the industry are skewed. “With the exception of sports programming in the English-language market, all genres of Canadian television programming are unable to earn enough commercial revenue to cover their total costs of production,” Rogers stated. The company admitted it was hoping to get more funding for CityTv news programming due to the takeover of Shaw Communications. But its broadcasting strategy has revolved around news, local programming and sports rather than big-budget dramas, it noted. The firm quoted the Canada Media Fund, which said the total production volume for 2021-2022 broke the billion-dollar mark. Rogers spending on PNI for that broadcast year was only $13.2 million. Rogers stressed that it is not seeking a reduction in CPE or its commitment to Canadian programming. It is taking this action now because the Rogers licences will not be up for renewal for several years, it added. The move comes at the same time as Quebecor has backed down from a plan to cancel weekend news broadcasts in Quebec City. – Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

Rogers asks CRTC to redefine PNIs, change conditions of licence

Broadcast | June 21, 2023

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Rogers asks CRTC to redefine PNIs, change conditions of licence

Broadcast | June 21, 2023

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