December 13, 2004 -
Submission to Industry Canada re Proposed Clarification of the Government Satellite-use Policy for the Delivery of Broadcasting ServicesFRIENDS' response to a proposal from Industry Canada and Heritage Canada to "clarify" the Canadian government's satellite-use policy for the delivery of broadcasting services.
November 22, 2004 - Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
FRIENDS tells Finance Committee pre-budget consultations that CBC needs $100 million in new funding annually if it is to adequately discharge its local and regional responsibilities under the Broadcasting Act.
November 3, 2004 - Presentation to CRTC re Pay Radio [PN CRTC 2004–6]
FRIENDS says the CRTC should not licence two United States-based satellite radio service applicants, or if it does, should impose substantial conditions of licence to address the harm they will inflict on the Canadian market.
October 13, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re Non-Canadian third-language services [PN CRTC 2004-53]
FRIENDS recommends the CRTC uphold its policy of opposing the entry of foreign programming services likely to offer substantial competition to existing Canadian services.
October 7, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re CCTA Proposals regarding use of local availabilities [PN CRTC 2004-47]
FRIENDS opposes CCTA proposal on the basis that it would reduce audience levels for Canadian programming, and supports the NBRS proposal that distributors be required to devote 75% of local availabilities to the promotion of mandated services and Canadian drama programs.
October 7, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re Channel Placement [PN CRTC 2004-46]
FRIENDS urges the CRTC to amend the relevant distribution orders to require distributors to dedicate a minimum portion of local availabilities to the promotion of mandated services, and that this airtime be free of charge for not-for-profit mandated services such as VoicePrint.
September 15, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re satellite-based radio service applications [PN CRTC 2004-6]
FRIENDS opposes two satellite-based radio applications which in our view pose a threat to the integrity of Canadian broadcasting policy by coming nowhere near established Canadian content exhibition requirements.
August 25, 2004 - Briefing on the RAI issue to Expert Panel on Third Language Public Television Services
FRIENDS' written comments regarding RAI provided to the expert panel appointed by The Minister of Canadian Heritage to study policies and access to third language public television services. The panel invited FRIENDS to an in-person meeting held August 26, 2004.
July 1, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re Encore Avenue Ltd. [CRTC 2004-35 - Item 1]
FRIENDS supports Directors Guild in opposing Corus Entertainment application to distribute pay television channel unencrypted on discretionary analog tier.
June 21, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re Proposed incentives for English-language Canadian television drama [PN CRTC 2004-32]
FRIENDS gives qualified support to CRTC advertising incentive proposal, noting potential drawbacks; also recommends 150% drama time credit be retained but restricted to 8-10 pm Mon-Wed during peak viewing months.
May 13, 2004 - Transcript of FRIENDS' Oral Presentation to Senate Committee on Transport & Communications Study on the Current State of Canadian Media Industries
Transcript of FRIENDS presentation and question and answer session on the subject of media concentration in Canada.
May 13, 2004 - Oral Presentation to Senate Committee on Transport & Communications Study on the Current State of Canadian Media Industries
FRIENDS urges Senate Committee to support the 2003 recommendations of the House of Commons Heritage Committee, releases polling data evidencing popular support.
May 11, 2004 - Submission to CRTC re Sudbury LSA between Newcap Inc. and Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. [Applications 2003-1691-0, 2003-1061-5, 2003-1062-3 & 2003-1064-9]
FRIENDS invites CRTC to investigate a dramatic reduction in local news, and an advertising monopoly, resulting from the June 2001 implementation of a local sales agreement in the Sudbury market.
