OTTAWA–GATINEAU – The CRTC launched the third phase of Let’s Talk TV: A Conversation with Canadians Thursday, a formal review of the television system that draws on the issues and priorities identified in Phases 1 and 2 of the initiative. Phase 3 will also include a public hearing that will begin on September 8, 2014.
The Commission said that it intends to explore “a number of changes to the television system to meet the current and future needs of Canadians as citizens, creators and consumers”. Those changes will include choice and flexibility in programming, ways to encourage the creation of compelling and diverse Canadian content, and how to “empower” Canadians to make informed choices and provide recourse in the case of disputes with their TV service providers.
Fostering choice and flexibility
The CRTC is proposing that the basic television package that all subscribers receive be slimmed down to include only Canadian local television stations, channels of public interest that must currently be distributed to all subscribers (such as the Cable Public Affairs Channel and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), provincial educational channels, community channels and the services operated by provincial legislatures.
For all other services, Canadians would have three options: 1.) they could choose channels on an individual basis (pick-and-pay); 2.) build their own packages of pay and specialty channels; or 3.) choose from packages that are pre-determined by their TV service provider.
This proposed approach to foster more choice and flexibility is at the centre of the CRTC’s report to the Government of Canada, which was also released Thursday. As Cartt.ca reported, the Government asked the Commission last November for a report on the steps it intended to take to maximize the ability to subscribe on a service-by-service basis, and on the impact this could potentially have on the objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act.
Promoting Canadian-made content
The CRTC pledged to explore new ways to ensure local television stations remain sustainable and will study various measures to support programs made by Canadians.
The Commission also said that it will examine whether it should eliminate simultaneous substitution, the practice of replacing the signal of an American channel with that of a Canadian channel that is broadcasting the same program at the same time, noting that it has received “numerous complaints” from viewers in recent years due to substitution errors, particularly during live sports events such as the Super Bowl.
If simultaneous substitution were no longer permitted, Canadian broadcasters may have more flexibility to schedule and promote Canadian shows, especially in prime time, rather than having their schedules tied to those of the American broadcasters, continues the CRTC’s release.
Furthermore, the CRTC will explore whether an audience-measurement system that would draw information from cable set-top boxes should be created, to assist the Canadian television industry in “responding more effectively to the changing needs and interests of viewers”, while protecting their privacy.
Empowering Canadians
Canada’s television system should empower Canadians to make informed choices and provide recourse in the case of disputes with their service providers. To this end, the CRTC will consider whether guidelines to promote greater clarity in contracts, as well as the terms regarding the cancellation of a subscription, are needed.
The Commission will also discuss whether it should introduce a code of conduct for cable and satellite companies and whether an ombudsman should be made available to Canadians to help resolve disputes.
“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views on the future of the television system”, said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “Based on what Canadians said, we are proposing to make important changes to ensure their system adapts to an environment that is constantly evolving. But the Conversation is not over yet. The continued participation of all Canadians in this Conversation is essential and will ensure the ideas put forward meet their current and future needs as citizens, creators and consumers.”
Canadians are invited to share their views on these topics, as well as the others set out in the notice of consultation, prior to June 25, 2014. Canadians are also encouraged to indicate whether they wish to appear at the public hearing in September.
The CRTC also released a report by Harris/Decima containing the results of a telephone survey on television services that was conducted in December 2013. It is also planning to release the results of the Let’s Talk TV: Choicebook in the coming days.
To date, more than 10,000 people have participated in Let’s Talk TV: A Conversation with Canadians.
