Canadian
Content | Television |
Reinvesting in the System
Benefits Policy
Priority Canadian Programming for Conventional
Television Services
Pay and Specialty Television Services
A Measure of Success
Related Documents
A strong and diverse Canadian broadcasting system is a primary
objective of Canada's Broadcasting Act, which states:
- each element of the system must contribute to the creation
and presentation of Canadian programming.
Benefits Policy
Since the CRTC does not solicit competing applications to transfer
ownership or control of television undertakings, it expects applicants
to offer significant benefits to the communities they propose
to serve and to the Canadian broadcasting system.
The CRTC's benefits policy
applies to all transfers of ownership or control involving:
- conventional television stations;
- pay television services;
- pay-per-view television services;
- specialty television services.
Generally, applicants must commit clear and tangible benefits
that represent a financial contribution of 10% of the value of
the transaction, as accepted by the CRTC. The onus is on the applicant
to demonstrate that proposed benefits are commensurate with the
size and nature of the transaction.
Priority Canadian Programming for Conventional
Television Services
Priority Canadian programming
refers to all Canadian programming, excepting news, information
and sports programs, that is aired during peak viewing hours when
most Canadians are watching television i.e. between 7PM
and 11PM.
In a highly competitive market, the CRTC expects television broadcasters
will devote whatever expenditures are necessary to produce priority
Canadian programming that will attract Canadian audiences during
peak viewing hours.
In some instances, such as applications for new licences and
transfers of control or ownership, the CRTC also requires minimum
expenditures for Canadian programming.
Pay and Specialty Television Services
Expenditure requirements for pay-tv and specialty services vary
for each service and are set by conditions of licence. Check decisions
for individual services for details (Search).
A Measure of Success
Transfer of control
benefits directed to the Canadian broadcasting system exceeds
$540 million since the introduction of the new television policy
in 1999. Refer to the Broadcasting
Policy Monitoring Report for more details.
Related Documents
Building
on Success A Policy Framework for Canadian Television
Broadcasting Policy Monitoring
Report
Definitions
for new types of priority programs
Definitions
of Canadian dramatic programs that will qualify for time credits
towards priority programming requirements
Regulatory
amendments to implement the Ethnic Broadcasting Policy and new
television content categories
Date Modified: 2005-09-14
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