News Releases
June 9, 1999
CBC Reinforces Commitment to Distinctive and High Quality Programming
Ottawa — CBC Chair Guylaine Saucier today lead the closing statements to the CRTC in the CBC's 12 day licence renewal hearing. "We presented the Commission with a sound plan for our next licence term, which we reinforced in light of many constructive comments made by intervenors and the CRTC," stated Saucier. "We asked the Commission for the regulatory flexibility to be able to fulfil our plans over a seven year licence term." The Chair further indicated that CBC's enhanced commitments—improved balance in its television schedules and better reach for its radio services over the next licence term, are both responsive to Canadians' preoccupations about the CBC and responsible given current fiscal and budgetary parameters.
President and CEO Perrin Beatty stated that the CBC had listened carefully throughout the proceedings and concluded that Canadians expect the CBC to place ever- increasing emphasis on the core elements of its mandate. "Our programming will be Canadian, distinctive and of high quality, and will embody the principles of public service broadcasting. It will reflect the regions of Canada to themselves and to the country as a whole, telling Canadian stories, celebrating Canadian talent, and expressing Canadian values and realities," Beatty said.
CBC's closing featured modifications and enhancements to each media line's previous commitments in response to the submissions and interventions of Canadians.
Balance in our Schedules
We will emphasize under-represented genres within an overall balanced schedule.
- English Television will increase the hours of amateur sports programming by 50% beginning in 2000/01 and will reduce professional sports programming by 20% by the end of the licence term.
- French Television will reduce by 50% the number of American films it broadcasts five years.
- English Television will provide a minimum of 50% independently produced non-news programming and negotiate a "Terms of Trade" agreement with Canada's Independent Producers.
- French Television will provide a minimum of 50% independently produced non-news programming in prime time.
- CBC Newsworld and RDI will continue development of cross-cultural co-productions.
- French television will provide 18 hours per year of Canadian documentaries.
- English and French Television will ensure a minimum of 40 hours per year of program exchange and co-production.
Supporting Arts and Culture
We will enhance our participation in the development of artistic and creative talent across several disciplines.
- French Television will provide 18 performance broadcasts in prime time per year and English Television 24 broadcasts, 12 in prime time.
- French Television will invest $20 million, and English Television $30 million over the next seven years for the acquisition, production and promotion of Canadian feature films.
Reaching more Canadians
We will extend our services to ensure that they are accessible to the greatest number of citizens.
- English Radio will increase Radio Two coverage to 75% of each province (over 70% in Saskatchewan) by the end of the licence term.
- French Radio will extend coverage of La Chaîne culturelle to 85% of Francophone Canadians, and will extend coverage of La Première Chaîne to all Francophone communities with populations in excess of 500.
Deepening our Roots in the Regions
We will strengthen our regional presence and our regional reflection.
- French Television will invest $7 million in regional independent production and provide a minimum of five hours per week climbing to seven hours by end of term as contributions to network programming.
- French Television will create an advisory committee comprised of 12 regional representatives.
- English Television will provide a minimum of 1.5 hours of regional news programming per day in 13 centres and a minimum of one hour per day in four others. A feasibility study into weekend news programming will be completed by the end of the calendar year.
- English Television will over the licence term broadcast more than 1,000 hours of regional non-news programming, beginning with 26 episodes a year and rising to 52.
- English Television will produce 36 regional hours of contributions to the network
- French Television will produce 260 hours of non-news regional programming in four regions
(Atlantic, Québec, Ontario and West).
Diversity
We will strive to be more truly reflective of and responsive to all in Canada's diverse society.
- English and French Television will ensure continued representation of Canada's multicultural and aboriginal communities in their programming, and English Television will increase the use of aboriginal and multicultural reporters and will continue training and internships.
- English and French Television will continue to expand the hours of programming which are closed captioned.
Accountability and Transparency
As custodians of a public trust we will increase our openness and public accountability.
- CBC will provide a report to the public on CBC's performance against an annual Statement of Promise.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada reaches Canadians through eight national radio and television networks, its full-service Web sites, local/regional stations and affiliates, as well as the digital television channel Country Canada and the continuous music network Galaxie. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada has forged partnerships with other broadcasters and is a partner in the satellite radio service SIRIUS Canada as well as in the specialty television services ARTV and The Documentary Channel. Through this array of activities, CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight aboriginal languages. (2006)
For additional information, please contact:
Katherine Heath-Eves
Media Relations
CBC/Radio-Canada (Ottawa)
Tel: (613) 288-6235
heathevk@cbc.ca
www.cbc.radio-canada.ca
