The CRTC imposes new requirements on Radio-Canada by renewing its licenses

In a decision released on Wednesday, the Commission renewed the licenses for the national public broadcaster’s services until 2027.

Through the new requirements it is imposing on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (SRC), the CRTC intends ensure that the needs of equity-seeking communities are not only reflected in the public broadcaster’s programming, but that this programming is relevant to them.

Among other requirements, the CRTC imposes on the public broadcaster that it devote a fixed portion of its independent programming expenditures to programming produced by Indigenous peoples, official language minority communities (OLMCs), racialized Canadians, Canadians with disabilities and Canadians who self-identify with the LGBTQ2 community.

The CRTC recognizes in its decision the concerns of official language minority communities (OLMCs) that a significant portion of the funds […] is devoted to regional programming originating in Quebec, and not to original programming produced by these minority communities.

To ensure that these two types of programming are better supported in the future, the CRTC will separate expenditure requirements for OLMCs and regional programming from Quebec.

The CRTC decision elaborates on the following: decisive results that the SRC will have to achieve during the period covered by its licenses:

• programming that is balanced, relevant and reflects Canada’s Indigenous peoples and diverse communities;
• the creation of Canadian programming and support for and access to it;
• access to verified local, regional and national news and information programming;
• accessibility of content, appropriate warnings and adherence to codes;
• accountability and transparency through increased reporting.

Dissemination of online content

The previous license renewal for the CBC dated back to 2013. However, since then, significant changes have taken place in Canada and in the Canadian broadcasting environment […]writes the Council.

The emergence of online content delivery is one such significant change.

In this respect, the CBC’s strategy is based on three essential pillars that did not exist in 2013 or, at least, not in their current form: Radio-Canada OHdio, CBC GEM and CBC Listen. The entertainment web TV ICI Tou.TV was in its infancy.

To take these changes into account, the CRTC says it has developed a regulatory framework more modern and flexible.

This is’a historic decision said Radio-Canada/CBC in a press release on Wednesday.

” We are pleased that the CRTC recognizes, for the very first time, the importance of the contribution of our streaming web services, ICI.TOU.TV and CBC Gem, and Radio-Canada OHdio and CBC Listen, to the ecosystem of Canadian content. “

CBC/Radio-Canada states that under these new conditions of licence, it will be able to include certain programming expenditures aimed at its digital services as part of its regulatory obligations, in particular those of ICI TOU.TV and CBC Gem. The Corporation’s websites, Radio-Canada.ca and CBC.ca, which contain mainly written content, are not affected.

The public broadcaster is also pleased that the CRTC recognizes diversity and its representation in its content as essentials for his future.

It was in November 2019 that the process began to renew Radio-Canada’s licenses for its 88 live radio stations, 27 traditional television stations and 5 optional services.

Thousands of Canadians participated through written submissions and Facebook consultations. A public hearing was also held; 70 organizations and individuals took part across the country.

Remember that CBC/Radio-Canada offers content in French, English and eight Aboriginal languages. The public broadcaster also offers content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as in both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI).