OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Underscoring its support of local content, the CRTC has set new minimum thresholds for local news on the country’s private TV broadcasters plus will establish a new fund for independent stations.
Announced Wednesday, the Commission’s new policy framework for local and community television offers the big private broadcasters flexibility to keep local stations open and fund the production of local news programming, a “rebalancing” that it says could make up to $67 million available for local news.
In addition, the CRTC will create the Independent Local News Fund, providing independent stations in Victoria, Prince George, Kamloops, Medicine Hat, Lloydminster, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Rouyn-Noranda, Val d’Or, Gatineau, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Québec, Saguenay, Rivière-du-Loup, Carleton and St-John’s access to approximately $23 million dollars for local news programming.
“We are rebalancing the considerable resources already in the system to ensure that the quality, quantity and capacity of local newscasts are maintained”, said CRTC chair and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “However, the flexibility that we are giving to the large private broadcasters is not to be taken lightly. They have a responsibility of continuing to provide adequate funding for news and to produce high-quality local programming that informs Canadians and reflects the communities they serve. Holding a broadcasting licence is a privilege, and in exchange of that privilege broadcasters have public service obligations, especially with respect to local news and information.”
English-language stations will be required to broadcast at least seven hours of locally relevant programming (especially news) per week in non-metropolitan markets, and 14 hours per week in metropolitan markets, defined as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. French-language stations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, using a benchmark of five hours of local programming per week.
The new policy framework comes after the CRTC’s review of local and community TV, which kicked off last September and included an eight-day hearing early this year.
