GATINEAU – Despite much experimentation and breathless reportage on the future of electronic media, Canadians still get their entertainment via traditional means, the CRTC said today.
The Commission released a 181-page report today, requested by Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda in June on the future environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system.
The report finds that any negative impact on the broadcasting system from shifting media consumption patterns has been marginal to date, according to the Commission release. This observation is based on the fact that Canadians still consume the vast majority of programming through regulated Canadian broadcasting undertakings.
"However, the report notes that Canadians, and younger Canadians in particular, are increasingly accessing programming through unregulated electronic platforms, such as the Internet and mobile networks. The CRTC considers that new audio-visual technologies will have an increasing affect on broadcasting undertakings over time. As a result, the detailed and ongoing monitoring of developments in the evolution, contribution and impact of audio-visual technologies will be an essential foundation to an informed public policy response," it added.
The Government requested that the CRTC seek comment and provide a factual report on certain matters, including:
* The current state of audio-visual technologies and their predicted evolution over the coming years;
* The kind of content delivered through the regulated and non-regulated aspects of the broadcasting system, and how it is delivered;
* The predicted economic impact these technologies will have on broadcasting undertakings
* The impact that the usage of audio-visual technologies by Canadians will have on the broadcasting system, the content and programming choices available to Canadians, and how future generations will consume or access content, programming and programming services.
Not a small task, to say the least, but the Commission was aided by the industry in putting together its 60,000-plus words, the submissions for which were covered here.
"We are pleased to present this report," said Charles Dalfen, chairman of the CRTC, in presenting his next-to-last large file (the next one will be tomorrow’s radio policy). "As was observed in the Order in Council, the Canadian broadcasting system must remain relevant in a global digital environment and must meet the diverse needs of Canadians of all cultures. This report is an important step in providing policy-makers with the information needed to make decisions that will ensure the ongoing health, contribution and relevance of the Canadian broadcasting system.
"Based on the information provided to us, the CRTC concludes that public policy action will need to be taken within the next three to seven years if it is to have the desired effect, otherwise it may well come too late."
Beginning in 2006, and continuing through 2008, the CRTC is conducting reviews of its regulatory frameworks for radio, television and broadcasting distribution, with a particular focus on the current and anticipated impact of technological change. Moreover, the CRTC will continue to seek ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden to ensure that our measures are as effective and efficient as possible, said the release.
More to come after we read a few thousand of the report’s words.
