Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada

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Canadian Communications in 2009 Where are we
going?
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Parliaments goals for broadcasting

• Resources
• 3.(1)(f) each broadcasting undertaking shall
  make maximum use, and in no case less than
  predominant use, of Canadian creative and other
  resources in the creation and presentation of
  programming .
• Employment
• 3.(1)(d) the Canadian broadcasting system should
  through the employment opportunities arising
  out of its operations, serve the needs and
  interests, and reflect the circumstances and
  aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children
  
• Diversity
• 3.(1)(i) the programming provided by the Canadian
  broadcasting system should be varied and
  comprehensive,
• (iv) provide a reasonable opportunity for the
  public to be exposed to the expression of
  differing views on matters of public concern .
• Information
• 3.(1)(i) the programming provided by the Canadian
  broadcasting system should
• (i) provide a balance of information,
  enlightenment and entertainment for men, women
  and children of all ages, interests and tastes,
• (ii) be drawn from local, regional, national
  and international sources,

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Whose job?

• Since 1968 . the CRTC
• 5. (1) the Commission shall regulate and
  supervise all aspects of the Canadian
  broadcasting system with a view to implementing
  the broadcasting policy set out in subsection
  3(1) .
• Results?

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Resources

• Now more foreign, than Canadian

Source CRTC, Statistics Canada
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Employment

• A Decade of Decline

Source CRTC (Note CRTC does not report on job
losses in broadcasting)
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Diversity

• Concentrated Ownership

Source CEP, CRTC
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Local news was once valued

• CRTCs 1975 local advertising policy
• Broadcasters that want local commercial revenue
  from a community should also be prepared to
  provide some service to the community in the way
  of locally-produced, locally-oriented
  programming

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Local news is now disposable

• CRTC 1999
• Dropped requirements for local TV newscasts
• Result? Broadcasters cancelled local programs
• 2007 CHUM lays off 281
• 2007/08 Canwest lays off 370,
• 2008 TQS lays off 270,
• 2008/09 CTV lays off 247,
• 2009 CBC lays off 800
• Note CRTC does not report original hours of TV
  programs produced locally or in Canada

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What did the Heritage Committee do

• The June 2009 Report
• Reaffirmed importance of maintaining Canadian
  content and local programming obligations
• Encouraged CRTC to strengthen special fund
  established to support small stations (Local
  Programming Improvement Fund)

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Actions speak louder than words

• CRTC Chair Konrad W. von Finckenstein
• Local television is the centrepiece. It's our
  major concern. (Answering questions from the
  Heritage Committee on March 25, 2009)

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But on July 6, 2009

• The CRTC allowed broadcasters to reduce local
  programming.

Note CRTC did not report on decisions impact
on hours produced by system
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CRTC still opposes fee for carriage

• but supports Compensation for value
• Cable/DTH and local TV broadcasters should
  negotiate the value of local TV signals
• Behind closed doors
• Without accountability
• CRTC says it will arbitrate if no deal reached
• Behind closed doors
• Without accountability

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And the costs?

• Can we count on cable to keep down costs?

Source CRTC, Statistics Canada
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CRTCs latest proposals

• In September 29 hearing CRTC will consider new
  regulatory model that
• Grants group licenses
• Reduces Cancon exhibition levels
• Reduces Cancon spending levels

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CRTCs conceptual model

• Canadian exhibition
• minimum average 55 across all TV services
  minimum 35 on each service
• Canadian expenditures
• 50 of program budget across all services

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But the CRTC does not show the impact of its
proposals

• Exhibition
• Reducing Cancon from 60 to 35, could eliminate
  200,000 hours/year on OTA TV
• Expenditures
• Reducing Cancon from 52.8 of total spending, to
  50, could eliminate 85 million/year
• Employment?

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So where are we going?

• More concentrated ownership?
• Less Canadian content?
• Less spending in the system?
• meaning more jobs lost
• And higher fees charged by cable/DTH without
  public scrutiny/accountability?

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What needs to be done?

• Hold CRTC to account
• How does concentrated ownership increase
  diversity?
• How does reducing Canadian TV content strengthen
  Canadas broadcasting system?
• How do closed-door negotiations protect
  Canadians?
• Give CRTC better instructions
• predominantly Canadian should mean more, not
  less, Canadian content
• employment opportunities should mean more, not
  fewer, jobs
• Serve the public interest first not last

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THANK YOU!301 Laurier Avenue WestOttawa, ON
K1P 6M6Phone [phone]Fax (613)
230-5801www.cep.ca