ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Commission Letter Addressed to the Working Group regarding the use of data collected from the set top boxes
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Ottawa, 24 December 2014
Our reference: 2014-190
By Email
To : Working Group
RE: The Working Group regarding the use of data collected from the set top boxes
As you are aware, in late 2013 and early 2014, the Vice-Chairman, Broadcasting, conducted a fact-finding process with industry stakeholders and other relevant agencies on the use of data collected from the set top boxes (STB) of broadcasting distribution undertakings for audience measurement. As part of the Let’s Talk TV process: A conversation with Canadians, the Commission published a Working Document for discussion that proposed that the industry be required to establish a working group to develop a STB based audience measurement system, which would include technical standards, privacy protections, a governance structure and cost sharing arrangements. Such a system would provide more information about what programs are being watched, enabling broadcasters to better serve Canadian viewers through the programming they offer.
At the Let’s Talk TV hearing, there was broad support to establish a working group to develop STB-based audience measurement system by both programmers and distributors. The record of the proceeding also demonstrated that the technical and analytical capabilities for STB data collection have been developed and implemented in other jurisdictions such as the United States. In fact, the Commission heard from BDUs that they are already using data collected from STB for their own purposes and, in some cases, sharing it with some programming services. Given the issues surrounding privacy, governance for a STB collection system and cost recovery, consensus on a global approach to STB data needs to be developed as quickly as possible.
Please provide a status report by 9 January 2014 2015 on the progress your company has made on the development of a set top box audience measurement system and any initiatives undertaken to establish a working group to examine this issue. In doing so, please describe any obstacles you have encountered, if any, in the course of advancing this initiative.
Sincerely,
John Traversy
Secretary General
c.c
Maxime Remillard – V
Ron Style – Sasktel
Michael Macmillan – Blueantmedia
Alyson Townsend – CCSA
Louis Audet – Cogeco
Manon Brouillette – Videotron
Lee Bragg - Eastlink
Hubert Lacroix – CBC
Peter Bissonnette - Shaw
David Purdy – Rogers
Keith Pelley – Rogers
John Cassaday – Corus
Pierre Morrissette – Pelmorex
David Kines – Hollywood Suite
Joel Fortume – IBG
Greg McLaren – MTS allstream
Julie Tremblay – Tva
Pierre Dion – Quebecor
David Fuller – Telus
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