News Releases

December 18, 1998

CBC Welcomes Public Consultations

Ottawa — The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation welcomes today's release of the CRTC's plans to consult Canadians in a series of public sessions in advance of the CBC's licence renewal hearings to be held next Spring.

"We have been working with the CRTC, and are pleased they have designed a process that will ensure the opinions of ordinary Canadians — our viewers and llisteners, as well as all interested citizens — and not just intervenors in a formal process, will be heard by the Commission," said President and CEO Perrin Beatty.

Earlier in the year the CRTC indicated its intention to review the entire Canadian broadcasting system which is founded on two essential pillars: public and private. It began the process with the Canadian Television Policy Review, which primarily examined the private broadcasting system. To review the public system, the Commission indicated that the licences of the CBC — English and French Television and Radio, Newsworld and RDI would be reviewed all at once in an unprecedented series of simultaneous hearings. In the past, the voices of average Canadians would be overwhelmed by formal interventions by industry representatives and others at hearings in Ottawa. These public consultations in advance of the hearings will ensure that Canadians can express their views and opinions about the CBC and its impact on them and their communities — right in their own communities.

While the CBC regularly conducts public accountability forums in communities across Canada, the CRTC's inclusion of the CBC in this process offers an additional opportunity to learn first-hand what Canadians feel about their public broadcaster and to discuss with them our plans for the future.

"The strategic plan adopted by the Board of Directors this week is at core of our licence renewal applications, and together they provide our commitment to Canadians to deliver the services they expect of their public broadcaster whenever and however they wish to be served," said Beatty. "We join with the CRTC in calling on Canadians from coast-to-coast to take advantage of this unique opportunity."

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