New technologies eroding Canadian TV funding
September 1, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – Industry funding for Canadian programming will erode without a level playing field that ensures all those who deliver programming play by the same rules and make contributions to make Canadian programming, predicts the broadcast watchdog Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
In a submission filed today as part of the CRTC review of the future environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system, Friends points out that a host of new technologies are gobbling up Canadian audiences and revenue with no obligations to support Canadian programming.
At the moment, conventional broadcasters like CTV and Global are required by the CRTC to support Canadian TV programs financially, while other companies who are reaching audiences through new technologies that are or soon will be direct competitors have lower obligations or none whatsoever.
"The ability of conventional broadcasters to meet their obligations to finance Canadian programs will diminish as they lose audience and revenues to these other free riders," Friends spokesperson Ian Morrison said.
A host of technologies including time-shift viewing by satellite TV subscribers who look at programs from different time zones, personal video recorders which allow viewers to skip commercial messages and web TV are bleeding audiences from the Canadian broadcasting system.
The CRTC has elected to sit on the sidelines and leave the Internet and content on wireless devices like PDAs and cell phones unregulated. Already, both Bell Canada and Telus have announced plans to deliver a limited selection of XM Satellite Radio channels to their cellular customers on a subscription basis. Just one of the 20 XM Radio channels on Telus is Canadian, largely rendering the effort to ensure shelf space for Canadian programming during the satellite radio hearing process moot.
"This free-for-all should be of great concern because additional content options will create greater audience fragmentation without making any contribution whatsoever to the system. Further, services that receive such unfettered access to the Canadian public are not subject to any Canadian rules regarding content," Friends submission to the CRTC states.
Conventional broadcasters have long cited audience fragmentation as a problem that reduces audience and adverts revenue.
"Public policy should ensure that all who benefit from access to Canadian viewers and listeners make appropriate contributions to support Canadian content, especially drama on television," said Friends’ spokesperson Ian Morrison.
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting is an independent, Canada-wide, non-partisan voluntary organization supported by 100,000 Canadians whose mission is to defend and enhance the quality and quantity of Canadian programming in the Canadian audio-visual system. FRIENDS is not affiliated with any broadcaster or political party.
For information: Jim Thompson 613-447-9592
Ottawa – Industry funding for Canadian programming will erode without a level playing field that ensures all those who deliver programming play by the same rules and make contributions to make Canadian programming, predicts the broadcast watchdog Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
In a submission filed today as part of the CRTC review of the future environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system, Friends points out that a host of new technologies are gobbling up Canadian audiences and revenue with no obligations to support Canadian programming.
At the moment, conventional broadcasters like CTV and Global are required by the CRTC to support Canadian TV programs financially, while other companies who are reaching audiences through new technologies that are or soon will be direct competitors have lower obligations or none whatsoever.
"The ability of conventional broadcasters to meet their obligations to finance Canadian programs will diminish as they lose audience and revenues to these other free riders," Friends spokesperson Ian Morrison said.
A host of technologies including time-shift viewing by satellite TV subscribers who look at programs from different time zones, personal video recorders which allow viewers to skip commercial messages and web TV are bleeding audiences from the Canadian broadcasting system.
The CRTC has elected to sit on the sidelines and leave the Internet and content on wireless devices like PDAs and cell phones unregulated. Already, both Bell Canada and Telus have announced plans to deliver a limited selection of XM Satellite Radio channels to their cellular customers on a subscription basis. Just one of the 20 XM Radio channels on Telus is Canadian, largely rendering the effort to ensure shelf space for Canadian programming during the satellite radio hearing process moot.
"This free-for-all should be of great concern because additional content options will create greater audience fragmentation without making any contribution whatsoever to the system. Further, services that receive such unfettered access to the Canadian public are not subject to any Canadian rules regarding content," Friends submission to the CRTC states.
Conventional broadcasters have long cited audience fragmentation as a problem that reduces audience and adverts revenue.
"Public policy should ensure that all who benefit from access to Canadian viewers and listeners make appropriate contributions to support Canadian content, especially drama on television," said Friends’ spokesperson Ian Morrison.
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting is an independent, Canada-wide, non-partisan voluntary organization supported by 100,000 Canadians whose mission is to defend and enhance the quality and quantity of Canadian programming in the Canadian audio-visual system. FRIENDS is not affiliated with any broadcaster or political party.
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For information: Jim Thompson 613-447-9592
Related Documents:
September 1, 2006 - Submission to CRTC re the Future Environment facing the Canadian Broadcasting System
FRIENDS reccomends that public policy should ensure that all entities which benefit from access to Canadian viewers and listeners make appropriate contributions to support Canadian content, especially drama on television.
FRIENDS reccomends that public policy should ensure that all entities which benefit from access to Canadian viewers and listeners make appropriate contributions to support Canadian content, especially drama on television.
