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Ottawa, 31 August 1992
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Decision CRTC 92-661
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The Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVOntario)
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Toronto, Ontario - 911928000 - 911929800 - 911930600
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Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1992-37 dated 25 May 1992, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences issued to the Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVOntario) for the English-language educational television programming undertaking consisting of CICA-TV Toronto and its transmitters across Ontario, as well as of the television programming undertakings and associated transmitters providing TVOntario's French-language "La Chaîne française" and coverage of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1999, subject to the conditions specified in the licences to be issued.
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TVOntario
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The Commission commends the licensee on its performance in having achieved a level of 70% Canadian content over the course of its current licence, and notes TVOntario's commitment to maintain a 70% Canadian content level in each year of the new licence term.
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TVOntario has indicated that its expenditures on Canadian programming will increase over the new licence term from $21.7 million in 1992/93 to $29.3 million in the broadcast year 1998/99. Taking into account the particular circumstances of TVOntario, the Commission considers that a minimum annual commitment of 23% of total revenues is a reasonable amount and expects the licensee to maintain this level of expenditure on Canadian programming, whether this material is produced by TVOntario itself, co-produced or acquired.
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In Decision CRTC 86-1175, the Commission noted TVOntario's plans to make greater use of co-productions and independant producers in order to reduce the number of repeat broadcasts of programming. The Commission notes that over the current licence term TVOntario has achieved this objective, resulting in a repeat to original play ratio of approximately 5:1. The Commission encourages TVOntario to adhere to this ratio of repeat broadcasts, and to continue its efforts to further reduce the ratio during the course of the new licence term.
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The Commission commends TVOntario's involvement with the independent production community over the last licence term, and notes the fulfillment of its commitment to co-operate on projects with other educational broadcasters, particularly Radio-Québec. The Commission encourages TVOntario to continue its support of independent producers over the next licence term, and notes the licensee's commitment to continue co-production activity with the educational broadcast community.
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La Chaîne française
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In addition to its English-language educational television service, TVOntario was authorized in Decision CRTC 86-1176 to provide the residents of Ontario with a separate French-language educational television service, "La Chaîne française" (La Chaîne).
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The Commission notes that the licensee has exceeded the commitments that it made when the licence was issued with regard to programming expenditures and total broadcast hours in the French language. The Commission commends La Chaîne on its French-language educational programming as a whole, and especially on the programs aimed at children and teenagers. La Chaîne is encouraged to continue offering programs such as "Ça me dit chaud", "A comme artiste", and "À la claire fontaine", which feature contemporary Francophone musicians.
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In this renewal application La Chaîne committed to broadcast 60% Canadian content over the broadcast day as a whole (6 a.m. to midnight), and 50% between 6 p.m. and midnight. La Chaîne noted several factors that have made it difficult to honour similar proposals in this regard, as described in Decision CRTC 86-1176. For example, the licensee stated that there are only a few French-language broadcasters in Canada with which it is able to undertake co-productions or from which it may acquire new productions; as a result, the availability of French-language productions is limited in comparison with English-language productions.
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The licensee proposes to enter into co-productions with independent producers. Future projects include the Franco-Ontarian Festival, Omniscience, and a family series. The Commission encourages La Chaîne to continue to participate in co-productions with the independent production sector, as well as with other educational television services, in particular Radio-Québec.
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In keeping with a recommendation of the Commission, the licensee has established a system for ensuring ongoing input and advice from representatives of the public that corresponds more closely to the advisory mechanism used by its English-language service. The Ontario Francophone Advisory Council, which is comprised of 15 Francophones from various parts of Ontario, advises the licensee, TVOntario, on the educational material that Franco-Ontarians want to watch. With regard to multicultural programming, the Commission notes that the licensee occasionally broadcasts foreign-language films with French subtitles.
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Other matters
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The Commission notes that TVOntario intends to broadcast a 12-hour weekly block of English-language material on La Chaîne and, similarly, to broadcast a block of French-language material on the English- language service, as a means to improve service to the Ontario population as a whole.
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With regard to advertising, the Commission notes that both TVOntario and La Chaîne will adhere to the "Guidelines for Underwriting and Project Financing" set out in Decision CRTC 81-727. The licensee has committed not to broadcast advertising messages, other than those promoting its own programs and activities.
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With regard to native broadcasting, the Commission notes that the Board of Directors of TVOntario approved a policy on relations with Ontario's native population that has been in effect since March 1990. It also notes the efforts of TVOntario to increase the number of native people employed by the licensee, and their representation within TVOntario's programming.
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The Commission notes the licensee's commitment to expand its open and closed captioning activities during the new licence term, as funding allows, thereby increasing service to the deaf and hearing-impaired communities. The Commission encourages the licensee's efforts in this regard.
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Interventions
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The Commission notes the numerous interventions submitted in support of these applications and expressing satisfaction with the services provided by TVOntario. It notes in particular that the renewal process provided the opportunity for a useful exchange between TVOntario and a large number of Francophone groups and individuals regarding La Chaîne and their concerns pertaining to that service.
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The Commission notes the request by a number of interveners that the programs offered on La Chaîne be made more widely available. With the exception of those few areas served by off-air transmitters, the service of La Chaîne is distributed within Ontario via satellite to cable. In responding to these interventions, the licensee outlined an expansion plan that, over the next few years, would result in La Chaîne's signal being available to more than 90% of Ontario's Francophone population. The Commission encourages the licensee, during the new licence term, to pursue its efforts to provide better service to a greater proportion of the Franco-Ontarian population. The Commission notes that, in the interim, the licensee has proposed to make the programming on La Chaîne available to all French-language educational institutions or television stations wishing to acquire this programming, either for broadcast or for in-house use. The Commission also notes TVOntario's commitment to keep it informed of any developments in its efforts to make the service of La Chaîne available outside of Ontario.
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The Commission has taken note of TVOntario's statement that it will continue the dialogue that was established between itself and interveners during the current licence renewal process.
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The Commission also acknowledges the intervention submitted by the Canada Council on Human Rights and Race Relations in opposition to these applications, and is satisfied with TVOntario's response to the concerns raised.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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