By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – Day one of the CBC’s broadcasting licences renewal virtual hearing was definitely the Ian Scott show. And although he shuffled back and forth through many topics, there is a method to it all, a little like a Canadian Colombo.
The Commission has a very complete record, has had ample time to analyze the issues and the hearing is designed to validate some assumptions. But for all intents and purposes, the outlines of the decision have probably already been drawn.
The Corporation in its renewal application asked for more flexibility to face future challenges and the chair in his opening remarks offered, “While increased flexibility may be appropriate, the Commission must fulfill its mandate under the Broadcasting Act, and have the ability to measure the CBC/Radio-Canada’s success in meeting the needs of Canadians. The Commission and the CBC/Radio-Canada must be able to report those results in a transparent fashion. We will be looking at ways to modernize the tools we use to achieve this.”
Most of the morning seemed a bit like a game of cat and mouse where the chair was probing for ways the CBC would embrace the Commission’s wish to include on-line platforms within its realm or regulation and the Corporation resisting firmly, then towards the end of the morning session, the chair asked: “If the Commission were to forgo the requirement of exhibition or expenditure requirements for certain types of content distributed in all platforms could you comment on how it continues to ensure to meet the needs of Canadians and be relevant to Canadians in all parts of the country?”
CBC CEO Catherine Tait (right) then interjected: “Just to be clear we are not suggesting you drop all exhibition requirements; your question sugges
ts that you would drop those requirements as well as expenditure requirements…”
And the Chair responded, “It did.”
Taken aback Tait replied: “There is a new thought (laugh) let me ponder that one.”
This would seem to indicate the Commission is ready to entertain the idea of reducing regulatory requirements if it is satisfied that the Corporation is meeting its mandate.
Wishful thinking, maybe but much of the morning was devoting to measurement framework on both platforms and measurement of measurement, to ensure successes.
The chairman was able to get the corporation to admit some Parliamentary appropriations were being used for digital content which some would argue could mean that oversight might be required on expenditures on content outside the traditional broadcasting realm.
The first day was devoted to, as they said “a 40,000-foot view of things,” with little excursion in increased granularity. We expect the next four days with the CBC facing the commissioners to be more mundane regulatory measures on diversity, local programming, representation, and so on.
While the CBC would like more flexibility, the quote of the day, from chairman Scott re-iterated what the Commission was trying to get at on day one: “With greater regulatory flexibility, there’s greater requirement for accountability and transparency from the corporation and that has to come in some manner through reporting.”
There are trade-offs to be made and we’ll be getting into the specifics of what those will be in the days ahead.
