Ahead of its March 31 public hearing on modernizing its definition of Canadian content, the CRTC has added a public opinion research report to the public record and is setting out the key issues it will focus on during the hearing.
The research report prepared for the CRTC by Phoenix Strategy Perspectives Inc. is based on an online survey of 1,226 Canadians aged 16 years and older and eight online focus groups (four in English and four in French) conducted with Canadians aged 18 and older. The online survey took place from Nov. 15 to Dec. 5, 2024, while the virtual focus groups were conducted from Nov. 13-21, 2024.
The report presents the views and attitudes of individuals and groups on the importance and value of Canadian programming and on how easy it is to access this programming. It also presents views and attitudes on the quality and diversity of Canadian news, the types of news programming that are considered important, and how the availability of news programming differs between urban and rural areas. A summary of the report is available here.
In an updated broadcasting notice of consultation published on its website Wednesday, the CRTC said it intends to focus on a number of key issues at the March 31 hearing, including the definition of “Canadian program” and related elements such as key creative positions, the points system (including the addition of “showrunner”), and rights or interest in relation to a program, including intellectual property rights, and financial control. The commission will also focus on the Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) framework and at-risk programming, including the current framework for programs of national interests (PNI) and supports for news programming.
Other issues that will be given particular attention by the commission include the publication of expenditures made and revenues earned in Canada, and the use of artificial intelligence in the production industry, including the impact AI may have on various elements in the audiovisual production industry as it relates to Canadian programming, the ways in which AI can be used to maximize efficiencies and provide cost-cutting effects, and transparency surrounding the use of AI within the production industry.
