Source : ACTRA

Expenditure targets helpful, but regulations required

Toronto - ACTRA is encouraged that the CRTC has recognized that Canada's private broadcasters need to increase spending on Canadian drama, however the union says the regulator needs to reinstate specific content and expenditure regulations in order for Canadians to be able to see indigenous drama, particularly in primetime. While the CRTC says it wants CTV, Global and CHUM to increase their annual expenditures on Canadian drama to 6% of total annual gross revenues, the notice fails to impose any positive obligations on Canada's private broadcasters.

"While this notice is helpful, there are still no regulations requiring drama content and expenditure requirements," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's National Executive Director. "It's time the CRTC got serious about being a regulator and imposed some requirements that actually have some teeth."

The CRTC's 1999 Television Policy allows private broadcasters to reap massive revenues by satisfying minimal content requirements. They have been filling their schedules with cheap magazine-style programming and simulcasting U.S. product. ACTRA is demanding that the CRTC impose spending and content requirements and require broadcasters to air a minimum of two hours weekly of original Canadian drama during primetime hours. ACTRA and its partners in the CCAU (Canadian Coalition of Audio-Visual Unions) have called upon the CRTC to require English-language private broadcasters to spend a minimum of 7% of their gross ad revenues on Canadian TV drama.

"More needs to be done. Canadians should be able to expect that their private broadcasters will offer them at least two hours of original Canadian drama a week," said Waddell. "The CRTC has to step up with some meaningful regulations and licence obligations before cheap, profit-friendly U.S. content squeezes Canadian stories off the air for good. We'll be looking for fspecific content and expenditure obligations to be reinstated on the broadcasters during the upcoming network licence renewal hearings."

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada - the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community. ACTRA celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2003.

© ACTRA

Related Documents

February 1, 2006 - Globe & Mail: CRTC issues drama policy by James Adams
CRTC sets targets for viewing and expenditure components of its drama incentive program.

January 27, 2006 - CRTC: Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-11
CRTC announces viewing and expenditure incentives for English-language Canadian television drama.