2009-411 Day 8: More prime time Cancon demanded while APTN asks for protection from fee fallout

By Lesley Hunter

GATINEAU – Canadian content again took centre stage at Wednesday’s CRTC hearing.Both the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) and ACTRA pinned the blame for our broadcasting system’s issues squarely on the broadcasters for overspending on foreign content.The CCA, which provides research and analysis on public policies affecting the arts and Canadian cultural institutions and industries, suggested, using words we’ve heard steadily for a week and a half, that the Commission consider re-regulating cable rates in order to “re-balance the system”, and to “bring back regulations so that broadcasters fulfill their Canadian programming obligations.”“Your responsibilities are specifically to use all...