Government to decide fate of satellite radio licences this week

• En français (PDF 146 KB)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto -- Two out of three Canadians (64%) want the Government of Canada to overturn CRTC decisions to license two American satellite radio companies because the proposed services offer too little Canadian content, according to a new Ipsos Reid study (English PDF 246 KB; français PDF 274 KB).

The study should make interesting reading for members of the federal Cabinet, who will be reviewing a proposal to overturn the decisions from Heritage Minister Liza Frulla later this week.

The two American satellite radio services and their Canadian partners plan to beam programming that is more than 90% American content to subscribers in Canada.  The study found that 7 in 10 people (68%) think that less than 10% Canadian content is too little.

"If the cabinet decides to set aside or ask the CRTC to reconsider their decisions, the Government of Canada will be on the side of a strong majority of Canadians concerning this issue," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting, the broadcast watchdog group that commissioned the survey.

The Ipsos Reid study found that 85% of Canadians believe it's important that there be Canadian content on radio, and 65% believe there should be minimum levels of Canadian content on radio.  More than half (52%) believe that current regulations requiring that radio stations play a minimum of 35% Canadian songs is about the right amount, while 4 in 10 (37%) think the current regulations do not demand enough Canadian musical plays on commercial radio.

"Canadians believe the federal government has an obligation to ensure shelf space for Canadian programs on the airwaves and see these decisions as failing to adequately meet this goal," said Ian Morrison.

Overwhelmingly, Canadians share a conviction that ever increasing economic ties with the United States create an imperative to strengthen Canadian culture and identity. The survey found that 84% agree that a stronger Canadian culture and identity are needed in the face of closer ties with the American economy, a finding consistent with data from May 2004 when Ipsos Reid last asked this question on FRIENDS' behalf.

"After months of seeing the disputes between Canada and the United States over softwood lumber or Alberta beef play out in the media, it's not surprising that Canadians feel the need to bulk up our culture and identity," Morrison said.

FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting joined fourteen arts and cultural organizations in English Canada to petition the federal cabinet to intervene in the CRTC subscription radio decisions on the grounds that the CRTC's decisions are inconsistent with the Broadcasting Act requirement that "each element of the Canadian broadcasting system shall contribute in an appropriate manner to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming", and that "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."

FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting is Canada's only broadcast industry watchdog group. It is supported financially by 60,000 families who share FRIENDS' mission to defend and enhance the quality and quantity of Canadian programming in Canada's audio-visual system. FRIENDS is not affiliated with any broadcaster or political party.

Ipsos Reid conducted the national study last week, from August 30 to September 1.  Ipsos Reid interviewed 1002 adult Canadians.  A sample of this size accurately reflects the views of adults Canadians within +/- 3.1% 19 times in 20.

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For information:

Jim Thompson
613-567-9592
613-447-9592 cell

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