ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 94-437

Decision

Ottawa, 27 July 1994

Decision CRTC 94-437

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

- 932185200 - 932186000

Renewal of the English-language and French-language television network licences

Table of Contents Pages Table des matières

I INTRODUCTION 1 I INTRODUCTION

II THE NATIONAL PUBLIC 2 II LE RADIODIFFUSEUR PUBLIC
BROADCASTER IN THE MULTI- NATIONAL DANS L'UNIVERS
CHANNEL UNIVERSE DES CANAUX MULTIPLES

III IMPLEMENTING THE MANDATE 9 III ACQUITTEMENT DU
MANDAT

A.The Financial Resources 9 A. Les ressources
Financières

B.Division of Financial 10 B. Répartition des Resources
between the ressources finan-
English- and French-language cières entre les
Networks réseaux français et
Anglais

C.The CBC's programming 11 C. Les principes et
principles and priorities priorités de la SRC
en matière de pro-
grammation

IV RENEWAL OF THE LICENCES 14 IV RENOUVELLEMENT DES
LICENCES

V PRIORITIES AND EXPECTATIONS 14 V LES PRIORITÉS ET LES
ATTENTES

1. Canadian content 15 1. Contenu canadien
a) Broadcast day 15 a) Journée de radio-
diffusion

b) Evening Broadcast Period 16 b) Période de radio-
diffusion en
soirée

2. Children and Youth 17 2. Enfants et jeunes

3. Drama 20 3. Dramatiques

4. Regional Production and 21 4. Production et reflet
Reflection régionaux

5. Network Exchange 23 5. Échange entre les
réseaux

6. Northern Service 24 6. Service du Nord

7. Performing Arts 25 7. Arts d'interprétation

8. Independent Production 26 8. Productions indépendantes

9. Canadian Musical Talent 27 9. Talents musicaux canadiens

10. Diversification of Sources 28 10. Diversification des
of Foreign Content sources de contenu
étranger

11. Violence 28 11. Violence

12. Portrayal of Women 29 12. Représentation des
femmes

13. Weekend News and Infor- 30 13. Émissions de nou-
mation on the French- velles et d'informa-
language Television tion en fin de se-
Network maine au réseau
français de télévision

14. French-language Service 30 14. Service de langue
outside Quebec française hors
Québec

15. Native Canadians 31 15. Canadiens autochtones

16. Multicultural 32 16. Représentation
Representation multiculturelle

17. Service to the Deaf and 33 17. Service pour les
Hard-of-Hearing sourds et les
malentendants

18. Extension of Service 35 18. Extension du
service

VI OTHER MATTERS 37 VI AUTRES QUESTIONS

1. Commercial Rates and 37 1. Tarifs commerciaux
Advertising Practices et pratiques publi-
citaires

2. Alternative Sources of 37 2. Autres sources de
Revenue recettes

3. Technical Quality 38 3. Qualité technique

4. Sports Programming 38 4. Émissions de sports

5. Diversification of the 39 5. Diversification de
English-language Network la grille-horaire
Schedule du réseau anglais

6. House of Commons Channel 40 6. Chaîne parlementaire

APPENDIX ANNEXE

Renewal of the English-language and French-language television network licences

I INTRODUCTION

In Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1994-1 dated 21 January 1994, the Commission announced that it would hold a hearing beginning 21 March 1994 to consider the renewal of the two television network licences issued to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC; the Corporation), and to provide the public with an opportunity to express its views on the past performance and future direction of the national service.

Almost 300 individuals or organizations submitted written interventions; of these, 25 made oral presentations at the hearing. The Commission expresses its appreciation to all who contributed their views and thereby assisted the Commission in assessing the performance and plans of the Corporation.

Following its deliberations on the many complex issues canvassed at the hearing, the Comission hereby renews, from 1 October 1994 to 31 August 1999, the two television network licences issued to the Corporation, subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision and in the licences to be issued.

The Commission has held public hearings on the renewal of the CBC's television network licences on three previous occasions. The first took place in 1974 (Decision CRTC 74-70); the second took place in 1978 (Decision CRTC 79-320); the third occurred in 1986 (Decision CRTC 87-140). By Decisions CRTC 91-687 and CRTC 93-102, the licences for the two networks were renewed administratively. The expiry date of the current licences is 30 September 1994.

The Commission also called the Corporation to a hearing in March of 1991 to discuss major service reductions the CBC had announced in late 1990. The results of this hearing were published in Decision CRTC 91-423.

II THE NATIONAL PUBLIC BROADCASTER IN THE MULTI-CHANNEL UNIVERSE

The CBC's mandate

Paragraphs (l) to (n) of Section 3 of the Broadcasting Act (the Act) set out the mandate for the national public broadcaster as follows:

(l) the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains;

(m) the programming provided by the Corporation should

 (i) be predominantly and distinctively Canadian,

 (ii) reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions,

 (iii) actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression,

 (iv) be in English and in French, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, including the particular needs and circumstances of English and French linguistic minorities,

 (v) strive to be of equivalent quality in English and in French,

 (vi) contribute to shared national consciousness and identity,

 (vii) be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose, and

 (viii) reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada;

(n) where any conflict arises between the objectives of the Corporation set out in paragraphs (l) and (m) and the interest of any other broadcasting undertaking of the Canadian broadcasting system, it shall be resolved in the public interest, and where the public interest would be equally served by resolving the conflict in favour of either, it shall be resolved in favour of the objectives set out in paragraphs (l) and (m).

Most of the requirements and objectives for the CBC set out in the Act can only be achieved through programming. The Corporation and the Commission both have a role to play in ensuring that these requirements and objectives are realized. It is the Corporation's responsibility to ensure that its programming reflect the mandate in the Act. It is the Commission's responsibility to supervise and regulate the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Canadian broadcasting system as a whole, to ensure implementation of the Act's objectives.

At issue is the extent to which the objectives for the Corporation set out in the Act are realistically achievable over the course of the next licence term, which may see a vast increase in programming services. Circumstances as they relate to all broadcasters are changing and will continue to change profoundly over the next few years as a consequence of new technological developments and of increased competition. The CBC has also been affected and will continue to be affected by fiscal restraints imposed upon it by government. The CBC is not the only public broadcaster facing momentous change: public broadcasters all over the world are being forced to reassess their respective roles.

Although the real spending power of the CBC has been eroded over the past decade and a half, the need that Canadians have to know and understand one another better has perhaps never been greater. As noted in a written intervention by Pierre Gauvreau:

 Since 1952, the CBC has played, and continues more than ever to play a major role in defining the Canadian identity, for Anglophones as well as Francophones. [TRANSLATION]

Clearly, Canadians must have a means to establish or reestablish links with one another; to discover and evaluate the things they share, and the differences they must learn to appreciate or accept. In broadcasting, Canada depends on the CBC more than on any other voice to fulfil these needs.

At the same time, and as noted earlier, the competition for viewers' attention, both from domestic and foreign program providers, is increasing, and the share of viewing that the CBC and other Canadian broadcasters can realistically expect to attract is becoming smaller and smaller.

Considering the impact that satellite-delivered foreign signals are expected to have in Canada, the need may be greater than ever for an outlet to express truly Canadian stories, ideas and values amid these foreign voices. A strong Canadian national public broadcaster is indispensable in this context. What Canadians require and expect of their CBC, more than of any other Candian broadcaster, is that it provide the means for them to talk to one another about things Canadian, both formally and informally, that it be a place where they can meet, a place where they can feel at home.

In the words of Mr. Gauvreau again:

 The images that a society holds of itself must themselves be based on that society's realities; otherwise, it is condemned to adopt the images of others. It is this existential dilemma that now confronts all societies in the face of the cultural neo-colonialism represented by new technologies and their virtually limitless capacity to expand the number of available broadcast channels. [TRANSLATION]

According to many interveners, a more defined focus of its role as the national public broadcaster is necessary if the CBC is to respond boldly and imaginatively to the fiscal, competitive and technological challenges before it, and if it is to discharge fully its obligations under the Act. As the Commission noted in 1974:

 If a constant intellectual effort is not made to redefine, reinterpret and enrich [the CBC's] definition of purpose, the organization will tend to drift according to the various pressures exerted on it by external and internal forces.

Some have said that such a redefinition of focus requires new legislation. Others consider that the Corporation can effect significant changes under the existing Act.

Canadian Heritage Minister Michel Dupuy announced on 25 May of this year that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage would be asked to "carry out a public review aimed at forging a new consensus about the role of the CBC in the new multi-channel universe."

Earlier this year, The Friends of Canadian Broadcasting began a series of public forums to discuss the future of the CBC. The President of the Corporation indicated that high-level CBC management will be participating in these meetings.

These initiatives may eventually result in a new policy direction with respect to the CBC's mandate and funding. Accordingly, the Commission urges members of the public to participate in these or any other discussions on the future role of the CBC. At this time, however, both the CBC and the Commission can be guided only by the mandate for the CBC set out in the current legislation. This mandate, it may be useful to note, applies to the CBC's radio and television services as a whole, not necessarily to each separately.

The Commission indicated its views on the Corporation's general orientation in its 1974 decision. It considers that many of these views have equal currency today, despite the intervening 20 years:

 Canadians, the owners of the airwaves, constitute an infinite and everchanging variety of audiences, with powerful, diversified and distinct interests. To those individual Canadians the national broadcasting service owes its first responsibility.

 It is in terms of the greatest possible variety of human experience, expression and conception that a public broadcasting institution should define, select and organize its programming. The goal should be to maximize, not audience for every program, but the viewers' chances of discovery, understanding, participation and cultural development.

 [The Commission] agrees that the CBC television networks should be a main highway in Canadian cultural communication, not a picturesque but seldom frequented side-road. It should be a service that all Canadians are proud to identify with, even though all may not watch it all the time.

 The Commission agrees with the CBC that the national broadcasting service should endeavour to remain a popular service and that it should guard itself against becoming the preserve of esoteric minorities.

 The Commission has never believed that the CBC should abandon entertainment programming, including popular presentations and sports.... It is understood that the national broadcasting service should retain a suitable proportion of this kind of programming.

In 1987 the Commission addressed the CBC's role again:

 The CBC, above other broadcasters, is expected to be an instrument of public policy and to shoulder a special responsibility for safeguarding, enriching and strengthening the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada.... The Commission... reiterates its view that the role of the CBC has become pivotal for the distinctiveness of the system, and even more essential than it was previously now that there is such an abundance of viewing choices.

 Every Canadian ought to be able to find something of value on the CBC, whether his or her interest is politics, sports, science, or the arts. The CBC was expected to provide a range of programming of high standard that touches upon the best Canadian endeavours in all areas worth knowing or talking about, including those in which coverage by other sectors of the broadcasting system may be deficient, with the knowledge that in many parts of Canada, cultural or other support for certain interests is less than adequate.

Much is expected of the CBC, in the range of its programming content, its distinctiveness and its excellence. Understandably, the CBC falls victim to conflicting expectations. For example, it has sometimes been suggested that the CBC should only be offering programming that private, commercial broadcasters either cannot or will not provide. Such a requirement would be unrealistic given the different programming schedules of private broadcasters across the country and the obligation it would place on the Corporation to react constantly to the scheduling changes of such broadcasters. Second, it would conflict with the CBC's present mandate to offer a service central to the life of the nation in which all Canadians have a stake, both as citizens, and as the taxpayers who provide the bulk of the CBC's finances.

Despite conflicting demands, public support for the Corporation's programming continues to be strong: approximately 200 of the 290 interventions received by the Commission offered nothing less than unqualified support for the network renewal applications. Most of the remaining interventions were generally in support, although concerns were expressed about specific aspects of the Corporation's activities.

The CBC, even in the past, could not and was not expected to appeal to all Canadians all of the time. Such an expectation will be even less realistic in the future. With more and more competitive programming services becoming available to Canadians, and with less public funding being available to support the CBC, the Corporation must continue to reevaluate its role.

The CBC networks have never attempted to schedule programming on the basis of a pre-determined concept of what amount in what category would be appropriate. The Corporation's program offerings have varied across the seasons and across the years. The CBC's mandate, while broad, is very flexible. It is this flexibility that will allow the Corporation to make adjustments to the programming on its two television networks to prepare the Canadian national public broadcaster for its role in the multi-channel universe.

III IMPLEMENTING THE MANDATE

A. The Financial Resources

An overriding concern is the continuing need by the Corporation for sufficient funding to fulfil the mandate set out for it by Parliament. Reductions in Parliamentary appropriations, unless compensated by new revenues not dependent on the sale of airtime, may lead either to a reduction in the breadth, depth or quality of the programming or to an increasing reliance by the CBC on the types of programming designed to attract advertising, forcing it to pursue large audiences for revenue-generating purposes, at the expense of programming more suited to fulfilling its mandate.

Since the 1974 renewal decision, the Commission has continued to be concerned about the influence of advertising on the CBC's programming. Revenues from advertising, as a percentage of total CBC Corporate revenues, have increased from 17% in 1983/84 (a level that had not varied greatly since the early 70s) to 22% in 1992/93. In its renewal applications, the Corporation projects that percentage to increase from 22.3% to 25.2% over the next five years.

How the CBC meets its responsibilities will depend largely on its financial resources. Funding for the Corporation, already diminished over the past eight years through budget cuts and inflation, will be further reduced over the next five years. This will place a significant strain on the Corporation. The CBC has indicated it intends to respond to its latest fiscal challenge by increasing efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. This includes a restructuring of its management, a reduction in staff, and technological and administrative efficiencies.

The Commission notes the concerns frequently expressed about the CBC's efficiency. It encourages the Corporation's pursuit of plans for a zero-based review, and an improvement of productivity as discussed extensively at the hearing. As to any comment beyond this encouragement, the Commission notes that the identification of any inefficiencies or waste in the Corporation is the responsibility of the Auditor General who, under the Act, is to report once every five years on the CBC's activities. The first report is due in the summer of 1995.

Two factors may assist the Corporation in coping with the reductions in Parliamentary appropriations during the next crucial years. The first is the five-year funding commitment announced by the Minister in February of this year which will facilitate financial planning; the second is that, for the first time in its history, the Corporation will be permitted to borrow up to $25 million.

The Corporation indicated that it would obtain new revenues from a variety of sources, including specialty services operating in Canada, a satellite-delivered programming service aimed at audiences in the United States, and the export of Canadian programs. These revenues would be used to improve CBC services.

B. Division of Financial Resources between the English- and French-language Networks

One issue raised at the hearing was with regard to the division of financial resources between the English- and French-language services. Interveners spoke to the fact that more money is allocated to the operation of the English-language service than to the French-language service, arguing that the money should be allocated equally, without reference to the size of the respective populations they serve. The Commission notes that if money were distributed on the basis of population, the ratio would be 3:1 in favour of the English-language network. The Commission notes that some of the programming in great favour with French-language audiences is less costly to produce than the most popular English-language programming and, in general, the cost of programming rights of acquired programming is less for the smaller French-speaking population. The Corporation follows a course that allocates approximately 63% of its television network budget to the English-language network and 37% to the French-language network.

The Commission considers that the Corporation is in the best position to reach decisions on this allocation of funds. The Commission is satisfied that the Corporation's decisions in this matter are not at odds with the Act's requirement and, in the Commission's view, have resulted in programming that is "of equivalent quality in English and in French."

C. The CBC's Programming Principles and Priorities

At the March 1991 public hearing, the Corporation enunciated five planning principles:

. a CBC that offers strong national services rooted in the regions of the country;

. a CBC that is an essential public service. Its programming is distinctive and relevant. It demonstrates the highest possible standards of quality, creativity and integrity. It meets needs that are not met elsewhere and its services are accessible in all parts of the country;

. a CBC that is valued by all Canadians. It offers a wide range of programming. It is not a mere alternative, designed to fill in the gaps left by other broadcasters. It is in the mainstream, not the margin, of the Canadian broadcasting system;

. a CBC that is predominantly and distinctively Canadian. Ideally, it is almost entirely Canadian, supplemented by the best the rest of the world has to offer; and

. a CBC that has a stable, predictable financial base so that it can effectively discharge its reponsibilities to Canadians and be accountable for its trusteeship of public funds.

From these principles, the Corporation derived the following four programming priorities:

. the maintenance of strong, complementary national networks in radio and television. In television, the CBC will emphasize Canadian content and quality programming. The English- and French-language services will cooperate more closely;

. a more focussed and distinctive role for regional television with redesigned supperhour news and information programs and an expanded network of journalistic bureaus;

. an inter-regional emphasis that will provide Canadians in various parts of the country with "a forum for the exchange of views and the enhancement of understanding"; and

. local television service to be provided "as part of the new regional and inter-regional responsibilities." The CBC intends to continue providing regional/local service on radio.

These principles and priorities were reiterated by the Corporation in its renewal applications, and form the basis of its strategy toward the development of a distinctive CBC in the 1990s. The CBC placed particular emphasis on redeveloping the television services, so as to:

. improve the accessibility of CBC television programming;

. eliminate US programming from the television schedules, to be replaced by new Canadian programs and high quality, non-U.S. foreign material;

. fully reflect the regional nature of Canada on the television networks and within the regions themselves through maximizing the use of regional production on the network and building on the established regional journalistic base for both regional and network exposure;

. in both radio and television, maintain and develop cross-cultural programming to assure that CBC services offer a true and comprehensive reflection of Francophones to Anglophones and vice versa;

. assure that all CBC journalistic services work to the highest possible standards and are fully accountable to their audiences; and

. emphasize audience service over commercial objectives, while realizing the importance of commercial revenues to the Corporation's funding base.

Underlying the Corporation's approach in its licence renewal applications, is the recognition that, with limited human and financial resources, any increase in emphasis on one aspect of its operations will require a reduction in another; and that an emphasis on quality in some parts of the schedule will lead to compromise in others.

The Commission generally supports the Corporation's strategy, subject to qualifications elsewhere in this decision.

IV RENEWAL OF THE LICENCES

In the Commission's view, the Corporation has responded adequately to most, but not all, of the expectations articulated in Decision CRTC 87-140. The Commission accepts the CBC's explanation that the fact that some of these expectations have not been met is due to the reduced resources available to the Corporation. The government, however, has assured the Corporation of its funding during the next five years. It has also indicated that no additional budget cuts will be forthcoming during that period. The prospect of reduced funding beyond that period has been a factor in the Commission's determination with respect to the length of the new licence term. In view of the unsettled environment in which the CBC will operate during the remainder of this decade, the Commission considers it necessary that there be a further opportunity, before the end of the century, for both the Commission and the public to discuss the role of the CBC and the manner in which it has dealt with its priorities and met its expectations. The Commission has therefore renewed the licences of the two networks for a period of five years, until 31 August 1999.

V  PRIORITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

In its 1987 renewal decision, the Commission set out its list of priorities for the Corporation. These priorities were based on the CBC's mandate. Some were expressed as long-term expectations, while others were identified as short-term expectations to be achieved within the licence term. In many cases these priorities matched those established by the CBC for itself.

Based upon the input from all parties to the public hearing process, the Commission has determined that this list of priorities and their order is, for the most part, still appropriate. As noted below, the only matter that has increased in importance is the need for more Canadian programming for children and youth. While several of these earlier priorities have been identified as either having been achieved or as being no longer applicable, one priority, which relates to the Commission's concern about violence in programming, has been added to the list.

1. Canadian Content

The Commission considers that its long-term objective for the CBC to Canadianize the full-day broadcast schedules of both the English- and French-language television networks to an annual average of 90% and that it attain a level of 25 hours per week of Canadian programming in the 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. time period, on both networks, remains the paramount long-term priority. The Commission agrees with the Corporation that the CBC's programming need not be 100% Canadian: the national public broadcaster should have room in its schedules to allow Canadian viewers access to a sampling of the best television programming from the rest of the world. At the moment, this aspect of the Corporation's programming -- at least on the English-language network -- is in need of attention. In the Commission's view, "best of the rest" should be interpreted as embracing a diversity of programming whose sustained and sustaining quality extends beyond that normally found in the standard U.S. commercial network fare so abundantly available to most Canadians from both Canadian and U.S. sources.

The Commission reiterates the above long-term expectations.

a) Broadcast Day

The current regulations require the CBC to broadcast a level of 60% Canadian content on both of its television networks. During the 1992-93 broadcast year, the English-language network averaged 68% Canadian content for the broadcast day; for the 1993-94 broadcast year (to April 1994) it averaged 66%.

During the 1992-93 broadcast year, the French-language network averaged 81% Canadian content for the broadcast day; for the 1993-94 broadcast year (to April 1994) it averaged 86%.

For the new licence term, the Commission expects the Corporation to adhere to its commitment made at the hearing to maintain a level of not less than 65% Canadian content during the broadcast day for the English-language network, and not less than 75% for the French-language network.

b) Evening Broadcast Period

For the current licence term, the Commission had expected the CBC to maintain an average of 22.5 and 22.0 hours per week of Canadian programming between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for the English- and French-language television networks, respectively, and to increase this level as funds became available.

The English-language network, over the 1992-93 broadcast year, maintained an average of more than 24 hours per week between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., an average of 87% Canadian content.

The French-language network, over the 1992-93 broadcast year, maintained an average of 24 hours of Canadian programming from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., an average of 86% of this peak viewing period.

At the public hearing, the Corporation made a commitment to maintain a weekly average of 80% Canadian content for both networks for the 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. period.

Accordingly, for the new licence period, the Commission expects the CBC to maintain an average of 22.5 hours per week (80%) of Canadian programming between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for both the English- and French-language television networks, and to increase this level as funds become available.

The Corporation has managed, despite reductions in funding, to concentrate its resources on raising the level of Canadian content in the prime viewing hours. The pursuit of this strategy, although valid, has resulted in a virtual neglect of Canadian content on the English-language network in the period from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The CBC's 1993-94 weekday schedule includes only one hour of Canadian programming in this period. In 1987 there were nine hours per week of Canadian programming between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.

One effect of this strategy is addressed under the following topic.

2. Children and Youth

In Decision CRTC 87-140, the Commission ranked programming for children and youth as its 6th priority for the CBC. As a long-term objective the Corporation was to maintain a fair and balanced proportion of the programming schedule of its English- and French-language television networks for children and youth. For the licence term the CBC was expected to maintain an average of not less than 22.5 and 20.0 hours per week of programming for children and youth for the English- and French-language television networks, respectively. The decision noted that these levels reflected what the two networks were offering at the time, and did not include family programming.

For all intents and purposes, the French-language network met its target, devoting 19 hours 40 minutes to such programming in the 1992-93 broadcast year. The Corporation made a commitment at the hearing to maintain a level of 20 hours per week of programming directed to children and youth. The Commission is satisfied that the French-language network has offered and will continue to offer a valuable service to this audience.

The English-language network, on the other hand, devoted only 15 hours per week, on average, to programming for children and youth in the 1992-93 season. With cancellation of the program Video Hits, the number of hours was reduced to 12 hours 19 minutes in the 1993-94 season.

Of the approximately 15 hours per week of such programming in the 1992-93 schedule, the Corporation targeted almost 12 hours 30 minutes to pre-school children and scheduled only 2 hours 30 minutes to children of school age between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Video Hits). It is the lack of programming for teens and pre-teens that is the primary cause for concern.

The current weekday schedule of the English-language network reveals not only a reduction of morning programming for children, but an absence of Canadian after-school programming for teens and pre-teens. At the 1986 public hearing, the Corporation had proposed an after-school magazine-style program for school-age youth, a proposal encouraged by the Commission in its 1987 decision. Such a program did not materialize.

As the Alliance for Children and Television points out in its written intervention, children and youth:

 represent some 22% of our population, and are an especially important group because they are the future audience for Canadian programming. If we step back too quickly and abandon them to the lure of imported programs or channels, it is improbable they will develop a taste for domestic television later. It is for this reason we are particularly concerned that [the English-language network] has given the after-school time slots over to well-used American sitcoms.

According to this intervener, this is tantamount to handing the youth audience over to U.S. values, influences and role models, when the CBC could and should be exposing them at this crucial age to Canadian ones.

The Commission agrees that these viewers constitute the very audience the CBC should be nurturing as its principal audience in the years to come; instead it is providing this audience with the same type of fare that is offered by other Canadian and non-Canadian television services. The Commission believes that the CBC should develop alternative offerings, which, even if they attract fewer youth, would at least give those it did attract a reflection and a sense of Canada.

The Commission is of the view that there is a pressing need on the part of the English-language network to address this shortcoming, without diminishing the resources devoted to any other children's, youth or family programming in its schedule. In recognition of this urgency, the Commission has raised programming for children and youth to a priority immediately following that of Canadian content.

The Commission retains its long-term expectation with regard to programming for children and youth. For the new licence term the Commission expects the CBC to add immediately to its English-language network schedule, 2 hours 30 minutes per week of programming directed to teens and pre-teens on the English-language network, rising to five hours per week by the end of the licence term, and to maintain a minimum level of 20 hours per week on the French-language television network.

As a related matter, the Commission has also retained the following two conditions of licence relating to advertising to children:

 It is a condition of licence that the CBC 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 Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Code on Broadcast Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

 Further, it is a condition of licence that the CBC not broadcast any commercial message during any child-directed programming, nor broadcast 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.

3. Drama

The Commission's long-term expectation was that the Corporation attain a level of 10 hours per week of Canadian drama in the 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. time period on both the English- and French-language television networks. For the short term, the Corporation was expected to maintain an average of not less than 5 hours 30 minutes and 7 hours per week of Canadian drama between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for the English- and French-language television networks, respectively, and to increase this level as funds became available.

Drama offers an ideal vehicle for the reflection of Canada and its regions. It is testimony, both to the excellence of the CBC's drama productions and the fact that they speak to the hearts of Canadians, that so many of them attract audiences of a million or more.

The Commission commends both networks on their performance in the area of drama programming during the current licence term. The English-language network achieved a level of more than 6 hours of drama per week in the 1992-93 broadcast year, and more than 7 hours in the first nine months of 1993-94 broadcast year. The French-language network achieved a level of 7 hours per week in the first nine months of the 1993-94 broadcast year.

The Commission reiterates the long-term expectation, and modifies the short-term expectation to read as follows: that the Corporation maintain an average of not less than 5 hours 30 minutes per week of Canadian drama between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for both networks, and to increase these levels as funds became available.

4.  Regional Production and Reflection

In the long term, the Corporation was expected to attain a fair and equitable balance between regional and network production, distribution and scheduling on both its English- and French-language television networks. For the short term, the Corporation was to increase the annual average of regional programming contributions (other than news reports inserted into news programs) aired by the networks to at least 10 hours per week on the English-language television network and to at least 5 hours per week on the French-language television network.

During the 1992-93 broadcast year, the level of regional production on the English-language network was in the order of 43 hours per week. On the French-language network, the corresponding figure was 21 hours per week. Both networks exceeded the minimum expectation. The Commission encourages the Corporation to maintain this performance.

The Commission reiterates both the long-term and licence-term expectations. The Commission is not increasing the figures in the short-term expectation for regional production in order to give the Corporation flexibility to deal with adjustments that may be neces-sary in the short term to deal with budgetary constraints.

Regional production is important for two reasons. First, it serves to develop and produce programs reflecting the various regions of Canada in accordance with sub- paragraph (m)(ii) of Section 3 of the Act which requires the Corporation to "reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions." Second, it is instrumental in nurturing and maintaining a talent pool in the regions.

Regional production is not necessarily the same as regional reflection -- regions can contribute to network programs that are not identifiably regional, such as Urban Peasant produced in Vancouver, and Country Centre-Ville produced in Moncton. At the same time, network programs such as On the Road Again and Reflet d'un pays can reflect regional realities very effectively.

Regional reflection is found in programming that deals with the social and cultural life as much as with the geography of a particular region. It does this through its depiction of the region's history, its stories, its music and its people.

The Commission is aware that the concept of "regionalism" does not lend itself readily to quantification. Yet the concept is important enough to warrant a reference in the Act. By the Commission's reckoning, approximately 10 hours per week of the English-language network's 1993-94 schedule could be considered regional reflection. The Commission encourages the Corporation to maintain this level of regional reflection in its schedule and, if possible, to increase it during the new licence term.

The circumstances under which the French-language network operates are substantially different from those of its English-language counterpart in that its production facilities are located primarily within the province of Quebec.

As a consequence, the level of regional reflection provided by the French-language network is somewhat lower.

In Decision CRTC 87-140, the Commission encouraged the Corporation to expand the efforts of its French-language network to reflect not only the various regions of Canada, but also the various regions within the province of Quebec. While various stations within that province cover their own territories, there appears to be little reflection between these regions, apart from news items of provincial or national interest.

The Commission encourages the French-language network to increase its efforts to reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences.

5. Network Exchange

In its 1987 decision, the Commission stated the long-term expectation that the Corporation attain a reasonable level of program exchange between the English- and French-language television networks, and the expectation for the licence term that the CBC maximize co-operation and exchange of relevant and appropriate programming between the two networks as a means to achieve the cultural objective of interchange between Canada's two founding cultures, and as a means to reduce program expenses.

In the 1993-94 broadcast year, the English-language network has broadcast 48 hours of programming obtained from the French-language network, including the two dramatic series Blanche and Scoop. By the end of the 1993-94 broadcast year, the French-language network will have aired a similar amount of programming obtained from the English-language network, including The Boys of Saint-Vincent, North of 60, and Northwood.

The Commission commends the Corporation, and suggests that it expand this activity by extending the exchange to certain types of performing arts and children's programming. It therefore reiterates both the long-term and the licence-term expectations.

6. Northern Service

The long-term expectation was that the CBC establish a specific and identifiable service for the northern region on a basis comparable in status to its other regional services. For the short term, the CBC Northern Service was expected to provide a daily pan-Arctic newscast, and increase the integration of native-produced programming into the schedule of the Northern Service.

In its application, the CBC states that it has not been able to provide a daily pan-Arctic newscast due to a lack of funds. At the hearing the CBC indicated that it is still searching for ways to implement this expectation. Considering the isolation of the communities that the Northern Service is intended to serve, the provision of a daily pan-Arctic newscast remains urgent.

To increase the integration of native-produced programming during the current term, the CBC has taken a number of steps, including the airing of productions by northern native broadcasters, the addition of three native-language current affairs programs, and the issuance of an invitation to broadcasters from Television Northern Canada (TVNC) to participate in the coverage of political and sports events. It is worth noting that the English-language network in 1992 and 1993 also broadcast several Northern Service programs, some in English and others in their original native languages with English subtitles.

The Commission reiterates both the long- and licence term expectations.

As a related matter, the issue of the need for a "dedicated" northern satellite transponder was raised at the 1986 hearing. The establishment of TVNC resolved not only this matter, but also other previously expressed concerns with respect to the need for the Corporation to cooperate with native broadcasters in areas of concern at that time, including the question of control over advertising in native access programs.

7. Performing Arts

As a long-term objective, the Corporation was expected to schedule a representative number of broadcasts of performances from various Canadian performing arts companies and groups on both the English- and French-language television networks. For the licence term, it was an expectation that the CBC achieve a level of at least one broadcast per month of a Canadian performing arts company or group on each network.

It is not clear that the English-language network has met this expectation. The intention was to allow Canadian viewers to see full presentations by the major performing arts companies in the field of classical music, ballet, opera and the theatre. It was not the intention to include excerpts of concerts or other performances during magazine-type programs, or other performances by small groups or individuals, however desirable such programs are, and however legitimate their claim to a place in the Corporation's schedules.

The CBC indicates in its application for the renewal of the English-language network licence that the cost of productions by performing arts groups prevents the Corporation from achieving the volume of programming contemplated in the Commission's expectation.

The French-language network, however, managed to broadcast 16 such performances during the 1992-93 broadcast year, and 19 on average during each of the past six years -- significantly more than the one per month contemplated in the expectation.

It is therefore reasonable to ask why the English-language network is unable to match the performance of its French-language counterpart in this area, particularly since many of the presentations envisaged -- classical music, opera, ballet -- do not depend on language, and could be presented on both networks. The Commission encourages more network co-operation and program exchange in this area.

The Commission has therefore established as a modified expectation for the new term, that the CBC achieve a level of at least one broadcast per month of a complete or substantially complete presentation of a Canadian performing arts company's performance on each of the English- and French-language television networks. The Commission reiterates its long-term expectation.

8. Independent Production

For the long term, the Commission expected the CBC to acquire a minimum of 50% of its programming on both the English- and the French-language television networks, in all categories of programming other than news, public affairs and sports, from the Canadian independent production sector. For the short term the expectation was for a minimum of 40%.

In its applications, the CBC claimed it exceeded the expectation by reaching a level of 48% on the English-language network and of 46% on the French-language network. The data available to the Commission do not accord with this assessment.

The Commission's expectations, however, did not indicate the basis of measurement, whether it be expenditures, the total number of productions (i.e., "titles"), the total duration of the individual productions, or the total airtime exposure of these productions.

The Commission has decided to accept an accounting on the basis of titles. At the same time the Commission will expect the CBC to ensure that the total airtime exposure is reasonably close to the percentages indicated in the expectations.

The Commission therefore reiterates both expectations.

The Commission also expected the Corporation to ensure that the licence fees it paid to independent producers are set at equitable levels. The English-language network fees appear to be equitable; the lower average fees paid by the French-language network appear to reflect its smaller population base. Some of the most popular French-language programs or series, however, often garner audiences greater than those for the most popular Canadian English-language programs, and therefore command licence fees equivalent to those paid by the English-language network.

The 1987 decision also expected that some independently-produced documentaries be accommodated in the CBC schedules. Both networks carried some independently-produced documentaries. The Commission reiterates this expectation for the new licence term.

9. Canadian Musical Talent

With respect to Canadian musical talent, the Commission specified the short-term expectation that, in light of the need for the support and development of new Canadian musical talent, the CBC make specific efforts to search out, expose and promote new artists on both the English- and French-language television networks.

Both networks have broadcast many specials, competitions, and artist profiles during the current licence term. The Commission commends the Corporation, and notes that the Corporation serves as an industry leader in the discovery and exposure of new talent, and in the consolidation of the careers of more established artists.

For the new licence term, the Commission reiterates the expectation.

At the same time the Commission is concerned that both networks appear to provide little exposure to artists singing in the other official language. The Commission suggests that there is room for improvement.

10. Diversification of Sources of Foreign Content

During the current licence term, the Commission expected that both the English- and French-language television networks of the CBC immediately diversify their sources of foreign content. On the English-language network, since 1987, there has been a general increase in the amount of foreign content originating in countries other than the U.S. The level, however, fluctuates significantly from year to year, and still only reached an average of approximately 7 hours per week in the broadcast year 1992-93. This constitutes approximately 20% of all foreign content, compared to the 80% obtained from the U.S.

On the French-language network the distribution of foreign content remained relatively stable from 1988 to 1993, and included approximately 38% from the United States, 34% from Francophone countries, and 28% from all others.

The Commission has therefore established as a modified expectation for the new licence term: that the French-language television network maintain, at a minimum, the present level of diversity in its foreign programming; and that the English-language television network increase the diversity of its sources of foreign content.

11. Violence

In 1993, the Commission announced its acceptance of the CAB's Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming. This code set out a series of guidelines on the depiction of violence in television programming to be used by conventional private television broadcasters and is administered by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).

During the same year, the Commission requested the other members of the Canadian television industry to submit their own proposed codes on programming violence. At the hearing, the CBC stated its willingness to consolidate into a unified document all of its policies dealing with violence in programming. The Commission expects the CBC to fulfil this commitment and to submit a proposed Code within three months of the date of this decision.

Given that the CBC's self-regulatory guidelines on violence are being revised, and thus have not yet been accepted by the Commission, it is a condition of licence that the CBC adhere to its current guidelines on violence on television and, as a minimum, to the CAB's Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming (Appendix A of Public Notice CRTC 1993-149).

Once the Commission has accepted the CBC's own guidelines on the depiction of violence in programming, the CBC shall adhere by condition of licence, to its self-regulatory code, as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission.

Since the CBC is not a member of the CBSC, the Commission will oversee the application of any violence code governing the CBC.

12. Portrayal of Women

The long-term expectation was that the Corporation balance the representation and portrayal of women in the programming of both the English- and French-language television networks in a manner that reflects the rightful place of women in Canadian society, and in such a manner as to eliminate negative stereotypes. For the current licence period the Commission expected the CBC to observe the requirements outlined by the Commission in its Policy Statement on Sex-Role Stereotyping in the Broadcast Media (Public Notice CRTC 1986-351).

The Corporation met all of the expectations set out for the current term and fulfilled all the requirements of the public notice, including the circulation of language guidelines to all CBC personnel, the completion of three studies on social trends, and the creation of self-regulatory guidelines. These guidelines were accepted by the Commission in Public Notice CRTC1991-109.

The Commission reiterates the long-term expectation, and has re-attached to both licences the following condition:

 It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to its self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role portrayal as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission and, as a minimum, to the CAB's "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

13. Weekend News and Information on the French-language Television Network

During the current term of licence, the Commission expected the CBC to improve the quality of weekend news and information on the French-language television network.

There was a 38% increase in weekend news programming between 1987-88 and 1993-94. Through a realignment of work schedules, the network is now able to cover any important events occurring on the weekend.

For the new licence term, the Commission modifies the expectation to read as follows: that the quality of weekend news and information on the French-language television network be maintained and, if possible, improved.

14. French-Language Service outside Quebec

The long-term objective was for the Corporation to adjust its French-language television programming service to meet the needs of Francophones living outside Quebec.

During the licence period, the CBC was to undertake a study of the programming needs of Francophones outside Quebec, and submit a report and action plan to the Commission in the first year of the licence term.

The two expectations flowed from a concern that the French-language network of the national service reflect in its programming the interests and concerns of its entire national audience, bearing in mind practical considerations.

The Corporation filed its study in June of 1988. Implementation of its findings was contingent on additional funds being made available. Despite the fact that no additional funding was forthcoming, the Corporation has made improvements to its service, both on and off air. In this regard, the Commission has noted greater recognition of the particular interests of the French-speaking communities in the various regions, especially those of Ontario and New Brunswick, the two provinces with the largest French-speaking communities outside Quebec.

The Commission considers that the Corporation has made a significant effort in this direction, and expects the Corporation to continue adjusting its French-language television programming service to meet the needs of French-speaking Canadians living outside Quebec.

15. Native Canadians

The long-term objective in this regard is that the Corporation balance the representation of native peoples in the mainstream programming of the English- and French-language television networks in a manner that reflects their just place in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

During the licence term the CBC was to increase its representation of native peoples in the mainstream programming of both networks in a manner that reflects their just place in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

The Commission notes that there has been an improvement on both networks, both in terms of their representation in news and public affairs as well as in dramatic and other entertainment programs, particularly on the English-language network.

In addition, the English-language network has taken steps to train and develop native Canadians in program production.

The Commission strongly encourages these efforts, and reiterates both the long-term and licence-term expectations.

The Commission also encourages the French-language network to undertake an initiative, similar to that developed by its English-language counterpart, that would provide training to native Canadians in program production.

16. Multicultural Representation

The long-term expectation was that the CBC balance the representation of multicultural minorities in the mainstream programming of both the English- and French-language television networks, in a manner that reflects realistically their participation in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

During the licence term, the CBC was expected to increase representation of multicultural minorities in the mainstream programming of both networks in a manner that reflects realistically their participation in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

The CBC was also expected to submit a report at the end of the first two years of the licence term on the initiatives and actions taken to achieve this objective.

The Corporation submitted its report in March 1989, documenting the efforts made to include more members of visible minorities in the programming of the two networks. These efforts include the maintenance of a talent resource centre, the hiring of journalists and the inclusion of members of visible minority groups in entertainment programming for adults as well as for children and youth. Programming that reflects the changing ethnic mix of the Canadian population promotes understanding.

A 1992 study commissioned by the CBC regarding the evening programming of the English-language network showed that, in 1987, visible minorities represented 8% of all reporters and interviewees in newscasts, 8% of all characters in drama, and 6% of all on-air staff and guests in programming other than news and drama. In 1992, these figures were approximately 10%, 18% and 9%, respectively. This compares favourably with the data provided by Statistics Canada, which indicate that in 1986, visible minorities constituted approximately 6% of the Canadian population, rising to more than 9% in 1991.

A similar study of programming on the French-language network is due for completion later this year.

The Commission commends the Corporation on its efforts, and reiterates its long-term expectation.

At the 1986 public hearing, in response to interventions, the Corporation committed itself to review its program policy on multicultural broadcasting. Such a policy review was not undertaken. The Commission strongly encourages the Corporation to honour its outstanding commitment.

17. Service to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

The long-term expectation was that the Corporation provide closed captions for the complete program schedules of the English- and French-language television networks to ensure full access by the deaf and hard-of-hearing to the programming offered by the CBC. For the licence term, the expectation was that the Corporation increase closed captioning to a minimum level of 15 hours per week on an annual basis for both networks.

Both networks have exceeded the licence-term expectations: in the 1993-94 broadcast year, the English-language network offered 63 hours 30 minutes of captioned programming per week, including 58% of the full-day schedule and 92% of the prime-time schedule. The French-language network offered almost 43 hours per week.

The Commission reiterates its long-term expectation, and modifies its licence-term expectation to read as follows: that the Corporation maintain, at a minimum, its 1993-94 levels of closed captioning.

At the 1986 hearing, interveners asked for closed-captioning of the major newscasts, the verbatim captioning of political programming (such as election debates), and the provision of open captions in emergency situations, without a reduction of captioning in other areas. The English-language network now captions the major evening newscast and news specials in real-time. The French-language network currently provides real-time captioning for some of its live programming, and is training additional staff to expand the level of captioning. The Commission encourages the CBC to acquire captioned versions of its non-Canadian programs whenever these are available.

Other interventions at the 1986 hearing asked that TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf) service be available at the network production centres in Toronto and Montréal. The CBC has advised that TDDs have now been installed at these two centres, and that network staff are routinely available to respond to calls "into the early evening hours." The Commission strongly encourages the Corporation to ensure that such staff are available whenever network programming is being broadcast.

18. Extension of Service

The long-term objective was for the Corporation to extend full service of both the English- and French-language television networks to all communities. In achieving this objective, the Commission encourages the eventual replacement of all affiliates by the CBC.

For the short term, the Corporation was expected to undertake a study and submit a report, within 18 months, on the implications of extending full service to communities with a population of between 200 and 500, and of replacing its affiliates with "twin-sticking" operations where practicable. The CBC should examine the possibility of private sector participation in achieving the above expectations.

The CBC submitted its report on 31 March 1989.

The CBC indicated that, due to budgetary constraints, it was not in a position to extend full service through owned-and-operated transmitters to areas where service is inadequate or unavailable.

Nevertheless, the following stations have been disaffiliated and replaced with owned-and-operated transmitters since 1 April 1987: CHRO-TV Pembroke, CFPL-TV London, and CKNX-TV Wingham. The Commission, in Decision CRTC 94-224, has also approved the CBC's application to acquire the assets of CHSJ-TV Saint John. Moreover, at the 20 June 1994 Hull Public Hearing, the Commission considered applications by CHUM Limited proposing the disaffiliation of CKVR-TV Barrie and by the CBC to establish its own transmitters in the area. Decisions on these applications are pending.

There is a significant difference between the English- and French-language networks in their relationships with affiliates. The stations affiliated to the French-language network generally take more than 120 of the approximately 130 hours per week of available network programming. Some even contribute programming to the network. In contrast, most of the English-language network affiliates on average take about 87 hours of the 133 hours per week available. Some take less than 65 hours, while others take more than 110 hours. None contributes programming to the network.

The relationship between the affiliates and the Corporation is often a difficult and conflicting one: on the one hand the affiliates provide 33% of the CBC's English-language audience, and 24% of its French-language audience; on the other hand the private, commercial interests of the affiliate licensees prevent the entire CBC network schedule from being available to their audiences. At the same time, the CBC's network programming and the financial compensation it pays to affiliates, make it possible for these affiliates to maintain a measure of local and regional service that the CBC is not able to provide. While the Commission wishes to see the full CBC network schedule made available to all Canadians, it does not wish to jeopardize the provision of local service by the remaining affiliates.

Under the topic of Extension of Service, the Commission also wishes to address the situation of Victoria, British Columbia. Despite earlier plans and efforts, the capital of Canada's third most populous province still has no television production facility, and must depend entirely on the service provided by CBUT Vancouver. This anomaly is highlighted by the fact that some smaller communities in British Columbia, including Prince George and Kelowna, have a "storefront" production capability. The Commission considers the resolution of this issue to be a matter of urgency. It therefore expects the Corporation to submit, on or before 30 September 1994, a plan, including a firm commitment to establish a production facility in Victoria by the earliest possible date within the new licence term. This plan will be placed on the public file for discussion at the public hearing on the renewal of the licence of CBUT Vancouver scheduled to take place in November of this year.

The Commission reiterates its long-term expectation with respect to this matter.

VI OTHER MATTERS

1. Commercial Rates and Advertising Practices

Over the long-term, the Commission expected the Corporation to reduce reliance on advertising as a source of revenue as the CBC's government appropriations increase and its funding is approved on a longer-term basis.

The Commission continues to believe that a preoccupation with mass audience concepts stimulated by the contemporary North American marketing environment is inappropriate for a publicly-supported broadcasting service. At the hearing, the CBC acknowledged this concern and stated:

 Our position, in principle, has been to...eliminate our dependency on advertising.

The Commission notes that the longer-term funding now approved for the Corporation should enable the CBC to move in this direction.

The Commission also notes the Corporation's commitment in its applications to continue to schedule some commercial-free programs.

2. Alternative Sources of Revenue

In its 1987 renewal decision, the Commission included the licence-term expectation that the CBC, in light of current financial constraints, maximize other means of increasing revenues, provided these means are clearly profitable. The CBC is involved in two recently-licensed specialty services, and has indicated it intends to be a partner in the operation of a satellite-delivered programming service aimed at audiences in the United States. As well, it continues to sell its programs to foreign broadcasters. The Commission encourages the Corporation to continue its efforts to diversify its sources of funding, as long as such ventures do not impinge on the CBC's ability to discharge its principal obligations.

3. Technical Quality

As a long-term expectation, the Corporation was to maintain high technical standards of program production and distribution on both the English- and French-language television networks.

The Corporation's network services continue to maintain high technical standards. The headquarters of the English-language network recently moved into the state-of-the-art Toronto Broadcast Centre. A considerable amount of modernization and replacement of technical equipment has also taken place in the Montréal production centre. To a great extent, the networks' technical facilities already use digital technology, thereby improving performance.

4. Sports Programming

According to some interveners, the CBC, particularly the English-language network, places too much emphasis on professional sports for a public broadcaster. The CBC has provided, and continues to provide, excellent coverage of some of Canada's professional sports, and international competitions. At the same time, the frequent disruption of regularly-scheduled programming by sports events, especially at certain times of the year, may please one audience, but displease others.

Sports coverage has a place in the CBC's television network schedules, as part of a core national service. However, considering the fact that sufficient alternative sources of such coverage, including commercial broadcasters and a dedicated sports channel on cable, are now available to most Canadians, it may now be time for the Corporation to reassess both the amount and the nature of its sports programming. Further, as the CBC acknowledged in its renewal application, with increased competition for broadcasting rights, "the profitability levels for professional sports coverage have dropped and will decline further. The Commission notes that, while the amount of sports programming broadcast by the English-language network has diminished over the licence term, the CBC's expenditures on such programming have, in fact, increased over the same period. Given these realities, given as well that professional sports will always find exposure on other television services, the Commission encourages the Corporation to consider replacing some of its professional sports coverage with the types of programming identified earlier in this decision as being underrepresented within the English-language network schedule. The Commission notes in this regard, the Corporation's responsibility under the Act to provide a "wide range of programming."

5. Diversification of the English-language Network Schedule

The Commission noted in its 1987 renewal decision the Corporation's suggestion that the English-language network might reduce slightly the quantity of its public affairs programming during the licence term, in order to diversify further its television schedule. The English-language network's programming in the areas of public affairs was reduced for only one of the past four years of the CBC's licence term.

In Decision CRTC 91-423, the Commission expressed its concern:

 that the schedule of the English-language television network not become dominated by news and information programming to the extent that such programming impinges upon the CBC's ability to achieve a balanced programming service.

The Commission indicated that:

 it would be inappropriate for the Corporation to add more news and information programs to its English-language television network schedule beyond the level proposed. The Commission's position in this regard remains unchanged, especially if such an increase in news and public affairs programming results in a decrease in drama.

6. House of Commons Channel

In its 1987 renewal decision, the Commission noted the Corporation's intention to discuss Parliament's recommendations relating to the management or distribution of this service with the Speaker of the House of Commons or with a special committee of Parliament. The Commission notes that coverage of the House of Commons proceedings is now available to cable undertakings across Canada via Cable Parliamentary Channel Inc. (CPAC).

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General

APPENDIX

CONDITIONS OF LICENCE

Advertising to Children

 It is a condition of licence that the CBC 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 Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Code on Broadcast Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

 Further, it is a condition of licence that the CBC not broadcast any commercial message during any child-directed programming, nor broadcast 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.

Violence

 Once the Commission has accepted the CBC's own guidelines on the depiction of violence in programming, the CBC shall adhere by condition of licence to its self-regulatory guidelines on violence in television programming, as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission.

 Until such time as the Commission has accepted revised CBC guidelines, it is a condition of licence that the CBC adhere to its current self-regulatory guidelines on violence in television programming, and, as a minimum, to the Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming (Appendix A of Public Notice CRTC 1993-149).

Portrayal of Women

 It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to its self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role portrayal as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission and, as a minimum, to the CAB's "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LONG TERM AND THE LICENCE TERM

1. Canadian Content

For the long term:

to Canadianize the full-day broadcast schedules of both the English- and French-language television networks to an annual average of 90% and that it attain a level of 25 hours per week of Canadian programming in the 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. time period, on both networks.

For the licence term:

to maintain a level of not less than 65% Canadian content during the broadcast day for the English-language network, and not less than 75% for the French-language network, and to maintain an average of 22.5 hours per week (80%) of Canadian programming between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for both the English- and French-language television networks, and to increase this level as funds become available.

2. Children and Youth

For the long term:

to maintain a fair and balanced proportion of the programming schedule of its English- and French-language television networks for children and youth.

For the licence term:

to add immediately to its English-language network schedule, 2 hours 30 minutes per week of programming directed to teens and pre-teens on the English-language network, rising to five hours per week by the end of the licence term, and to maintain a minimum level of 20 hours per week on the French-language television network.

(See also Conditions of Licence, above)

3. Drama

For the long term:

to attain a level of 10 hours per week of Canadian drama in the 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. time period on both the English- and French-language television networks.

For the licence term:

to maintain an average of not less than 5 hours 30 minutes per week of Canadian drama between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. for both networks, and to increase these levels as funds became available.

4. Regional Production

For the long term:

to attain a fair and equitable balance between regional and network production, distribution and scheduling on both its English- and French-language television networks.

For the licence term:

to increase the annual average of regional programming contributions (other than news reports inserted into news programs) aired by the networks to at least 10 hours per week on the English-language television network and to at least 5 hours per week on the French-language television network.

5. Network Exchange

For the long term:

to attain a reasonable level of program exchange between the English- and French-language television networks.

For the licence term:

to maximize co-operation and exchange of relevant and appropriate programming between the two networks as a means to achieve the cultural objective of interchange between Canada's two founding cultures, and as a means to reduce program expenses.

6. Northern Service

For the long term:

to establish a specific and identifiable service for the northern region on a basis comparable in status to its other regional services.

For the licence term:

to provide a daily pan-Arctic newscast, and increase the integration of native-produced programming into the schedule of the Northern Service.

7. Performing Arts

For the long term:

to schedule a representative number of broadcasts of performances from various Canadian performing arts companies and groups on both the English- and French-language television networks.

For the licence term:

to achieve a level of at least one broadcast per month of a complete or substantially complete presentation of a Canadian performing arts company's performance on each of the English- and French-language television networks.

8. Independent Production

For the long term:

to acquire a minimum of 50% of programming on both the English- and the French-language television networks, in all categories of programming other than news, public affairs and sports, from the Canadian independent production sector.

For the licence term:

to acquire a minimum of 40% of programming on both the English- and the French-language television networks, in all categories of programming other than news, public affairs and sports, from the Canadian independent production sector.

to continue to include some independently-produced documentaries in the schedules of both networks.

9. Canadian Musical Talent

For the licence term:

make specific efforts to search out, expose and promote new artists on both the English- and French-language television networks.

10. Diversification of sources of foreign content

For the licence term:

that the French-language television network maintain, at a minimum, the present level of diversity in its foreign programming; and that the English-language television network increase the diversity of its sources of foreign content.

11. Violence

For the short term:

to submit a proposed Code within three months of the date of this decision.

(See also Conditions of Licence, above)

12. Portrayal of Women

For the long term:

to balance the representation and portrayal of women in the programming of both the English- and French-language television networks in a manner that reflects the rightful place of women in Canadian society, and in such a manner as to eliminate negative stereotypes.

(See also Conditions of Licence, above)

13. Weekend News and Information on the French-language Television Network

For the licence term:

to maintain the quality of weekend news and information on the French-language television network and, if possible, to improve it.

14. French-Language Service outside Quebec

For the long term:

to continue adjusting its French- language television programming service to meet the needs of French-speaking Canadians living outside Quebec.

15. Native Canadians

For the long term:

to balance the representation of native peoples in the mainstream programming of the English- and French-language television networks in a manner that reflects their just place in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

For the licence term:

to increase the representation of native peoples in the mainstream programming of both networks in a manner that reflects their just place in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

16. Multicultural Representation

For the long term:

to balance the representation of multicultural minorities in the mainstream programming of both the English- and French-language television networks, in a manner that reflects realistically their participation in Canadian society, and that will help to eliminate negative stereotypes.

17. Service to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

For the long term:

to provide closed captions for the complete program schedules of the English- and French-language television networks to ensure full access by the deaf and hard-of-hearing to the programming offered by the CBC.

For the licence term:

to maintain, at a minimum, its 1993-94 levels of closed captioning.

18. Extension of Service

For the long term:

to extend full service of both the English- and French-language television networks to all communities. In achieving this objective, the Commission encourages the eventual replacement of all affiliates by the CBC.

For the short term:

to submit, on or before 30 September 1994, a plan, including a firm commitment to establish a production facility in Victoria by the earliest possible date within the new licence term.