OTTAWA – The CRTC is expected to hand down its decision on group-based licence renewals for English-language television groups this week, Cartt.ca has learned.
After a week-long public hearing in April, it will be interesting to see how the Commission navigates the big broadcasters’ various takes on Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) and programs of national interest (PNI) proposals. Cartt.ca was there every step of the way during presentations made by Bell Media, Rogers Broadcasting, Corus Entertainment, and Shaw Media, as well as the Independent Broadcast Group which called on the CRTC to establish a new, flexible framework for smaller and independent Canadian broadcasters.
In March 2010, the CRTC set out a framework for the group-based licensing of television services affiliated with large Canadian broadcast ownership groups with the goal of providing the groups with greater flexibility in the allocation of resources amongst their various television platforms, while at the same time, permitting the Commission to consider factors such as the total audience reached by a broadcasting group, the totality of its revenues, and of its programming commitments and obligations.
The framework was also designed to allow the Commission to ensure continued support for the creation of Canadian programming, particularly in categories that it deemed to be under-represented in the Canadian broadcasting system such as scripted drama, documentaries and Canadian awards shows.
Cartt.ca will have a full report once the decision is released.
– Lesley Hunter
