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ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-38

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Decision CRTC 2001-38

  Ottawa, 2 February 2001
  The Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVOntario)
Province of Ontario 2000-0668-6,
2000-0667-8, 1999-0447-0
  18 September 2000 Public Hearing
National Capital Region
 

Licence renewals for TVO and TFO and for the coverage of the Ontario Legislative Assembly

  The Commission renews, from 1 March 2001 to 31 August 2007, the broadcasting licences for:
 
  • the English-language educational television service, TVO (CICA-TV Toronto and its transmitters);
 
  • the French-language educational television service, TFO (CHLF-TV Toronto and its transmitters); and
 
  • the television service broadcasting the proceedings of the Ontario Legislative Assembly.
 

TVOntario's educational television services

1. The licensee's mission is to offer the people of Ontario educational television services in English and in French that foster life-long learning. Its programs are designed to serve a dual purpose: to entertain and informally enlighten home viewers and to serve the needs of educational institutions. In developing and offering its programs, the licensee works with partners from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including educational broadcasters in other provinces.
2. The Commission commends the licensee on the high quality of the programming offered by TVO and TFO during the current licence term, notably the calibre of their documentaries and children's programming.
3. In the upcoming years, the licensee intends to continue to build on its traditional strengths and to emphasize continuing learning throughout its schedules.
4. Educational television services such as TVO and TFO provide programming distinctly different from that which is generally available to the public. The Commission fully supports the unique and valuable role they play in the Canadian broadcasting system.
 

Reflection of Ontario

5. By means of its six regional consultative committees, the licensee maintains ties with diverse communities all over Ontario. The Francophone consultative committee works closely with TFO. The Aboriginal consultative committee seeks to identify new programming possibilities and partners and to strengthen relations among Aboriginal communities throughout the province.
6. The licensee plans to continue its current measures aimed at responding fully to the needs of cultural and racial minorities. In its children's programs, it takes an integrated approach to diversity. It also produces many series in co-operation with organizations such as the Ontario Women's Directorate and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
7. During the current licence term, the licensee refined its policies and programs for Aboriginal peoples and other cultural and racial minorities through development of the following standards: Principles and guidelines for implementing TVOntario's Aboriginal relations policy and Societal diversity in TVOntario programming: guidelines and recommendations.
 

Programming commitments

 

TVO

8. In Decision CRTC 92-66, which last renewed TVO's licence, the Commission noted the licensee's commitment to broadcast 70% Canadian content in each year of the licence term. As part of its licence renewal application, the licensee proposed to lower the level of Canadian programming it offers over the broadcast day to 65%. The Commission approves this request. A condition of licence in this regard is set out in Appendix I to this decision.
9. The licensee argued that the proposed level of Canadian content will give it greater flexibility in its programming budget that will allow it to improve the quality of TVO's service and to compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Consequently, the licensee will be able to invest more in Canadian productions. At the same time, it will not need to increase the number of repeat broadcasts of programming.
10. The Commission notes that a minimum level of 65% Canadian content is higher than that required of any other English-language educational broadcaster in Canada. For example, Access Alberta, Canadian Learning Television, Knowledge Network and the Saskatchewan Communications Network Corporation (SCN) each must broadcast 60% Canadian content overall.
11. In approving the licensee's request, the Commission has also taken into consideration the licensee's efforts to maintain high programming standards over the current licence term. The Commission agrees with the licensee that, in the face of diminishing resources and increased competition, it should focus on offering quality Canadian programming.
 

TFO

12. TFO reiterated its commitment to broadcast at least 60% Canadian content over the broadcast day and at least 50% from 6 p.m. to midnight. This commitment is among TFO's conditions of licence set out in Appendix II.
13. The excellent non-commercial programs broadcast by TFO during peak hours is an invaluable educational resource for the Francophone community of Ontario. TFO made a commitment to broadcast at least 10 hours 30 minutes of priority programming, as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1999-205, during peak viewing hours.
14. TFO has an extensive inventory of French-language educational programs for children. These programs make up over half of its schedule. They were developed to address priorities set by its educational partners. TFO committed to broadcast at least 29 hours a week of Canadian programming for children (ages 2 to 12) and at least 10 hours a week of programming for youth (ages 12 to 17).
15. The Commission notes the commitment made by TFO to support and encourage Canadian artists and to exceed the Commission's requirements for Canadian content.
 

Advertising

16. In view of budgetary restrictions, the licensee determined that it needed to seek financial assistance from the private sector. In February 1999, it adopted new administrative guidelines that allowed more flexibility regarding mentioning sponsor names and products at the beginning and end of programs. The licensee, nevertheless, made a commitment to adhere to its Guidelines for underwriting and project financing set out in Decision CRTC 81-727. The licensee will not broadcast advertising messages, other than those promoting its own programs and activities.
 

Support for independent production

17. The Commission notes the licensee's support for independent production. The licensee helps finance production in Canada through fees, commissions and co-ventures, and deals with local businesses for in-house productions.
 

Closed captioning

18. In Decision CRTC 92-661, the Commission noted the licensee's commitment to expand captioning of its programming, as funds permitted, to increase service to the deaf and hearing-impaired communities. Currently, only 15% of TVO's overall schedule and 10% of TFO's programs are closed captioned.
19. The Commission's policy on closed captioning set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-48 generally requires licensees of larger television stations to close caption at least 90% of all programming during the broadcast day. While the licensee wishes to improve its performance in this area, it stated that it could not make the substantial financial investment needed to meet the Commission's objectives without affecting the programming budgets of both TVO and TFO.
20. The Commission notes that, during the day, TVO and TFO offer programs primarily aimed at continuing learning and targeted to specific audiences. While this programming could benefit from closed captioning in the long term, the Commission considers that the licensee should concentrate its efforts on programs which appeal to a larger audience and which are offered during the peak viewing hours.
21. In the case of TVO, the Commission expects the licensee to close caption 90% of the programming broadcast on TVO during the peak viewing period (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.) by 31 August 2003, and 90% of all programming by the end of the licence term.
22. With respect to TFO, the Commission notes the current shortcomings in technologies used to close caption French-language programming and the need for significant investment of resources in this area. In view of the particular circumstances, the Commission expects the licensee to close caption at least 75% of programming broadcast during the peak viewing hours by the end of TFO's new licence term. The Commission also encourages the licensee to close caption at least 75% of its programming offered over the broadcast day by the end of the licence term.
 

Other matters

23. The licences will be subject to the conditions specified in the appendices to this decision and to any other condition specified in the licences to be issued.
24. The Commission acknowledges the interventions submitted regarding these applications and the licensee's response to comments presented by interveners.
 

Related CRTC documents

 
 
  • Public Notice 1999-97 - A policy framework for Canadian television
 
  • Public Notice 1995-48 - Introduction to decisions renewing the licences of privately-owned English-language television stations
  Secretary General

 

This decision is to be appended to each licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca 

 

 

Terms and conditions of licence for the television programming undertaking TVO

 

Terms of licence

  The licence is renewed from 1 March 2001 to 31 August 2007.
 

Conditions of licence

  The licence is subject to the following conditions and to any other condition specified in the licence to be issued.
  1. The licensee shall devote not less than 65% of the broadcast day to the distribution of Canadian programs.
  2. The licensee shall adhere to the guidelines on the depiction of violence in television programming set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Voluntary code regarding violence in television programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
  3. The licensee shall adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the CAB's Sex-role portrayal code for television and radio programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

 

Appendix I to Decision CRTC 2001-38 

 

Terms and conditions of licence for the television programming undertaking TFO

 

Terms of licence

  The licence is renewed from 1 March 2001 to 31 August 2007.
 

Conditions of licence

  The licence is subject to the following conditions and to any other condition specified in the licence to be issued.
  1. The licensee shall broadcast, from 1 September to the end of February, and from 1 March to 31 August, each year:
 
  • at least 60% Canadian programs over the broadcast day;
 
  • at least 50% Canadian programs from 6 p.m. to midnight.
  2. The licensee shall adhere to the guidelines on the depiction of violence in television programming set out in the CAB's Voluntary code regarding violence in television programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
  3. The licensee shall adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Sex-role portrayal code for television and radio programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

Date Modified: 2001-02-02

Date modified: