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Decision
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Ottawa, 6 April 1989
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Decision CRTC 89-104
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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
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Vancouver, Courtenay, Chilliwack, Port Alberni, Bowen Island, Squamish, Hope, Campbell River, Woss, Tahsis, Alert Bay, Port Alice, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Coal Harbour, Holberg, Harrison Hot Springs, Ruby Creek, Mount McDonald, Sooke, Point No Point, Phoenix, Greenwood, Midway, Rock Creek, Brackendale, Sechelt, Madeira Park, Grand Forks, Trail, Castlegar, Fruitvale/Montrose, Erie, Salmo, Christina Lake, Canal Flats, Golden, Invermere, Donald Station, Radium Hot Springs, Spillimacheen, Cranbrook, Fernie, Natal, Field, Moyie, Nelson, Crawford Bay, Creston, Winlaw, Crescent Valley, Slocan, New Denver, Bonnington Falls, Tabor Mountain, Purden Lake, Loos, McBride and Tête Jaune, British Columbia -881139000
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Following a Public Hearing in Vancouver on 25 October 1988, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for CBUT Vancouver and its rebroadcasting undertakings from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1994, subject to the conditions specified in the appendix to this decision and in the licences to be issued.
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CBUT provides the English-language television service of the CBC to approximately 2.3 million viewers in British Columbia through its principal transmitting facility in Vancouver, and its numerous rebroadcasting undertakings in the locations listed above. Although the station provides a provincial orientation in its programming, it maintains a strong attraction for viewers in its primary market of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. CBUT also stated that while its programming strategy is to serve its local audience first, it receives national prominence and recognition as the most important English-language regional production centre for the network outside of Toronto.
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In its current Promise of Performance, CBUT is committed to broadcast 15 hours per week of original local/regional programming including 11 hours 30 minutes of news and public affairs programs. CBUT produces weekday supper-hour newscasts and daily late evening news programs, for a total of 8 hours 45 minutes per week. The top provincial stories are broadcast in a half-hour information program entitled "This Week in B.C." to which the five B.C. private television stations affiliated with the CBC, CJDC-TV Dawson Creek, CFJC-TV Kamloops, CHBC-TV Kelowna, CKPG-TV Prince George and CFTK-TV Terrace contribute news items. A Cantonese version of this program is also broadcast on the regional pay television service, Cathay International Television Inc. In addition, analyses of important issues affecting the region are provided by CBUT's weekly half-hour documentary magazine "Pacific Report". The station also broadcasts 26 hour-long episodes a year of "Townhall Forum", which provides an opportunity for studio audiences to debate with informed panelists on matters of social and political concern to the community.
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In addition to the above-noted regularly-scheduled news and information programming, each year CBUT produces and broadcasts 13 documentary specials or series, often in conjunction with independent producers. At the hearing, representatives of CBUT also spoke of its track record in documentary production on visible minority topics and in co-operation with various multicultural and ethnic groups. Examples include a special on native alcohol and drug addiction, "Walking in Pain" and a two-part documentary on the Sikh community entitled "To Defend the Faith".
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The Commission commends CBUT's extensive activity in the area of drama production. "The Beachcombers" series, produced for the network by CBUT, has successfully entertained Canadian and international audiences for 17 seasons. In addition, CBUT contributes regularly to the network's dramatic series "The Way We Are" and "Family Pictures" with episodes reflecting the ethnic and social diversity of the population in the station's coverage area and produced in association with the independent production community. Over the current licence term, CBUT has also contributed to the network series, "Danger Bay" and broadcast a regional anthology drama series entitled "Lies from Lotus Land" both produced with local independent producers.
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CBUT's major initiatives in the area of drama production for the new licence term include plans for a new regional series entitled "Pacific Avenue" focusing on the lives of immigrant families from various Pacific Rim countries. Scheduled to commence production in 1991/92, the CBC indicated that the series will consist of 20 episodes a year. CBUT's application also indicated that the station intends to continue to contribute several episodes per year to the network series "The Way We Are" and "Family Pictures", as well as its commitment to allocate $36,000 for the development of drama programs in 1989/90, increasing to $51,300 in 1993/94.
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CBUT indicated that its involvement with the independent production community in the current licence term has resulted in some 80 projects, with an estimated value of $14 million to $16 million. In addition to the drama and documentary productions noted above, independent producers in British Columbia have contributed to coverage of sporting events as well as community festivals and telethons. Hoping to build on this initiative in the upcoming licence term, CBUT outlined such future projects as "NHL Breakaway", a weekly hockey magazine show; a documentary from the Conference of Indigenous Peoples entitled "Tradition, Change and Survival"; and "Drivers Seat", a consumer series which will be produced in Vancouver for the network.
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The Commission notes that CBUT's commitment to further pursue co-production activity is reflected in its projected allocation of 19.5% to 27% of its overall Canadian programming expenditures to this end over the new licence term.
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CBUT's music programs over the current licence term have included the rock video network series "Good Rockin' Tonight" featuring regional, national and international performers; "Medal Winners", a series produced for the network featuring a festival of Beethoven piano concertos; various benefit and Christmas concerts; and a special presentation featuring Colin James, a popular blues artist from B.C. The region's comedy talent has been featured on CBUT's comedy series "Downtown Saturday Night" and "Comedy College" and variety specials such as coverage of the Pacific National Exhibition and "Timmy's Christmas Telethon" have provided a showcase for a broad range of provincial talent.
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The Commission notes the intervention submitted by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) expressing concern about the importance of maintaining a professional pool of creative talent for local productions on CBC stations. ACTRA strongly supports the development of local and regional talent and takes issue with the centralization of decision-making at the network level in respect of the production funds allocated to individual CBC television stations.
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The Commission acknowledges the commitments that CBUT has made in the areas of drama programs and independent production and its plans to continue to produce such music and variety series as "Comedy College", the "Okanagan Symphony" and various community-oriented variety specials. The Commission also notes CBUT's plans, as contained in its proposed program strategy, to "take advantage of every opportunity to provide quality programming using our skilled, creative and craft workforce resident in B.C. to the fullest extent".
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Amongst CBUT's contributions to programming at the network level are the seniors-oriented series "The Best Years", "The Canadian Gardener" and the daytime game show "Talkabout". For the new licence term, CBUT's initiatives in this respect include the production of a weekly young people's program, a second game show, and two new regional series, "Pacific Avenue", and a magazine series focusing on family issues and concerns.
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In a period of diminishing resources, the Commission notes that many of the CBC's owned and operated television stations undertake co-operatively produced programming as an effective means of improving the quality and quantity of local programming. In this regard, CBUT co-operates in the coverage of news and information with its affiliated stations, as well as with CBC radio bureaus. Acknowledging that CBUT has not taken full advantage of all of its resources in this respect, representatives of the station outlined plans to co-operate with other owned and operated CBC stations in the western provinces in order to produce two hours of programming relevant to viewers in that part of the country, to be scheduled on Saturday evenings. In addition, CBUT is developing plans to broadcast future "Townhall Forum"'s from Alberta and various other locations outside of Vancouver, as well as initiate a co-operative business program for western Canada.
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With respect to children's programming, CBUT's efforts over the current licence term include production of the regional edition of "Switchback"; the network program "Fred Penner's Place" which is produced in co-operation with CBWT Winnipeg; "Youth Magazine"; and inserts for the Canadian edition of "Sesame Street". The Commission also notes CBUT's 13-part co-production entitled "Fabulous Festival" which featured performers at the annual Vancouver Children's Festival, and "Pilot One", a pilot intended for a junior high school audience, featuring a blend of musical/dramatic talent, information and discussion.
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In its renewal application, CBUT had committed to produce 15 hours per week of original local/regional production over the new licence term, and 2 hours of network production. The Commission notes that this commitment was subsequently increased at the hearing to a total local/regional original production commitment of 18 hours 45 minutes, and 6 hours of network production.
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The Commission notes CBUT's commitment to expand its news operation by increasing the amount of local coverage. CBUT intends to achieve this particularly through the production of more documentary programming for insertion in regular newscasts, as lead-ins to "Townhall Forum" programs and on a stand-alone basis. In addition, CBUT committed to broadcast "Townhall Forum" on a regular full-season basis in the new licence term. The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that CBUT, at a minimum, achieves the level of local production set out in its Promise of Performance.
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According to the expenditure projections set out in its renewal application, CBUT will spend $28,850,000 on Canadian programming in the first year of the new licence term, increasing to $34,658,000 in year five, including programming that receives network distribution and that which is produced in co-operation with independent producers. In accordance with the percentage allocations for local productions filed by the licensee, the Commission notes that expenditures for CBUT's local programming will range from $9,881,125 to $14,130,066.
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The Commission notes CBUT's commitment to spend $50,500 in the first year of the new licence term for script and concept development in under-represented categories, increasing to $72,000 in year five. As stated earlier, the licensee stipulated that more than 70% of these funds are to be allocated for drama productions, with the remainder going to the development of variety and documentary features. In this regard, the Commission refers the licensee to the guidelines for program development expenditures as set out in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions released today.
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Over the new licence term, CBUT also plans a number of studio and transmission improvements for an approximate capital expenditure of $3,210,000. These include the replacement of studio and mobile production equipment.
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With respect to the CBC's regionalization plan and in the particular case of CBUT, the Commission is concerned that the station's overall program strategy for the new licence term is based on the network's expectation that CBUT is to play a major role in contributing to network programming. In this respect, the Commission notes the statement made at the hearing by representatives of the station that "we have to recognize that some regional production will be delayed as we move towards producing more programs for the network".
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The Commission encourages the licensee to explore further means of increasing the amount of CBUT's regional programming and of adding to the diversity of its local programming as resources become available. To this end, the Commission encourages CBUT to increase, as soon as possible, the amount of local or regional programming that reflects the needs and interests of viewers in the communities served by the station and its rebroadcasting undertakings.
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In line with the CBC's intention to make available to its English-language regional stations an additional 30 minutes per week of local programming in the evening, as referred to in the Public Notice introducing this and other renewal decisions released today, the Commission notes CBUT's commitment to replace a network program broadcast in the evening hours with a weekly half-hour CBUT production and, further, to replace a network show broadcast outside of the evening hours with an additional weekly half-hour CBUT-produced program, in the final three years of the new licence term. The Commission notes that these productions will be in addition to CBUT's existing local and regional programming commitments. Should these changes result in a substantial variation in Schedule I of the Promise of Performance, CBUT should so advise the Commission.
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While CBUT's renewal application made no specific commitments to provide access to its programming for the hearing impaired, the Commission notes the CBC's plans with regard to its owned and operated stations, as discussed in the Public Notice introducing the decisions released today and the CBC's comments in response to the representations made at the hearing by the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and the Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf. In this respect, the Commission expects CBUT to acquire as soon as possible, the necessary equipment to caption at a minimum, headlines and appropriate scripted portions of its early evening newscasts during the new licence term.
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In renewing this licence, the Commission also authorizes CBUT to make use of the Vertical Blanking Interval. The Commission expects the licensee to adhere to the guidelines set out in Appendix A to Public Notice CRTC 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled "Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM)".
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The Commission also expects CBUT to acquire a telephone device for the deaf (TDD) during the first year of the new licence term and install it wherever is most appropriate, such as in the master control room, to ensure access to the station by deaf and hearing-impaired viewers over the entire broadcast day.
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The Commission received interventions in support of CBUT's renewal application from the British Columbia Pensioners' Organization, Primedia Productions, the B.C./Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA), Cathay International Television Inc. (Cathay) and the B.C. Canada Day Committee (the Committee).
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Mr. Brian Sung appeared at the hearing on behalf of the two latter interveners to convey Cathay's appreciation for CBUT's co-operation in producing Chinese-language versions of "This Week in British Columbia" for the B.C. Cantonese community and the Committee's appreciation for the station's role in the 1988 Canada Day celebrations.
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The CCTA raised the concern that CBUT lacks the technical capability to broadcast in stereo. In response, the CBC noted that stereo penetration in CBUT's market is very low and that, to date, the Corporation has not allocated any funds for this purpose.
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The British Columbia Ministry of Regional Development also intervened in support of the renewal application. It commented on a number of issues, including the need for increased local production and for the wider exposure of such programming on the network, as well as the problems with CBUT's signal distribution to the northern part of Vancouver Island. In response to the latter concern, representatives of CBUT noted that they were presently exploring possible solutions. With respect to local production, station officials gave their assurance that it was not their intention to reduce co-production activity in the region and noted, in this respect, the establishment of a western Canadian drama development centre in Vancouver.
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The Commission also notes the licensee's replies to the interventions submitted by Mr. Ken Battersby opposing the CBC's commercial insertion policy during its coverage of the Olympic Games, and that submitted by Mr. Harold Reinhold commenting on the audio quality on the program "Video Hits".
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Having assessed CBUT's past accomplishments as reviewed at the Vancouver hearing, including its extensive activity in the areas of drama production and co-productions with local independent producers, and taking into account the licensee's commitments for the next five years, particularly its increased commitment to original local production and the proposed expansion of its news service, the Commission is satisfied that CBUT's licence should be renewed for a full term.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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APPENDIX
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Conditions of licence for CBUT Vancouver and its rebroadcasting undertakings CBUT-1 Courtenay, CBUT-2 Chilliwack, CBUT-3 Port Alberni, CBUT-4 Bowen Island, CBUT-5 Squamish, CBUT-6 Hope, CBUT-8 Campbell River, CBUT-13 Woss, CBUT-14 Tahsis, CBUT-16 Alert Bay, CBUT-17 Port Alice, CBUT-18 Port McNeill, CBUT-19 Port Hardy, CBUT-20 Coal Harbour, CBUT-21 Holberg, CBUT-23 Harrison Hot Springs, CBUT-25 Chilliwack, CBUT-26 Ruby Creek, CBUT-27 Mount McDonald, CBUT-28 Sooke, CBUT-29 Point No Point, CBUT-30 Phoenix, CBUT-31 Greenwood, CBUT-32 Midway, CBUT-33 Rock Creek, CBUT-34 Brackendale, CBUT-35 Sechelt, CBUT-36 Madeira Park, CBUT-37 Grand Forks, CBUAT Trail, CBUAT-2 Castelgar, CBUAT-3 Fruitvale/Montrose, CBUAT-4 Erie, CBUAT-5 Salmo, CBUAT-6 Trail, CBUAT-7 Christina Lake, CBUBT-1 Canal Flats, CBUBT-2 Golden, CBUBT-3 Invermere, CBUBT-4 Donald Station, CBUBT-5 Radium Hot Springs, CBUBT-6 Spillimacheen, CBUBT-7 Cranbrook, CBUBT-8 Fernie, CBUBT-9 Fernie, CBUBT-10 Natal, CBUBT-13 Field, CBUBT-14 Moyie, CBUCT Nelson, CBUCT-1 Crawford Bay, CBUCT-2 Creston, CBUCT-3 Winlaw, CBUCT-4 Crescent Valley, CBUCT-5 Slocan, CBUCT-6 New Denver, CBUDT Bonnington Falls, CBUHT Tabor Mountain, CBUHT-1 Purden Lake, CBUHT-2 Loos, CBUHT-3 McBride and CBUHT-4 Tête Jaune, British Columbia
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1. The licensee shall adhere to the CBC guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. Until such time as the Commission has approved the revised CBC guidelines, the CBC shall adhere to its current guidelines on sex-role stereotyping (as set out in Part C of Appendix A to Public Notice CRTC 1986-351 dated 22 December 1986) and, as a minimum, to the CAB's guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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2. The licensee shall adhere to the standards for children's advertising set out in the Corporation's Advertising Standards Policy C-5 dated 4 June 1986 and entitled "Advertising Directed to Children Under 12 Years of Age", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, provided that the policy meets as a minimum the standards set out in the CAB's The Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children, revised in January 1988, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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Further, the licensee shall not broadcast any commercial message during any child-directed programming or any child-directed commercial message between programs directed to children of pre-school age. For the purpose of this condition, programs directed to children and scheduled before 12:00 noon during school-day morning hours will be deemed to be programs directed to children of pre-school age.
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