Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework
The CRTC is moving quickly to implement the modernized Broadcasting Act. This regulatory plan sets out the consultations and public hearings the CRTC is advancing to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework.
Updates on public hearing dates.
The public hearing on Canadian content for TV and online streaming services is in progress.
The public hearing on market dynamics and sustainability will start on June 18, 2025.
The public hearing on audio policy will start on September 18, 2025.
Key themes
Ongoing and upcoming consultations and public hearings
Spring 2025
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Public hearing on Canadian content for TV and online streaming services
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Public hearing on market dynamics and sustainability
Summer 2025
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Public hearing on audio policy
Fall 2025
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Report on discoverability
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Tailored conditions of service
Explore the full activity calendar
Discover the timeline of present and future activities related to the implementation of the modernized Broadcasting Act.
High-quality Canadian content
High-quality Canadian content includes news, dramas, comedies, documentaries and other types of programming, including French-language programming. The consultations under this theme focus on ensuring that Canadians can easily find, watch, and listen to diverse Canadian and Indigenous content. Consultations will also focus on improving access to Canadian stories and voices across traditional and online platforms.
Ongoing activities
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Consultation on Canadian content for TV and online streaming services
This consultation examined how to modernize the CRTC’s definition of Canadian content for television and online programming, and support for Canadian content, including news.
Status: Hearing in progress. This consultation ran from November 15, 2024 to January 20, 2025.
Upcoming activities
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Research on discoverability
This third-party study, to be commissioned by the CRTC, will examine how Canadians find and discover content on traditional and online platforms. This study will form part of the record of the proceedings on tailored conditions of service.
Status: Planned for Fall 2025
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Consultation on tailored conditions of service
This consultation will finalize the individual contributions and requirements for traditional and online platforms in Canada. These contributions and requirements will be established based on the findings of previous modernized Broadcasting Act consultations.
Status: Planned for late 2025
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Consultation on diversity and inclusion
The CRTC will hold a series of consultations to look at how the broadcasting system can better reflect the experiences of all people in Canada and foster access to diverse voices and perspectives.
Status: Planned for late 2025
What we have done
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Consultation on closed captioning
This consultation studied how Canadians who rely on closed captioning can have access to barrier-free programming on traditional and online platforms.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from June 19 to August 19, 2024 (first consultation period) and from September 10 to December 11, 2024 (second consultation period to allow new participants to submit comments).
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Consultation on Indigenous broadcasting policy
This co-development process with First Nations, Inuit and Métis is a multi-phase consultation to gather views on how to support Indigenous broadcasters and creators, and ensure Indigenous stories and voices are represented, easily found and shared across all platforms (both traditional and online). Indigenous content definitions will also be co-developed through this process.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from March 22 to July 22, 2024.
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Consultation on official language minority communities (OLMC) and official languages
This consultation explored ways in which the CRTC can strengthen its consultation and engagement practices in proceedings relating to OLMC and official languages.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from September 9 to October 9, 2024 and until November 8, 2024 for members of OLMCs.
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Consultation on described video and audio description
This consultation studied how Canadians who rely on described video and audio description can have access to barrier-free programming on traditional and online platforms.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from September 19 to November 20, 2024.
A sustainable broadcasting system
The consultations under this theme explore how our broadcasting system can be financially resilient and capable of adapting to technological advancements and changing market dynamics. A system in which broadcasters contribute to the broadcasting system in the most effective and appropriate way. And a system that ensures continued support for Canadian and Indigenous programming, while promoting fair competition, diversity and innovation.
Upcoming activities
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Research on discoverability
This third-party study, to be commissioned by the CRTC, will examine how Canadians find and discover content on traditional and online platforms. This study will form part of the record of the proceedings on tailored conditions of service.
Status: Planned for Fall 2025
What we have done
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This consultation looked at certain aspects of the radio and audio industry in Canada, including how to support Canadian music and other audio programming. It also looked at how audio players contribute equitably and meaningfully to the strength and diversity of the Canadian broadcasting system and what regulatory obligations should exist.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from February 20 to May 5, 2025.
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Consultation on market dynamics and sustainability
This consultation focused on the sustainability of Canada's broadcasting system by examining the market dynamics between small, medium, and large players operating traditional and online platforms, and access to the system by a diversity of players, including rules to foster equitable participation and dispute resolution.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from January 9 to February 24, 2025.
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Consultation on the modernization of radio processes
This consultation examined proposals to provide traditional radio broadcasters with more flexibility while reducing administrative burden.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from November 15, 2024 to January 20, 2025.
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Consultation on a fund to support local news production by commercial radio
This consultation considered the creation of a temporary fund that would support local news production by commercial radio stations in smaller markets outside of Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa-Gatineau.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from November 4 to December 4, 2024.
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This consultation reviewed the fund’s eligibility criteria and allocation method to ensure a fair, simple, and appropriate distribution of funds to current and future recipients.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from July 23 to September 6, 2024.
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Base contributions to the Canadian broadcasting system
The consultation focused on whether there should be a base contribution made by online streaming services in the broadcasting system to support Canadian and Indigenous content. It considered which online streaming services should contribute, how much, and how.
Status: Decision issued. This consultation ran from May 12 to July 11, 2023.
Clear and predictable rules
The consultations under this theme focus on establishing a transparent framework for traditional and online platforms, ensuring fairness and consistency in the regulatory environment. Clear and predictable rules will facilitate informed decision-making, promote compliance, and help all stakeholders understand their rights and responsibilities within the broadcasting system.
Ongoing activities
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Consultation on improving public interest participation in CRTC proceedings
This consultation examines how to make the CRTC’s funding process for public interest participation easier to access and more efficient. The goal is to allow more people to access funding faster to help cover some of the costs of participation.
Status: Open from May 12 to September 9, 2025
Upcoming activities
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Consultation on tailored conditions of service
This consultation will finalize the individual contributions and requirements for traditional and online platforms in Canada. These contributions and requirements will be established based on the findings of previous modernized Broadcasting Act consultations.
Status: Planned for late 2025
What we have done
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Consultation on the modernization of radio processes
This consultation examined proposals to provide traditional radio broadcasters with more flexibility while reducing administrative burden.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from November 15, 2024 to January 20, 2025.
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Registration of online streaming services
This consultation considered how the registration of online streaming services should be done and identified who will not be required to register.
Status: Decision issued. This consultation ran from May 12 to June 12, 2023.
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Exemption orders and basic conditions of service
This consultation considered whether certain exemption orders relating to online services should be repealed, amended or replaced, and whether to impose basic conditions of service on certain online services operating in Canada.
Status: Decision issued. This consultation ran from May 12 to June 12, 2023.
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This consultation reviewed the regulatory fees paid by Canadian broadcasters and how they should be extended to online streaming services.
Status: Decision issued. This consultation ran from August 23 to September 22, 2023.
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Consultation on official language minority communities (OLMC) and official languages
This consultation explored ways in which the CRTC can strengthen its consultation and engagement practices in proceedings relating to OLMC and official languages.
Status: Closed for comments. This consultation ran from September 9 to October 9, 2024 and until November 8, 2024 for members of OLMCs.
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