Local Programming Improvement Fund goes under review

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians are encouraged to weigh in on the Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF) as part of the CRTC’s planned review of the fund’s success. The Commission said Monday that it has scheduled a public hearing as part of its review process, which will begin April 16 in Gatineau. Comments are due by February 15, 2012. The fund was created almost three years ago to support the development of local television programming, particularly local news, in non-metropolitan markets. At that time, the CRTC determined that broadcasters' spending on local programming had stagnated due in large part to the fragmentation of television audiences and...