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Since there were currently too many factors and pressures to decide on new, full, seven-year licence terms for conventional TV broadcasters in Canada, the CRTC has decided to postpone the licence renewal hearings until next year. In the meantime, the Commission will be tackling serious issues facing conventional broadcasters in a hearing that begins on April 27. This week, the CRTC made the submissions of the conventional broadcasters public.
CTV
CTVglobemedia asked for a one-year administrative renewal of its licences as is. In the April hearing, it intends to ask the CRTC to lessen its local content requirements, change the regulations so that conventional broadcasters can be paid a fee-for-carriage, and drop the requirement that 75% of its programming spend on Canadian content be with independent producers. CTV feels that the local content requirements of TQS's new owners are more realistic.
CTV's submission said that there is a " 'structural problem with conventional television,' " which is shown by the company's decision to close its A-Channels serving Windsor and Wingham, CKX-TV in Brandon, Manitoba, and reducing local content in its other A-Channel territories.
CTV feels that the only way for local broadcasting to survive is having Canadians pay more for it. According to its submission, " 'the long-term viability of over-the-air television in Canada is contingent on the introduction of a fee-for-carriage regime.' "
Canwest
Canwest Global says that the burden of producing local content is too high and should drastically be reduced, at least for this year. For markets of a million or more people, it is proposing that it should only have to do a minimum of 10 hours a week of local content. For smaller markets, it should be five hours.
With regards to priority programming, Canwest proposes " 'the complete elimination of priority programming obligations in the short- and long-term, and no requirements for minimum amounts of original hours of specific types of programming such as drama or documentaries.' "
Canwest also wants to own more of its own content. Broadcasters currently have to spend 75% of their Cancon production with independent producers, meaning they mostly own news and sports. The company wants that reduced to 50% so it can make, own, and then sell its own dramas and comedies.
Rogers
Rogers Broadcasting, owners of Citytv, also wants to reduce spending and priority programming, in addition to being able to strengthen its local content at 20 hours per week.
According to its submission, " 'Citytv plans to recapture a local voice in the urban markets we serve by focusing our programming priorities on locally relevant, locally produced programming.' " It continues, " 'the Citytv stations occupy a distinct and unique place in the OTA sector. Unlike the other major English-language OTA groups, that are more nationally focused, Citytv's core business is based on attracting local audiences and serving local communities in five urban markets.' "
Rogers' submission says that, " 'the current economic climate has exacerbated the challenges faced by over-the-air broadcasters like Citytv but is not the root of its troubled financial health.' " It adds, " 'fundamental regulatory changes are required for the Citytv group of stations in order for them to become financially viable over the long-term.' "
Source: Cartt, 03/05/2009
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