GATINEAU – The CRTC has renewed the licences for several specialty networks for seven years, including APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), which was granted an increase in the subscriber fee to $0.25 a month, up from $0.15.
The extra revenue will help APTN acquire more Aboriginal programs in underrepresented categories such as dramas, live musical concerts, and children’s programs and will allow the network to make the move to high definition television during the licence term.
“This decision makes it possible for the network to continue to grow and expand our programming in ways we couldn’t in the past,” says APTN CEO Jean LaRose. “Expect to see a more diversified programming schedule with an increase in Aboriginal language and regional programming, the addition of three news bureaus to ensure Canada-wide coverage, stronger use of available technologies such as SAP (Secondary Audio Programming), and an overall renewed energy on-air,” says LaRose. “We couldn’t be any happier with this decision.”
The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association had opposed the proposed rate increase, saying that APTN failed to provide enough detailed information regarding the nature of the programming it proposed to develop and that the increase would generate surplus funds that have not been justified. Star Choice and Bell ExpressVu also told the commission they opposed the increase.
As a condition of licence, the commission is requiring APTN to file annual reports demonstrating how the extra revenues are directed toward its initiatives. The CRTC is also holding APTN to its commitment to increase its Canadian content levels from 70% to 75% in each broadcast year and during the evenings.
Thursday marks the sixth anniversary of APTN, broadcasting 60% in English, 25% in Aboriginal languages, and 15% in French. It’s available via mandatory carriage in more than 10 million Canadian households.
The CRTC also extended the licences until 2012 for several French-language specialty channels: Canal D, which now has to spend 45% of previous year’s gross revenues on Canadian programming (up from 40%); Ztélé; Historia; and Séries+, which can increase its level of programs from U.S. sources from 20% to 30% but must boost Canadian content from 25% to 30% for the new licence term.
