CTVglobemedia Inc. has asked the CRTC to reduce the Canadian content requirements for its 24 over-the-air television channels across the country as part of the commission's new approach to group-based licensing. Right now, each of CTV's over-the-air television channels much devote 60 per cent of their programming to Canadian content. The company has asked to instead devote 55 per cent of the broadcast year to Canadian programming. When the CRTC established a group-based broadcasting policy last March, in which one company's broadcasting licences are considered at the same time, it modified the Canadian content rules so that over-the-air broadcasters could apply to devote 55 per cent of their programming to Canadian content during the broadcast year. Previously, a minimum 60 per cent of the broadcast year had to be devoted to Canadian content and 50 per cent of it in the evening hours. Interested parties will have until Aug. 13 to submit interventions to CTV's application.
Source: The Wire Report, 07/09/2010