GATINEAU — Following a lengthy proceeding that included a 14-day public hearing in January 2021, the CRTC announced today the five-year renewal of CBC/Radio-Canada’s broadcasting licences until August 31, 2027, saying the commission is adopting a “modern approach” for the public broadcaster’s traditional and digital services.
“The emergence of online platforms has changed the way Canadians consume audio and audiovisual content, including the CBC/Radio-Canada’s programming. The CRTC is adapting the way in which it regulates the national public broadcaster to provide it with more flexibility to fulfill its mandate across traditional and online platforms, while recognizing the need to make the new framework adaptable for the years to come,” reads a CRTC press release.
As part of this “new approach,” the CRTC is introducing new spending requirements that will promote the creation of more diverse content, and new and enhanced reporting and measurement requirements for programming on all of CBC/Radio-Canada’s platforms, the release explains.
“New spending and reporting requirements are also being imposed to ensure that the national public broadcaster supports and broadcasts programming that is relevant to and reflective of all Canadians of diverse backgrounds and Indigenous Peoples living in Canada,” the release says.
“To enhance diversity in its programming, the CBC∕Radio-Canada will have to invest in audiovisual Canadian programming, audiovisual Canadian independent programming from Indigenous producers, racialized producers, producers with disabilities and producers who identify as LGBTQ2. The CRTC is also maintaining certain spending requirements for programming by and for official-language minority communities.”
The CRTC says it is “also introducing a new content requirement for Indigenous music on the CBC/Radio-Canada’s English and French-language radio services.”
The commission is also requiring the CBC/Radio-Canada to conduct regular surveys of all Canadians on how it is meeting their needs, and to hold formal consultations every two years with Indigenous Peoples, official-language minority communities, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons who identify as LGBTQ2.
“The CRTC is modernizing its approach to ensure that the CBC/Radio-Canada’s programming can adapt to and reflect the evolving preferences of Canadians, including equity-seeking and official-language minority communities and Indigenous Peoples. We are giving the CBC/Radio-Canada more flexibility, while ensuring it is accountable and representative of our various geographic and cultural realities in both official languages,” said CRTC chairperson and CEO Ian Scott in the release.
In a statement released this afternoon, Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said: “We’re pleased that the CRTC has, for the first time ever, recognized the significant contribution of our digital streaming services, CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV, and CBC Listen and Radio-Canada OHdio, to the Canadian content ecosystem.
“CBC/Radio-Canada’s services as a multiplatform digital and linear media company will now be reflected in our regulatory obligations,” Tait said.
“We’re equally heartened that the Commission’s decision recognizes diversity and representation of contemporary Canada in our content as critical to the future of the national public broadcaster.”
