OTTAWA-GATINEAU – As the CRTC kicked off its public hearing on local and community programming Monday, it reiterated its call for public feedback.
The Commission encouraged Canadians to share their views through its new online discussion forum, available now through February 3, on the issues addressed in its new working document and on any other topic raised at the hearing. The working document contains proposals such as a fund to support local news and incentives to broadcast professional local news on community channels in markets where there is no over-the-air television.
The discussion forum is meant to serve as a platform to answer questions such as:
– Do you feel that local events in your region are sufficiently covered by television in terms of quantity and quality? If not, give us some ideas about what could be done to improve coverage;
– Other than local TV, what other sources of information do you consult to stay informed of local events and why?
– What types of community channel broadcasts interest you and why?
– What could be done, if anything, to improve your community channel? For example, should community channels operating in small markets broadcast local professional news to meet the various needs of their communities?
“We’re having an important discussion about local and community TV to ensure that it continues to effectively serve citizens by providing them with programming that reflects their reality and current events. Thanks to this programming, Canadians can access local news and information making them informed and engaged citizens”, said CRTC chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais, in a statement. “Moreover, we need to ensure that this programming takes its place on new emerging platforms, which are increasingly becoming a key news resource for Canadians. I encourage everyone to participate in the discussion forum to share their views about local and community programming and its importance.”
The oral public hearing portion of the policy review runs January 25 – February 3, 2016 in Gatineau.
