Majority of interventions oppose Bell Media proposal for CanCon programming relief

By Connie Thiessen The deadline for interventions in Bell Media’s request for regulatory programming relief passed late last week with 19 submissions received by the CRTC, the majority making the case against the broadcaster’s proposal. Bell is specifically seeking a reduction in Canadian programming expenditures (CPE) from 30 to 20 per cent; a reduction in minimum PNI (Programs of National Interest) expenditures from 7.5 to 5 per cent; and an expansion of the current PNI categories to include analysis and interpretation, music and dance, variety, game shows, general entertainment, human interest, and reality television. In return, it’s proposing to increase its independent production acquisitions from...