OTTAWA – The CRTC has denied requests from the CBC and Bell Media to average their respective weekly local programming requirements on a quarterly basis, rather than weekly, throughout the broadcast year.
Bell asked the Commission last October to amend the standard conditions of licence applicable to its English-language conventional television stations, whose licences were renewed as part of the Commission’s group-based licence renewals in 2011, to average their weekly local programming obligations quarterly throughout the broadcast year.
That prompted the CBC to file an application to amend the condition of licence applicable to its English-language conventional television network and stations to do the same.
The Commission rejected both requests on Wednesday, emphasizing the important role played by local programming in the communities served by television stations at all times of the year.
It also reminded both CBC and Bell Media that broadcasters may be temporarily relieved from local programming requirements or other requirements for special events or statutory holidays, as has been done in the past for events such as the London Olympics in 2012.
