OTTAWA – The CRTC has denied requests from the CBC and Bell Media to average their respective weekly local programming requirements on a quarterly basis, rather than weekly, throughout the broadcast year.
Bell asked the Commission last October to amend the standard conditions of licence applicable to its English-language conventional television stations, whose licences were renewed as part of the Commission’s group-based licence renewals in 2011, to average their weekly local programming obligations quarterly throughout the broadcast year.
That prompted the CBC to file an application to amend the condition of licence applicable to its English-language conventional television network and stations to…
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OTTAWA – Various parties continued to question the level to which Rogers Media will use its recently acquired NHL hockey content as a component of its Canadian programming expenditures (CPE) commitments at the company’s licence renewal hearing before the CRTC while Rogers said they need not worry.
The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), in its opening remarks on Wednesday fretted that Canadian content will suffer because Rogers will use the NHL to account for its CPE commitments, particularly if the Commission approves Rogers request to be treated under the group licensing framework (GLF).
“We have to wonder if hockey fans will…
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OTTAWA – Consumer complaints received by the CRTC regarding bandwidth throttling by their Internet service providers (ISPs) for the first quarter of this year are down slightly from those reported in the last quarter of 2013.
In its latest status report issued Wednesday, the Commission reported that it received a total of 11 complaints regarding Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs) from January 1 to March 31, 2014, down from the 13 complaints that were filed from October 1 to December 31, 2013.
There is no distinction made between ITMP disclosure complaints, (those related to whether the ISP has disclosed information, on…
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ROGERS MEDIA SPENT MUCH of Tuesday playing defence during its licence renewal hearings before the CRTC, deflecting criticism over the company’s desire to have its hockey broadcasts considered programming of national interest (PNI), or be part of the company’s Canadian programming expenditures (CPE).
CRTC vice-chair of broadcasting Tom Pentefountas took the first shot by questioning whether hockey programming should be included in Canadian content or PNI commitments. After a series of questions on whether this type of sports programming needs regulatory help from the commission, he wondered why hockey should account for CPE or fall under PNI programming.
Keith Pelley, president…
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YET ANOTHER FEDERAL government digital/new media announcement was made on Friday that offers hundreds of millions of dollars to connect the 280,000 Canadians without broadband access because of where they live while remaining silent on the million or so who have broadband already at their doorsteps but who aren’t connected because they can’t afford it.
Yes of course it is important to connect rural Canada, but there has long been – and continues to be – many government programs to help that along. That’s despite the face that private companies such as the numerous independent phone…
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AN INTERESTING DECEMBER 2012 paper from the Australian Government's Department of Finance and Deregulation, Offices of Best Practices Regulation entitled "Influencing Consumer Behaviour: Improving Regulatory Design" is an instructive piece of research when viewed through the lens of our own TV business.
The paper explores two broad frameworks that influence consumer behaviour – Rational Choice theory and Behavioural Economics. Rational Choice theory holds that consumers maximize utility subject to their budgetary limitations. Behavioural Economics assumes choice is affected by social, economic, emotional and other factors. Examples from the health, finance and other sectors are used to…
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BASED ON THE DOZENS of submissions from radio companies and other groups to the CRTC, the answer is a resounding… maybe.
Whether to bring the proprietary digital broadcasting format which has been deployed in most major markets Stateside to Canada was just one of many questions the CRTC put to the public about changes to radio policy. The questions were raised on Oct. 30, and the deadline for replies to comments was last Tuesday.
In general, broadcasters and interest groups supported the idea Canadian stations should be allowed to experiment with HD Radio, but most were against the idea that there…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments on DHX Media’s proposal to buy Family, Disney XD, and the English- and French-language Disney Junior channels from Bell Media.
As Cartt.ca reported, the Halifax-based children's entertainment company proposed the acquisition, valued at $170 million, last November. The deal comes as part of Bell Media's requirement to divest some properties to comply with regulatory conditions attached to its acquisition of Astral Media.
The Commission made the application public Thursday, noting that it will also consider DHX’s proposed tangible benefits package and amendments to the broadcasting licence for Family Channel.
The deadline for the…
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OTTAWA – Noted filmmaker and TV producer Robert Lantos isn’t letting last year’s failure to secure a licence for a must-carry all Canadian movie channel get in his way. His proposed endeavour Starlight is up for consideration as a Category B specialty service in a CRTC hearing next week (as a non-appearing item).
The English-language specialty television channel, which also has the backing of Victor Loewy and David Kassie among others, aims to be a showcase for Canadian feature films. Its plans are to air feature films and documentaries intended for theatrical release, including made-for-TV movies and programs with or…
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OTTAWA – Rogers Media wants to reduce its Canadian content and cut in half its programming commitments for ethnic groups and distinct languages for its group of OMNI stations. The company will appear before the CRTC next week to defend these and other proposed changes to its conditions of licence (COLs).
The programming changes appear to be quite significant. Rather than meeting the requirement to broadcast programs to 20 different ethnic groups and in 20 distinct languages, Rogers is requesting these be cut in half to 10 in both cases. As well, the company wants to decrease its Canadian programming…
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