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Decision
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Ottawa, 12 March 1985
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Decision CRTC 85-140
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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
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Renewal of the English and French-language Television Network Licences of the CBC
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For related documents: see Notices of Public Hearing CRTC 1984-80 dated 21 September 1984; and CRTC 1984-102 dated 14 November 1984.
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The English and French-language television network licences of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation expire 31 March 1985.
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In September 1984, the Commission announced a hearing scheduled for December 1984 to consider the renewal of the Corporation's television network licences. Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1984-80 requested the Corporation to make available sufficient information to permit a full public discussion of the CBC's basic role and its future programming and service plans.
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Subsequently, in announcing the postponement of the hearing at the Corporation's request (Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1984-102 dated 14 November 1984), the Commission noted that, given the need for the CBC to review its overall corporate, programming and service plans and priorities, and the allocation of resources thereto, there was much merit in postponing the hearing.
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Furthermore, in a letter received 4 March 1985, the Corporation has advised the Commission that,
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significant uncertainty remains as to the impact of the [budget] reduction on future plans, and in particular on the program priorities set out in the applications which were submitted to the Commission in mid-1984. In addition, the Minister of Communications has announced his intention to conduct a "fundamental review" of broadcasting policy, an important focus of which will be the role and mandate of the CBC.
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The Corporation has also requested that its applications be withdrawn and that new applications be submitted "once the review has taken place and its implications are known."
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The role and mandate of the CBC is established by Parliament under the Broadcasting Act. Section 3 of the Act clearly sets out the objectives of the national broadcasting service provided by the CBC. The Commission is responsible for ensuring that the CBC implements its mandate as enunciated in section 3 of this Act. Any revision, therefore, of the role, mandate and objectives of the national broadcasting service provided by the CBC is the prerogative of Parliament.
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In light of the above and of the uncertainties still facing the CBC, the Commission considers that the public interest would best be served if the Corporation were asked to file new applications when the review process has been completed. Accordingly, the applications for the renewal of the CBC television network licences have been returned to the Corporation.
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Moreover, the Commission renews the English and French-language television network licences from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1987, subject to the same terms and conditions as the current licences. The Commission intends to hear the applications of the CBC television network licence renewal applications in 1986.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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