|
Public Notice
|
|
Ottawa, 23 July 1986
|
|
Public Notice CRTC 1986-178
|
|
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE TELEVISION BROADCASTING REGULATIONS - RETENTION OF THE TWELVE-MONTH REPORTING PERIOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF CANADIAN CONTENT
|
|
In Public Notice CRTC 83-18 of 31 January 1983, entitled "Policy Statement on Canadian Content in Television", the Commission announced its intention to change the reporting period for the measurement of Canadian content from an annual to a semi-annual basis. This change was intended to ensure that Canadian programs would be distributed more evenly over the various seasons of the year so as to be accessible to the larger audiences associated with the autumn and winter months.
|
The proposed change to the regulations was issued for public comment (Public Notice CRTC 1983-264 of 24 November 1983) and published in the Canada Gazette on 8 May 1984 to become effective on 1 October 1984 (Public Notice CRTC 1984-110 of 9 May)
|
However, in Public Notice CRTC 1984-194 of 26 July 1984, the Commission announced that representatives of the broadcasting industry had since expressed concern that the implementation of this revised procedure on 1 October 1984 did not give them sufficient time to adjust their program schedules to comply with the requirements of the amended regulation. Accordingly, the Commission proposed to postpone the implementation of the semi-annual reporting period for one year and requested comments on this proposal. On 10 October 1984, the Commission announced a delay in the implementation of the semi-annual reporting period to 1 October 1985 (Public Notice CRTC 1984-247).
|
In Public Notice CRTC 1985-82 of 25 April 1985, the Commission announced that broadcasters were continuing to urge a further delay in implementing the proposed change during which time they were willing to provide concrete evidence of their commitment to adjust the scheduling imbalances which the six-month regulation was designed to correct. In consequence, the Commission proposed a further one-year delay in the implementation of the six-month reporting period until 1 October 1986. The Public Notice also contained the following statement:
|
|
The Commission expects broadcasters to take immediate steps to correct the imbalance referred to above, and to improve the scheduling of Canadian programs in all seasons, particularly in prime time. (Emphasis in the original)
|
|
The Commission intends to monitor closely the scheduling practices undertaken to achieve such corrective measures.
|
Public Notice CRTC 1985-225 of 4 October 1985 announced the decision to permit the further one-year delay, while reaffirming the Commission's original objective to ensure programs "are distributed more reasonably during the different seasons".
|
|
The Commission has now completed its monitoring of the Canadian content levels of television licensees during the past winter season (October 1985 March 1986) and is pleased to note that there has been a significant increase in the proportion of Canadian content aired by comparison with the previous winter season (October 1984 - March 1985). A majority of television licensees have made an effort to spread their Canadian content more evenly over the year and are respecting the Canadian content requirements of 60 percent during the full broadcast day and 50 percent during the evening hours. Based on this information, the Commission no longer considers it necessary to change the regulation concerning the reporting period for the measurement of Canadian content from an annual to a semi-annual basis in order to ensure the even distribution of Canadian programs over the various seasons.
|
|
Accordingly, the Commission proposes to amend the reporting regulation so as to retain the twelve-month reporting requirement and require a six-month approach by condition of licence, where necessary. This allows the Commission to acknowledge the improved performance of many licensees, while at the same time obliging any poorly performing licensee to improve its performance by attaching an appropriate condition at the time of licence renewal.
|
As indicated in the Proposed Regulations Respecting Television Broadcasting issued today (Public Notice CRTC 1986-176), the Commission is also proposing that the annual reporting period commence 1 September rather than 1 October to ensure greater conformity with the fiscal year-end of the vast majority of licensees as well as with the Commission's financial reporting procedures.
|
|
In accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission now invites interested parties to submit written comments on the proposed amendment as set out in the attached schedule. This portion of the proposed regulations is being treated separately, on an accelerated schedule, in order to ensure implementation of this provision prior to 1 October 1986. It has been included in the Proposed Regulations Respecting Television Broadcasting issued separately today.
|
|
Comments should be submitted to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2, on or before 22 August 1986.
|
|
Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
|
|
|