Private Broadcasters Found WantingFeb 21, 2001
Ottawa – Private broadcasters’ promises to build larger audiences for Canadian television shows remain to be fulfilled, according to Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
New audience and financial data released today by the CRTC show that English-language audience for Canadian television programs broadcast by CTV and Can West Global during prime time actually declined between 1997 and 1999. "During prime time, only 5% of Global’s audience was watching a Canadian show in 1999. CTV had better numbers, but still only 12% of their audience watched Canadian shows during prime time," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for Friends.Financial data from the CRTC show that the Canada’s largest private television networks spend vastly different amounts of their profits on Canadian programming. For example, the CRTC data for the year ending August 31, 2000 show:
Back in the Fall of 1998 at the CRTC’s Television Policy Hearing, 1998, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters mounted a considerable campaign to revise the CRTC requirements for Canadian content on television. On September 23, 1998, CAB President Mike McCabe's told the Commission: "We want more Canadians watching Canadian television… "The government to date, along with previous Commissions, has focused solely on inputs – more hours, more dollars. We need to turn the lens around and not just look at inputs of dollars and hours, but at the results, audiences… "Viewing is what really counts. Not just how many hours we have or how many dollars we spend. These are just proxies for what should be the real goal – more Canadians watching, being informed by and, most importantly, enjoying Canadian television. This is why we have said increased viewing to Canadian television is our key goal for the system…" “We congratulate the CRTC for releasing these data. They are an important contribution to the public policy process. On April 17th, the CRTC will begin a public hearing to renew the broadcast licences of Global and CTV. We are eager to contrast today's data with the new promises made to Canadians,” Morrison said. For information: Related LinksClick here to view audience and financial data summary charts (53KB) |
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