OTTAWA – Three major actors in the Canadian broadcasting sector say they are bullish on the future of the system in the face of new technologies and changing consumer TV viewing behaviour.
CBC/Radio-Canada, Astral Television Networks and Shaw Media said they have taken steps to ready themselves for new consumer content consumption behaviour resulting from new mobile technologies and other emerging platforms. They noted they did this even in the face of a significant advertising downturn resulting from the global financial recession.
During a panel moderated by former Global TV News anchor Kevin Newman, representatives from the three companies talked about a variety of topics from industry consolidation, over the top services, content financing and terms of trade.
Generally, CBC, Astral and Shaw Media say they’re ready for new realities in the broadcast sector. John Riley, president of Astral, highlighted previous efforts, showing the company has always been on the leading edge for new viewing platforms. He pointed to The Movie Network (TMN) online and TMN subscription video on demand (SVOD) as evidence the company adapted to new services. Riley added that since many of the company’s services are discretionary, Astral has had to be aware of changing viewer habits.
“So we’ve always been fully aware about where the trends are headed that people will want to have access to programming on the device of their choice, the platform of their choice and we’ve taken steps to do that,” he said, noting that mobility is the next platform the company is exploring.
Kirstine Stewart, executive vice-president of English services at CBC, added that broadcasters and producers have to look to the new environment as an opportunity. “We have to extend passed the traditional model of how we distribute programming and take advantage of new technologies and take advantage of new platforms because that’s the next frontier,” she said.
But there are challenges. While consolidation is seen by many as potentially weakening independent production in Canada and limiting choices for consumers, Riley notes that as long as there are protections in place this won’t represent a big problem.
“We support transactions and decisions that will enhance [a strong and vibrant Canadian broadcasting system] and that just a few key principles have to be in place like guaranteed access, diversity of voices and consumers have a choice to get programming when and where they want,” he said.
Paul Robertson group vice-president of broadcasting and president of Shaw Media sees it differently, noting that consolidation represents a big opportunity for content creators and programming. “When Shaw purchased Canwest, it was really done for the recognition strategically that we needed to have some control of the content to combine it with the distribution side to create multi-platform offerings for consumers,” he said.
The CRTC will hold a hearing on vertical integration later this year. Cartt.ca previously reported on the Vertical Integration on Trial CMPA session here.
New platforms and social media are actually enhancing linear television and suggestions that there should be a decoupling of “new media” from broadcasting are wrong headed. “We think that the resurgence in television and the viewership in television is totally related to these other elements that are augmenting the television experience,” said Robertson.
Riley added that the emergence of new platforms should be viewed as technological evolution, noting that decoupling is artificial. “My personal view is that it’s not divorced and separate as a new media, it’s a natural evolution,” he said. “When technological change comes along, you adapt to that.”
Shaw and CBC also addressed the terms of trade issue. They noted that discussions are ongoing with the goal of getting an agreement in place by the time the CRTC holds the group-based licensing hearing in April.
Robertson noted there is general consensus on some elements. “There’s an understanding on the broadcast side that the lengthy term of the existing arrangements doesn’t make sense in this new world, we need to be more flexible to dealing with innovations and new platforms,” he said.
He did highlight one of the producers’ frustrations. They want the ability to regain a certain right if it’s not being exploited by the broadcaster. Robertson added that Shaw is supportive of such a provision that “if a right is not being exploited then it should revert back to the party who has the vision to do so.”
Added Stewart: “It’s important to be able to set a partnership agreement on how the two sides are going to work together in this strange new world in a fair and equitable way. It’s important that the partnership be something that is fair and can be forward looking.”
