ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-77

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-77

  Ottawa, 7 March 2007
  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Across Canada
Application 2006-1639-4
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-5
15 January 2007
 

Licence amendment

The Commission approves an application for a licence amendment that will allow the licensee to avail itself of the incentive program for English-language Canadian television drama set out in Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licences for the television programming undertakings set out in the appendix to this decision.

2.

The CBC requested the addition of a condition to its licences that would allow the licensee to avail itself of the incentive program for English-language Canadian television drama set out in Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004 (Public Notice 2004-93). The condition of licence would read as follows:
 

In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material during any clock hour in a broadcast day permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast such additional minutes of advertising material calculated in accordance with Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004, as may be amended from time to time.

 

Interventions

3.

The Commission received an intervention offering a general comment from Mr. Chris Henderson, Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs' Organization Inc. Mr. Henderson stated that he does not support the CBC's application to implement the incentive program for English-language Canadian television drama. According to Mr. Henderson, the CBC has neither offered a "fair representation" of the country's entire population in its programming, nor has it upheld its commitment to provide drama programming that speaks to all Canadians. The intervener noted, in particular, the lack of "representation of Aboriginal programming" and stated that previous comments to the Commission in regard to this issue have focused on the need to put forth "incentives to ensure that Canadian television drama reflects the diverse nature of Canadian society, in particular visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities."

4.

The applicant did not reply to the intervention.
 

Commission's analysis and determinations

5.

In Public Notice 2004-93, the Commission announced an incentive program designed to increase the production and the broadcast of, the viewing to, and the expenditures on, high quality, original, Canadian drama programming. The Commission stated that a licensee that meets the criteria of the drama incentive program would be permitted to broadcast additional minutes of advertising, beyond the limits set out in applicable regulations or conditions of licence. The Commission specified that such a licensee must apply for a condition of licence in order to avail itself of the incentive program.

6.

In Public Notice 2004-93, the Commission noted that the additional advertising minutes earned through the drama incentive program will be placed in popular foreign programs that already contain more than 14 minutes of program interruptions in each hour. Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that Canadian viewers will not experience an increase in program interruptions.

7.

In regard to the intervention submitted by Mr. Henderson, the Commission considers that the comment does not directly have an impact on the CBC's eligibility for approval to avail itself of the Commission's drama incentive program, given that the goal of this program, as noted above, is to increase the production and the broadcast of, the viewing to, and the expenditures on, high-quality, original Canadian drama programming.

8.

In light of the above, the Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the broadcasting licences for the television programming undertakings set out in the appendix to this decision in order to add the following condition of licence:
 

In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material during any clock hour in a broadcast day permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast such additional minutes of advertising material calculated in accordance with Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004, as may be amended from time to time.

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

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-77

 

Television programming undertakings

 

Licensee

Call Sign

Location, Province

  Canadian Broadcasting CBOT-DT Ottawa, Ontario
  Corporation (CBC) CBUT-DT Vancouver, British Columbia
    CBMT-DT Montréal, Quebec
    CBLT-DT Toronto, Ontario
    CBNT St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
    CBHT Halifax, Nova Scotia
    CBIT Sydney, Nova Scotia
    CBCT Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    CBAT Saint John, New Brunswick
    CBMT Montréal, Quebec
    CBET Windsor, Ontario
    CBLT Toronto, Ontario
    CBOT Ottawa, Ontario
    CBWT Winnipeg, Manitoba
    CBXT Edmonton, Alberta
    CBRT Calgary, Alberta
    CBKT Regina, Saskatchewan
    CBKST Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
    CBUT Vancouver, British Columbia

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