Broadcasting Glossary
This glossary is intended to provide assistance in interpreting the information elements contained in the annual returns and other forms filed by broadcasters with the CRTC. This glossary is provided for information only and does not supersede Commission decisions, or regulations made under the Broadcasting Act or Telecommunications Act. In such circumstances, readers are encouraged to contact Commission staff for clarification.
A-B | C-D | E-F | G-H | I-L | M-N | O-Q | R-S | T-V | W-Z
A
Affiliation Payments (BDU): The amounts paid to program suppliers under the terms of Program Affiliation Agreements. French: Paiements d’affiliations (EDR)
Access programming: Access programming are programs produced by members of the community served by the undertaking, either assisted or unassisted by the licensee. The key criterion is that creative control is in the hands of a community member, i.e. an individual or group residing within the licensed area of a terrestrial BDU. French: Programmation d'accès
Audio description: Audio description (AD) uses a program host or announcer to provide a basic voice-over, reading text and describing graphics that appear on the screen. AD is often used for newscasts, weather reports, sports scores or financial data, and is best suited to live, information-based programming. French: La description sonore (DS)
Average number of employees: The typical weekly average of full and equivalent part-time employees. Part-time employees are included as equivalent full-time employees by calculating their work time in proportion to a typical full week’s work. Non-Staff commissioned sales representatives should not be included as employees. French: L’effectif moyen total
B
Business Services: Includes all commercial, financial, professional, technical, administrative and management services, royalties, patents, copyrights, advertising, commissions, salaries, insurance premiums and claims, equipment rentals, computer services and all other receipts from and payments to non-residents for services which are directly remitted or charged to accounts. Merchandise exports and imports, travel and freight and shipping transactions are to be omitted. All amounts are to be reported net of withholding taxes. French: Services commerciaux
C
Children’s programming: For purposes of annual reporting, Children’s Programming includes programs produced for children and teenagers under 18 years of age. French: Émissions pour enfants
Closed captioning : Captioning is the on-screen textual representation of the audio component of a program. It is presented as a banner, usually at the bottom of the screen, and provides a text rendition of all significant audio content, including on-screen dialog, sound effects and non-speech information such as the identity of speakers and their manner of speaking. French: Sous-titrage codé
Community channel sponsorship: Amounts received from any source that is paid to a broadcast distribution undertaking in sponsorship of a community program. French: Subvention des chaînes communautaires
Community Programming Expenses: Expenses should include only the direct and indirect expenses attributable to acquiring, producing and preparing programs for those channels for which the system originates (eg: the community channel). Costs related to acquiring distant basic service signals (eg: microwave costs) should not be reported here but included in Technical Expenses. French: Dépenses de programmation communautaire
Cooperative Productions: Programs produced by two or more television licensees that respond to the needs and interests of the audience in the communities or regions served and involves a sharing of costs and production personnel, particularly in under-represented categories such as drama, music/dance, variety and children’s programming. French: Coproductions
Corporate grants: Revenues received from corporations, associations, foundations and/or individuals, either in support of the general broadcasting operation, or in underwriting specific initiatives. Contributors should not have received commercial spot time as a result of making a grant, although they may have been identified in a brief on-air credit recognizing their support. Grants received from sectors of government should not be included here, but reported under Government Grants. Grants for which commercial announcements were made as a result of a contribution should not be reported here, but included in Local Time Sales or National Time Sales, as the case may be. French: Suventions privées
D
Described video: Described video (DV) is also called video description or described narrative. DV is a narrated description of a program's main visual elements, such as settings, costumes, or body language. The description is added during natural pauses in dialogue, and enables people to form a mental picture of the program. Described video uses a separate audio track. French: Vidéodescription (VD)
Direct subscribers : Household units billed directly by the licensee. Each household unit to which the basic service is provided and for which the unit is billed directly for the service would be counted as one direct subscriber regardless of the number of additional outlets installed on the premises. French: Abonnés directs
Dubbing: Dubbing is where a foreign program or a program recognized as Canadian by the Commission is dubbed in Canada in either official language of Canada or in a native Canadian language by a process of lip synchronization or voice-over translation using Canadian resources. French: Doublage
F
Fringe benefits: The taxable items, other than salary, shown on employees’ T4 slip such as profit sharing and bonus arrangements, the cost to the employer of providing retirement pensions to employees, whether or not under the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan or other government pension plans and the cost of providing benefits such as group medical, group life, employment insurance, workers’ compensation and other employee benefits. Fringe benefits does not include the value of board and lodging or other payments in kind. French: Avantages Sociaux
G
Government grants and parliamentary appropriation: Revenues received from sectors of government (federal, provincial, local or foreign), either in support of the general broadcasting operation, or for specific initiatives. Contributors should not have received commercial spot time as a result of making a grant, although they may have been identified in a brief on-air credit recognizing their support. Grants for which commercial announcements were made as a result of a contribution should be included in local time sales or national time sales, as the case may be. French: Subventions publiques et crédits parlementaires
Gross revenues from advertising sales: This represents revenues that include both local and national time sales. French: Recettes brutes provenant des ventes de publicité
Gross revenues from broadcasting activities: Gross revenues derived from broadcasting activities means total revenues, before any deductions (including those for program fees), that are earned directly or indirectly for the distribution of any broadcasting service on an undertaking by the licensee or other entity, where the licensee and other entity are not dealing at arm’s length within the meaning of section 251 of the Income Tax Act. This includes, for example, but without limitation, gross revenues from basic and discretionary service subscriptions, additional outlets, installation and reconnections fees, set-top box sales and rentals, commercial messages, as well as revenues from the operators of exempt programming undertakings such as home shopping and real estate services. Gross revenues derived from broadcasting activities exclude revenues earned from telecommunications services such as data delivery and services whose visual images consist predominantly of alphanumeric text, such as Broadcast News, that are regulated under the Telecommunications Act. French: Recettes brutes provenant des activités de radiodiffusion
I
Indirect subscribers: Subscribers such as the owner or operator of a hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises to which service is provided by a licensee. Each apartment in an apartment building where cost of basic service is included in tenant’s rent would be counted as one indirect subscriber. Each hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises would be counted as one, regardless of the number of outlets (rooms) installed. French: Abonnés indirects
Infomercials: Programming exceeding 12 minutes in length that combines entertainment or information with the sale or promotion of goods or services into a virtually indistinguishable whole. It may also involve the promotion of products mentioned in distinct commercial breaks within the infomercial programming itself. French: Infopublicités
Interstitials: Programming, in no case longer than 30 minutes in duration, the purpose of which is to fill in the time between the presentation of the major programs distributed by the licensee, and includes material that promotes the programs or services provided by the licensee, excluding indirect overhead costs. French: Matériel d'intermède
L
Local Expression Direct expenses: Those expenses solely attributable, i.e., in full, to the acquisition or production of local expression programming. This includes, for example, salaries and benefits paid to staff who work exclusively in the programming department; non-staff talent fees, films, tapes, props, sets, program vehicle operating costs and any other program-related materials and supplies. Depreciation and/or lease payments on account of capital expenditures for equipment and vehicles, e.g: the production mobile, used exclusively to produce or provide outlets for local expression; depreciation and/or lease payments on account of that portion of the building in which the local expression production facilities are located; and any other materials and supplies directly related to the production/acquisition of local expression. Consistent with Public Notice CRTC 1991-59, dated 5 June 1991, licensees must continue to dedicate the greatest portion of their expenditures to direct expenses. French: Dépenses directes pour l'expression locale
Local Expression Indirect expenses: Those expenses that are not attributable in full to the acquisition or production of programming, but which are nevertheless necessary for its acquisition or production of programming. This includes, for example, a percentage of heat, light and hydro cost related to the building in which the programming facilities are located; a percentage of salaries and benefits paid to staff who do not work exclusively in the program production department, but are, at least on occasion, directly involved in its operation, programming equipment maintenance, and other costs for such things as office cleaning and entertainment related to the community programming department. French: Dépenses indirectes pour l'expression locale
Locally reflective programming: News programming will be considered locally reflective if it meets all of the following criteria:
- the subject matter relates specifically to the market a station is licensed to serve;
- it portrays an onscreen image of the market by, for example, including its residents or officials or featuring coverage of its municipal or provincial government; and
- it is produced by the station's staff or by independent producers specifically for the station. French: Programmation reflétant la réalité locale
Locally relevant programming: Programming will be considered locally relevant if it is of interest to the community or market served. French: Émissions de pertinence locale
Local time sales: Revenue from the sale of air time by local sales representative, net of advertising agency commissions and trade discounts. Local Time sales includes the fair market value of bartered contracts, sponsorship, or any other non-monetary transactions. This does not include revenue from infomercials. French: Ventes locales de temps d’antenne
Loss on equity investments: Equity investments and loans to assist in the financing of Canadian productions are not considered to be eligible Canadian program expenditures. However, losses on arm’s length equity investments and arm’s length loans to assist in the financing of Canadian productions are considered to be eligible and are to be entered on this line in the year that investment/loan is written-off. French: Pertes liées aux investissements en capital
M
Music licence fees: Fees paid to broadcast musical works (e.g. payments to Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). They are reported under “Programming and Production expenses” rather than “Administration and General Expenses” to more properly reflect the correct expense classification. French: Redevances musicales
N
National time sales: Revenue for national advertising, net of any advertising agency commissions and trade discounts. National sales are usually commissionable to the station’s national representative. This does not include revenue from infomercials. French: Ventes nationales de temps d'antenne
Neighbouring rights: (payments to Re:Sound) – Payment for the communication to the public by telecommunication of published sound recordings of musical works. French: Droits voisins
Network payments from CBC: Revenue that is derived from the sale of air time of the broadcasting undertaking by the Canadian Broadcasting Coporation (CBC) and paid by the CBC to the licensee. French: Paiements du réseau de la SRC
Network payments to station (excluding CBC): For the network, it should include net payments made to the affiliates as a reduction of the revenue. For the affiliates it should include their share of the network net payments, or the reverse as the case may be. French: Paiement de réseau à la station (excluant la SRC)
O
Original, first-run program: original exhibition of a program that has not been broadcast or distributed by another licensed broadcasting undertaking. French: Émission originale en première diffusion
P
Program inventory write-downs: When it is determined that a previously capitalized program acquisition or production will not be telecast on the licensee’s facilities or will not be telecast further by the licensee, and: a) the program is sold or syndicated, the remaining unamortized portion of the original capitalized cost of the program should be written down matching the amortization of the costs against the revenues earned or to be earned from the sale or syndication; b) the decision not to telecast or telecast further results in a permanent reduction to the value of the program, that portion of the original capitalized cost of the program representing the reduction should be written down in the year that the decision to reduce the value of the program is made. French: Réduction de la valeur du stock d’émissions
Programming Category 1: News: Newscasts, newsbreaks, and headlines. Programs reporting on local, regional, national, and international events. Such programs may include weather reports, sportscasts, community news, and other related features or segments contained within “News Programs.” (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 1 : Nouvelles
Programming Category 2(a): Analysis and Interpretation: Programs on various topics that include analysis or discussion, such as talk or panel shows, consumer affairs or reviews, news magazines and documentaries that do not fall under category 2(b). This category excludes programs presenting information primarily for entertainment value. The Commission notes that “Docutainment” programs, gossip or entertainment talk shows fall more appropriately under category 11(a). Lifestyle magazine shows generally fall under category 5(b). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 2(a) : Analyse et interprétation
Programming Category 2(b): Long-form documentary: Original works of non-fiction, primarily designed to inform but may also educate and entertain, providing an in-depth critical analysis of a specific subject or point of view over the course of at least 22 minutes. These programs shall not be used as commercial vehicles. Further, programs that fall under the category 11(b) Reality television do not qualify as 2(b) programming. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 2b): Documentaires de longue durée
Programming Category 3: Reporting & Actualities: Programs focusing on the coverage of conferences, political conventions, opening/closing of events (including awards dinners) and political debates, as well as programs of a non-entertainment nature intended to raise funds. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 3 : Reportages et actualités
Programming Category 4: Religion: Includes programs dealing primarily with (i.e. more that 50%) religion and religious teachings, as well as discussions of the human spiritual condition. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 4 : Émissions religieuses
Programming Category 5(a): Formal education & pre-school: Programs presenting detailed information related to a wide variety of topics and used by the viewer primarily to acquire knowledge. The programs can be related to established curricula. All programs targeted at pre-schoolers (ages 2-5) except those that are primarily comprised of drama. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 5a) : Émissions éducatives formelles et pour enfants d'âge préscolaire
Programming Category 5(b): Informal education/Recreation & Leisure: Programs presenting information on recreation, hobby and skill development, recreational sports and outdoor activities, travel and leisure, employment opportunities, and talk shows of an informative (“how-to”) nature. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 5b) : Émissions éducatives informelles/Récréation et loisirs
Programming Category 6: Sports: It includes programs of live or live-to-tape sports events and competitions including coverage of professional and amateur tournaments. The category also includes programs reviewing and analyzing professional or amateur competitive sports events/teams (i.e. pre- and post-game shows, magazine shows, scripted sports, call-in and talk shows, etc.). This category includes the following sub-categories: Category 6(a) Professional sports; Category 6(b) Amateur sports. Documentaries on sports-related topics fall under category 2. Programs on leisure and recreational sports fall under category 5(b). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 6 : Sports
Programming Category 7: Drama and Comedy: Entertainment productions of a fictional nature, including dramatizations of real events. They must be comprised primarily of (i.e. more than 50%) dramatic performances. Category 7 includes the following subcategories: a) On-going dramatic series; b) On-going comedy series (sitcoms); c) Specials, mini-series, and made-for-TV feature films; d) Theatrical feature films aired on television; e) Animated television programs and films (excludes computer graphic productions without story lines); f) Programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy; and g) Other drama, including, but not limited to, readings, narratives, improvisations, tapes/films of live theatre not developed specifically for television, experimental shorts, video clips, continuous action animation (e.g. puppet shows). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 7 : Émissions dramatiques et comiques
Programming Category 8(a): Music and dance: Programs comprised primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of live or pre-recorded performances of music and/or dance, including opera, operetta, ballet, and musicals. The performance portion excludes videoclips, voice-overs or musical performances used as background. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8a) : Musique et danse
Programming Category 8(b): Music video clips: Short film or videotape productions or concert excerpts (clips) not produced primarily for the particular program in which they are presented, which normally contain one musical selection with visual material. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8b) : Vidéoclips
Programming Category 8(c): Music video programs: Programs consisting primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of music videos and in some cases including a host and other programming elements. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8c) : Émissions de vidéoclips
Programming Category 9: Variety: Programs containing primarily (i.e. more than 50%) performances of mixed character (e.g. not exclusively music or comedy performances) consisting of a number of individual acts such as singing, dancing, acrobatic exhibitions, comedy sketches, monologues, magic, etc. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 9 : Variétés
Programming Category 10: Game shows: Programs featuring games of skill and chance as well as quizzes. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 10 : Jeux-questionnaire
Programming Category 11(a): General entertainment and human interest: Programs primarily about the world of entertainment and its people. These programs include celebrity profiles that may use promotional footage, talk or interview shows, award shows, galas and tributes. They also include entertainment-oriented magazine shows; fund-raising shows which include entertainers (i.e. telethons); human interest programs consisting of live or live-to-tape footage without significant portions devoted to in-depth analysis or interpretation; and coverage of community events such as carnivals, festivals, parades and fashion shows. Programs consisting primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of performances fall under categories 7, 8 or 9. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie 11(a) Émissions de divertissement général et d’intérêt général
Programming Category 11(b): Reality television: Programs that present unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, document actual events and typically feature ordinary people instead of professional actors. This type of programming involves passively following individuals as they go about their daily personal and professional activities. Though unscripted, this programming may be directed and may resemble a soap opera – hence the popular references to “docusoaps” and “docudramas.” Though this type of programming may be factual, it lacks or has very minimal amounts of in-depth critical analysis of a specific subject or point of view that is the key defining element of category 2(b) Long-form documentary programming. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 11(b) : Émissions de téléréalité
Programming Category 12: Interstitials: Programs with a running time of less than 5 minutes, exclusive of advertising and other interstitial material, consisting of material that can be described under categories 2 to 11. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 12 : Interludes
Programming Category 13: Public service announcements: Messages of less than 5 minutes duration intended to educate the audience about issues of public concern, encourage public support and awareness of a worthy cause, or promote the work of a non-profit group or organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in local communities or in society or the world at large. These include community billboards. These messages are not intended to sell or promote goods or commercial services. No payment is exchanged between broadcasters and producers for the broadcast of these messages. When public service announcements are logged, the start and end times must be entered, the program class must be “PSA” and two components of the key figure must be recorded: “Origin” and “Category” (130). No other components should be entered. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 13 : Messages d’intérêt public
Programming Category 14: Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos:
Programming exceeding 12 minutes in length that combines information and/or entertainment with the sale or promotion of goods or services into a virtually indistinguishable whole. This category includes videos and films of any length produced by individuals, groups and businesses for public relations, recruitment, etc.
When this material is logged, the start and end times must be entered, the program class must be “PGI,” and the category 140. No other components of the key figure should be entered. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 14 : Infopublicités, vidéos/films promotionnels et corporatifs
Programming Category 15: Filler programming: Programming, in no case longer than 30 minutes in duration, the purpose of which is to fill in the time between the presentation of the major programs broadcast by the licensed pay services and those specialty services authorized to distribute filler programming, and includes material that promotes the programs or services provided by the licensee. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 15 : Matériel d’intermède
R
Remuneration (Salaries and wages): Payments for regular hours worked, overtime, vacation and holidays, and commissions paid to staff under the sales and promotion category (including “fringe benefits” and “Director’s fees”). Commissions paid to non-staff are not considered salary and wages. French: Rémunération (Traitements et salaires)
Reproduction of musical works (Payment to CSI): Payment for specific uses of the musical works in the repertoire by commercial radio stations. French: Reproduction des oeuvres musicales (Paiement à CSI)
Revenue-Other (basic and non-basic programming services): Fee assessable revenues derived from other basic and non-basic programming services. French: Revenus - Autres (pour les services de programmation de bas et non de base)
Revenue-Other (exempt programming services): Fee assessable revenues derived from other exempt programming services. French: Revenus - Autres (pour les services de programmation exemptés)
Revenue-Other: Broadcast related revenue received from the use of talent, services and technical facilities. French: Autres recettes
Revenue – subscription (basic and non-basic programming services): Revenues derived from basic programming service packages and discretionary programming service packages (programming services not on the basic service) provided to distributors. French: Revenus - abonnements pour les services de base et non de base
Revenue – subscription (exempt programming services): Revenues derived from exempt broadcasting services provided by distributors, including classified advertising, teleshopping/general services and infomercials. French: Revenus - abonnements pour les services de programmation exemptés
S
Script and concept development: Expenditures, excluding overhead costs, that are incurred prior to the commencement of pre-production and before the financing of the project is in place. Spending on programs that are assured of going to air at the time of the expenditure is not considered as script and concept development expenditures. French: Conception et rédaction de scénarios
Special Recognition Program:
A form of Canadian content accreditation given co-ventures (international co-productions involving countries that do not have a film or television production treaty with Canada). French: Programme d'accréditation spéciale
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