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Ensuring a Place for Canadian Programs

Public Broadcaster - CBC
Conventional Television
Community-Based Media
Pay and Specialty Television Services
New Digital Services
Related Documents

Canadian content requirements for television broadcasters are summarized in Canadian Content for Radio and Television Broadcasters.

The CRTC addressed French-language broadcasting services in a minority environment in its 2001 report called Achieving a better balance.

Public Broadcaster - CBC

The policy objectives set out in Canada's Broadcasting Act identify the CBC as the national public broadcaster and Sections 3.1(l) - (n) outline its special role and objectives for informing, enlightening and entertaining Canadians.

CRTC decisions that renew the CBC's network broadcasting licences outline its special role as a voice for all Canadians, from every part of the country.

Conventional Television

The CRTC's 1999 Television Policy sets out a framework to ensure that a range of diverse Canadian television programming will continue to be available on Canadian television for a sufficient number of hours to attract audiences.

Community-Based Media

By nature, programming that is produced and aired by community-based broadcasting media is Canadian. A CRTC public process is underway to develop a new policy framework for community-based media. The proposed framework addresses:

• Community Channels
• Community TV
• Independent Production
• Low Power Television

This process is expected to have been completed by summer 2002.

Pay and Specialty Television Services

The CRTC licensed Canadian pay, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and specialty services starting in the early 1980s. Canadian content requirements vary and are set by conditions of licence. Check decisions for individual services for details (Search).

New Digital Services

The CRTC's licensing framework for new digital and specialty services makes possible the provision of a diverse selection of attractive new Canadian programming services for distribution to Canadian audiences with digital technology.

The CRTC's objectives in licensing new digital pay and specialty television services are twofold:

• to maximize the production and exhibition of new Canadian programming;
• to allow a Canadian digital presence to be established while offering Canadian consumers access to the best possible programming in the world.

Related Documents

Achieving a better balance: Report on French-language broadcasting services in a minority environment 
A distinctive voice for all Canadians: Renewal of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Licences 
Building on Success - A Policy Framework for CanadianTelevision 
Canadian Content for Radio and Television Broadcasters 
Definitions of Canadian dramatic programs that will qualify for time credits towards priority programming requirements 
Definitions for new types of priority programs 
Introductory Statement: Licensing of New Digital Pay and Specialty Television Services 
Licences for CBC English-language television and radio 
Licences for CBC French-language television and radio
Licences for Newsworld and RDI 
Licensing Framework Policy for New Digital Pay and Specialty Services New CRTC Licensing Framework for Digital Pay and Specialty Television Services
New Policy Framework Proposed for Community-Based Media
Regulatory amendments to implement the Ethnic Broadcasting Policy and new television content categories 
Revisions to the definitions of television content categories