Broadcasting Policy
Monitoring Report
2002

Radio
Television
Broadcasting Distribution
Internet
Social Issues

14 November 2002

Introduction

The 2002 edition of the CRTC's Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report continues to measure the evolution of the Canadian broadcasting system. The Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report was developed to provide an on-going assessment of the impact of the many new regulatory frameworks implemented by the CRTC since 1997¹. As in the past, we hope that this report will help to foster a more open and better-informed public discussion of broadcasting policy in Canada. The Commission invites parties to use the report to enrich their participation in our regulatory policy and licensing proceedings.

The 2002 edition updates the performance indicators outlined in previous reports and introduces new performance indicators to monitor the CRTC's social policy objectives. In this regard, a new Social Issues section has been added to the report. An Industry Overview has also been added this year which summarizes the diversity of services and of voices available in the Canadian broadcasting system. The overview also provides new indicators to monitor the television viewing preferences of Canadians.

The data and information used as the basis of the CRTC's policy monitoring is drawn from many sources. These sources include (1) information filed by participants in the normal course of the Commission's hearings and public proceedings; (2) information obtained from Statistics Canada; (3) audience measures from the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) and Nielsen Media Research; (4) the Annual Financial Returns filed by CRTC licensees; (5) programming information filed as part of licensees' television logs; (6) the Commission's ownership records and radio compliance monitoring results; and (7) publicly available information, such as annual reports from publicly traded companies, CRTC decisions and public notices.

The CRTC is in a unique position to cross-analyze the television logging information and BBM viewing data, thus being able to track the level of viewing to Canadian programming across the Canadian broadcasting system.

The report is sub-divided in six sections: Introduction and Overview, Radio, Television, Broadcasting Distribution, Internet and Social Issues.

Interested parties are welcome to provide comments for improvements or additions to future editions of the report and can do so by forwarding them to the attention of the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2 or electronically at info@crtc.gc.ca.

The Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report is also available electronically at www.crtc.gc.ca/ENG/publications/reports.htm

Ce document est également disponible en français.

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¹ New Regulatory Framework for Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings, Public Notice CRTC 1997-25, 11 March 1997; Commercial Radio Policy1998, Public Notice CRTC 1998-41, 30 April 1998, (the Commercial Radio Policy); New Media, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 1999-84, 17 May 1999, and Telecom Public Notice CRTC 99-14, 17 May 1999; Building on Success- A Policy Framework for Canadian Television, Public Notice CRTC 1999-97, 11 June 1999, (the Television Policy); Ethnic Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1999-117, 16 July 1999; Licensing Framework Policy for New Digital Pay and Specialty Services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000; Campus Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-12, 28 January 2000; Community Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000; A Policy to Increase the Availability to Cable Subscribers of Specialty Services in the Minority Official Language, Public Notice CRTC 2001-26. 12 February 2001; Licence Renewals for the French-language National Television Network TVA and for the French-language Television Programming Undertaking CFTM-TV Montréal, Decision CRTC 2001-385, 5 July 2001; Licence Renewals for the Television Stations Controlled by CTV, Decision CRTC 2001-457, 2 August 2001; Licence Renewals for the Television Stations Controlled by Global, Decision CRTC 2001-458, 2 August 2001; Achieving a better balance: Report on French-language broadcasting services in a minority environment, Public Notice CRTC 2001-25, 12 February 2001; The distribution of the proceedings of the House of Commons on CPAC, Public Notice CRTC 2001-115, 6 November 2001. back

Table of contents

Overview

Diversity of Programming in the Canadian Broadcasting System
Diversity of Voices in the Canadian Broadcasting System
Advertising Revenue by Media
Trends in Television Viewingn - Anglophones/Francophones

Radio

I. Number of Commercial Radio Stations in Canada
II. Radio Tuning
        A. Tuning Trends
        B. Digital Radio
III. Ownership
        A. Revenues of the Top 10 Ownership Groups
        B. "Top 10" by Total Hours Tuned
IV. Competitive Licensing
V. Canadian Talent Development (CTD)
        A. Applications for New Radio Licences
        B. Transfers of Control or Ownership (benefits)
        C. Renewal of Radio Licences
VI. Diversity of Formats
VII. Popularity of Formats
VIII. Promotion of a Financially Sound Sector
        A. Financial Performance
             1. Total Revenues - AM and FM
             2. PBIT Margins - AM and FM
             3. Jointly Operated AM Stations
IX. Promoting the Airplay of Canadian and French Vocal Music
X. Campus Radio
XI. Community Radio
XII. Ethnic Radio
        A. Ethnic SCMO Services
XIII. Native Radio
XIV. Religious Radio
XV. Low Power Radio 37

Television

I. Audience
        A. Average Weekly Hours Per Viewer
        B. Average Daily Viewing Hours
        C. Viewing Share by Station Group
        D. Viewing Share by Ownership Group
        E. Viewing to Canadian Programming
             1. % Viewing to Canadian Programming - 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
             2. Distribution of Viewing by Program Type
II. Canadian Priority Programming
III. Financial Performance
        A. Revenues
        B. Aggregate Profits Before Interest and Taxes (PBIT) Margins (%)
IV. Eligible Expenditures on Canadian Programming (CPE)
        A. English-Language
        B. French-Language
        C. Ethnic Specialty Services
V. Canada's Independent Production Companies
VI. Specialty, Pay, PPV and VOD
        A. Specialty, Pay & PPV Analog Services Listed by Launch Date
        B. Services Licensed for Digital Distribution
        C. Companies with Significant Ownership Interests in Specialty, Pay, PPV Analog and Digital Services
VII. Ethnic Television Stations
        A. Over-the-air Ethnic Television Stations
             1. Montréal
             2. Toronto
             3. Vancouver
        B. Ethnic Pay & Specialty Services
             1. Analog Ethnic Specialty Services
             2. Category 2 Digital Ethnic Pay & Specialty Services
VIII. Native Television Services
IX. Religious Television Stations
        A. Over-the-air Religious Television Stations
        B. Specialty Religious Services
        C. Foreign Religious Services
X. The National Public Broadcaster
        A. Over-the-air Conventional Television Stations
        B. Specialty Services
XI. House of Commons
XII. Foreign Satellite Services Authorized in Canada
XIII. Tangible Benefits Resulting fromthe Transfers of Ownership or Control of Television Broadcasting Undertakings

Broadcasting Distribution

I. Promoting Effective Competition
        A. Subscriber Levels of Incumbent and Alternative BDU Delivery Systems
        B. Rate Deregulation of Incumbent BDUs
II. Promoting Contributions to Canadian Programming and Local Expression
        A. Contribution to Programming Funds
        B. Total Community Channel Expenses
        C. Number of Systems Maintaining a Community Channel
III. Affordability of Basic and Non-Basic Service Rates
IV. Promoting a Financially Strong Sector
        A. Total Revenues of Distributors
        B. Profit Before Interest and Taxes (PBIT) Margins
        C. Return on Investment (ROI)
V. Concentration / Vertical Integration
        A. Top 6 Cable Corporations by Total Basic Subscribers
        B. Pay & Specialty Services Owned by Top Five Distributors or Their Affiliates
VI. Promoting Digital Technology
VII. Distribution of Specialty Services in the Official Language of the Minority 97

Internet

I. Internet Use
        A. Canada and the Internet
        B. Computer Ownership by Canadian Households
        C. Internet Access
             1. Internet Access by Location
             2. Internet Access in Canadian Households
             3. Frequency and Duration of Internet Use
             4. Profile of Canadians Without Internet Access
             5. Internet Activities
             6. Type of Internet Access Used at Home
             7. The Canadian Internet Service Provider (ISP) Industry
        D. The Effect of Internet Use on Broadcast Media
        E. Trends in Internet Advertising and E-Commerce 108

Social Issues

I. Programming Standards
        A. Complaints
        B. Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
        C. Advertising Standards Canada
        D. Cable Television Standards Council
II. Accessibility
        A. Access for Persons Who Are Hearing Impaired
        B. Closed Captioning on Pay and Specialty Services
        C. Access for Persons Who Are Visually Impaired
        D. Current Requirements
        E. National reading services
III. Cultural Diversity

Glossary

Overview

Diversity of Programming in the Canadian Broadcasting System

Section 3(1)(i) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act) states, in part, that the programming provided by the Canadian broadcasting system should

• (i) be varied and comprehensive, providing a balance of information, enlightenment and entertainment for men, women and children of all ages, interests and tastes,
• (ii) be drawn from local, regional, national and international sources,
• (iii) include educational programs and community programs, [...]

To further the above noted broadcasting policy, the Commission ensures that Canadians have access to a diversity of programming drawn from a variety of sources. The following tables provide a summary of the variety of television and radio services that are available in the Canadian broadcasting system. A table summarizing the number and types of Canadian broadcasting distribution undertakings is also provided.

Table 1: English-Language Television Services

Notes: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt television services. Includes only digital category 1 & 2 and VOD services that have launched prior to September 5, 2002.

Table 2: French-Language Television Services

Notes: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt television services. Includes only digital category 1 & 2 and VOD services that have launched prior to September 5, 2002.

Table 3: Third-Language Television Services

Notes: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt television services. Includes only digital category 1 & 2 and VOD services that have launched prior to September 5, 2002. *Excludes the Vancouver multilingual ethnic television station which is expected to launch in 2003.

Table 4: Canadian English-Language Radio Services

Note: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt radio services.

Table 5: Canadian French-Language Radio Services

Note: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt radio services.

Table 6: Canadian Third-Language Radio Services

Note: Excludes rebroadcasters and exempt radio services.

Approximately 75% of Canadian households receive the basic service of a Canadian broadcasting distribution undertaking. The following table provides a breakdown of the number and types of Canadian broadcasting distribution undertakings.

Table 7: Licensed Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings

Notes (1) Source for cable undertakings is the CCTA's 01-02 annual report. This information is based on Mediastats, dated September 2001. (2) Image Wireless Communications MDS licences are counted as 1, Decision CRTC 96-775 issued 38 individual licences, one for each site.

Diversity of Voices in the Canadian Broadcasting System

The Commission's mandate with regard to the diversity of voices in markets across Canada originates notably in sections 3(1)(d)(i), 3(1)(d)(ii) and 3(1)(i)(iv) of the Broadcasting Act.

Section 3(1)(d)(i) states that the Canadian broadcasting system should "serve to safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada".

Section 3(1)(d)(ii) states that the programming provided by the Canadian broadcasting system should "encourage the development of Canadian expression by providing a wide range of programming that reflects Canadian attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity, by displaying Canadian talent in entertainment programming and by offering information and analysis concerning Canada and other countries from a Canadian point of view".

Section 3(1)(i)(iv) states that the programming provided by the Canadian broadcasting system "should provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to be exposed to the expression of differing views on matters of public concern".

The Commission implements the above noted policy in its various policies and decisions. For example, in the Television Policy, the Commission continued its policy which generally permits ownership of no more than one over-the-air television station in one language in a given market. This policy assists in providing a diversity of voices in a given market.

In the Commercial Radio Policy, the Commission sought to strike a reasonable and acceptable balance between its concerns for preserving a diversity of news voices in a market, and the benefits of permitting increased consolidation of ownership within the radio industry.

In the Licence Renewals for the Television Stations Controlled by CTV and Global - Decisions 2001-457 and 2001-458 respectively, and the Licence renewals for the French-language national network TVA and CFTM-TV - Decision 2001-385, the Commission considered that it had a responsibility to ensure that a sufficient diversity of broadcasting news and information voices remains as consolidation continues to take place between broadcasters and related industries.

The following charts compare the diversity of ownership and the diversity of programming choices in the 3 largest Canadian cities between 1991 and 2001. The city of Montréal has been subdivided into two markets, English-language and French-language, based on the broadcast language of the programming service. The charts compare the following for each of the markets:

• The number of different owners of television services available in the market that broadcast news and public affairs programming along with the total number of such services;
  
• The number of different owners of radio stations and daily newspapers available in each market along with the total number of radio stations and daily newspapers in the market.

A Comparison of the Diversity of Voices 1991 - 2001

Chart 1: Montréal English-Language Market

Chart 2: Montréal French-Language Market

Chart 3: Toronto Market

Chart 4: Vancouver Market

Notes:
1. BBM Fall sweeps data and CRTC research were used to determine the number of television services providing news and public programming in the market and the number of radio stations available in 1991 and 2001.
2. It was assumed that all radio stations and newspapers available in the market provided news and public affairs programming.
3. Foreign ownership is not provided.
4. Newspapers include only Canadian daily newspapers published locally.
5. Only TV and radio services attracting a minimum of 0.05% audience share have been included.

Between 1991 and 2001, the number of available television and radio services has increased in each of Canada's three largest markets.

Since 1991, a significant increase in the licensing of French and English-language Canadian pay and specialty services has added to the diversity of viewing options of Canadians. In addition, the number of U.S. specialty services available has also increased.

Increasing diversity in television ownership is evident in all three markets between 1991 and 2001. In the English-language radio markets, the diversity of ownership of Canadian radio services has remained stable or decreased slightly.

In each of the markets there has been an increase in cross-media ownership between 1991 and 2001. Cross-media ownership is defined as the same owner controlling more than one type of media in the market. Between 1991 and 2001, the number of cross-media owners increased from 1 to 2 in the Montréal English-language market, from 1 to 4 in the Montréal French-language market, from 4 to 5 in the Toronto market, and from 2 to 4 in the Vancouver market.

Not included in the above charts is the on-going development of the internet and its impact on the diversity of voices and information available in markets across Canada. As of January 2002, 67% of Canadians reported having access to the Internet.

Advertising Revenue by Media

The following table and pie chart outline the trends in advertising revenues by the different media.

Table 8: Advertising Revenue by Media
($ millions)

Sources: Carat Expert, Panorama Publicitaire 2001 (1995-2000), Carat Expert estimates for 2001
Notes:
⁽¹⁾ Includes private conventional, CBC/SRC, specialty services, other public, educational, religious and not-for-profit services. The television advertising revenues relating to French language services are as follows ($millions): 1996 - $379; 1997 - $400; 1998 - $427; 1999 - $440; 2000 - $458; 2001 - $470. [back]
⁽²⁾ Excludes classified ads. [back]

Chart 5: Share of Advertising Revenue by Media, 2001

The relative levels of advertising revenue earned by the different media have remained generally constant since 1995. For example, all television advertising achieved a 34.9% share of the pie in 1995, as compared to 33.6% in 2001. Radio has also decreased only marginally from 14.3% in 1995 to 13.7% in 2001.

Trends in Television Viewing - Anglophones/Francophones

The following tables reveal the trends in viewing by Canadian anglophones and francophones to all television services available in Canada, Canadian and foreign, sub-divided by genre for the years 1999-2001. The viewing by genre is further sub-divided between viewing to Canadian and foreign programs. The tables are based on BBM and CRTC research data for a 4-week period in the Fall of each year. 

Chart 6: Viewing by English-Language Viewers by Program Type
All Canada - All Services (Canadian and Foreign)
Average Weekly Hours
6 a.m. - 2 a.m., Fall 2001
(000s)

The chart reveals the popularity of drama/comedy programming to anglophone viewers. In each of the years drama/comedy programming is about twice as popular as viewers' second pick, news and other information programming.

The viewing to Canadian programs by anglophone viewers differs significantly between the genres. Viewing to News and other information programs is predominantly to Canadian programs. In contrast, viewing by anglophones to drama/comedy programming is predominantly to foreign programs. Overall viewing to Canadian programs by anglophone viewers was 31% of total viewing in the Fall of 2001.

Chart 7: Viewing by French-Language Viewers by Program Type
All Canada - All Services (Canadian and Foreign)
Average Weekly Hours
6 a.m. - 2 a.m., Fall 2001
(000s)

Drama/comedy programming is the most popular genre with francophone viewers, with news and other information programming a close second.

Viewing trends by francophone viewers are predominantly to Canadian programs in all genres, with the exception of drama/comedy programs where the viewing has remained evenly split between Canadian and foreign programs. Overall viewing to Canadian programs by francophone viewers increased to 71% in the Fall of 2001.

Radio

I. Number of Commercial Radio Stations in Canada

• The following tables list the number of available commercial AM and FM radio stations by province over the past 5 years.

Table 1: Number of Commercial Radio Stations in Canada
AM & FM - All Languages

Source: CRTC Financial Database (includes stations that file annual returns as of August 31^st of each year)

Table 2: Number of Commercial FM Stations
in Canada - All Languages

Source: CRTC Financial Database (includes stations that file annual returns as of August 31^st of each year)

Table 3: Number of Commercial AM Stations
in Canada - All Languages

Source: CRTC Financial Database (includes stations that file annual returns as of August 31^st of each year)

• There has been a steady conversion of AM stations to the FM band during the past 5 years:

Table 4: Number of AM to FM Conversions per Year

Source: CRTC Decisions

II. Radio Tuning

A. Tuning Trends

• The following charts and tables outline the total hours tuned to radio in an average week during the fall surveys of 1996-2001. Chart 1 and Table 5 provide the total hours tuned over the entire day while Chart 2 and Table 6 include the total hours tuned between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• The purpose of Tables 5 and 6 is to monitor the on-going use of radio by Canadians.

Table 5: Radio Tuning in an Average Week
All Persons 12+, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Total Hours Tuned ("THT") (000's)

Note: Other is principally over-the-air tuning to U.S. border stations
Source: BBM Fall 1996 to Fall 2001

Table 6: Radio Tuning in an Average Week
All Persons 12+, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Total Hours Tuned ("THT") (000's)

Source: BBM Fall 1996 to Fall 2001

• The total average weekly hours tuned in Fall 2001 were slightly higher than the totals for Fall 2000, both over the entire day (5 a.m. to 1 a.m.) and the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. period.
  
• The tuning levels of FM stations relative to AM stations remained constant in Fall 2001 as compared to Fall 2000, for both French and English stations.
• The following charts are based on Tables 5 and 6 and serve to demonstrate the dominance of FM radio in both the English and French-language markets.

Chart 1: Total Hours Tuned in an Average Week,
5 a.m. to 1 a.m., Fall 2001

Chart 2: Total Hours Tuned in an Average Week,
6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fall 2001

• In the Fall of 2001, 92.9% of Canadians aged 12 and over listened to the radio at least 15 minutes per week, as compared to 93.3% in 1996.
• The average hours per week tuned per listener have remained in the 22 hour per week range since 1990.
• The average hours per week tuned per capita have remained in the 20 hour per week range since 1996. (Source: BBM Radio Databooks)

B. Digital Radio

• The Commission issued A Policy to Govern the Introduction of Digital Radio, Public Notice CRTC 1995-184, on 29 October 1995.
• As of August 2002, 56 licences for transitional digital radio undertakings (DRU's) had been granted. Of these licences, 42 were issued to existing commercial radio stations and 14 to existing CBC stations.
• These 56 stations are located in 4 different markets:
       Montreal: 12, Toronto: 24, Vancouver: 14 and Windsor: 6
• To find out more about digital radio, you can visit the following website: http://www.digitalradio.ca 

III. Ownership

• In revising its ownership policy in the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1998-41, 30 April 1998 (the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy) the Commission focused on developing a model that would allow for some measure of consolidation, while taking into account its general concerns for preserving a diversity of news voices and maintaining competition.
• Table 7 through 12 monitor ownership consolidation in the radio industry.

A. Revenues of the Top 10 Ownership Groups

Table 7: Ten Largest Radio Operators
Radio Revenue & National Share

Source: CRTC Internal Report "Ownership August 2001", CRTC Financial Database
Notes: Radio undertakings include networks
           Corus acquired the assets of WIC Premium Corporation and Power Corporation in 2000
           Corus acquired control of Métromédia CMR Broadcasting Inc. in 2001
           Jim Pattison Industries acquired the radio stations of Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. in 2001

• Both the number of stations owned by the top 10 radio operators and their share of national revenues continue to rise.

Table 8: Radio Revenues of the 3 Largest
French-Language Radio Operators

Source: CRTC Financial Database

Table 9: Radio Revenues of the 5 Largest
English-Language Radio Operators

Source: CRTC Financial Database

• On 19 April 2002 Decisions approving the sale of Télémédia's English stations to Standard (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-91), Rogers (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-92) and Newcap (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-93) were released. These transactions will significantly increase these operators' share of the English language radio market.

B. "Top 10" by Total Hours Tuned

Table 10: Tuning to the Ten Largest
Radio Operators

Note: Total private and all radio listening hours include tuning to non-English and non-French stations (i.e. Multilingual and Native stations)
Sources: CRTC Internal Report "Ownership August 2001", July 2001; and BBM, Fall 1999 to 2001

• Increases in listening hours are primarily related to acquisitions.
• The ten largest radio groups attracted 62% of the audience and 77% of radio industry revenues in 2001, an increase over the respective totals of 61% and 73% for 2000.

Table 11: Tuning to the Three Largest French-
Language Radio Operators, 2001

Source: 2001 BBM Fall Survey

Table 12: Tuning to the Five Largest English-
Language Radio Operators, 2001

Source: 2001 BBM Fall Survey

• The sale of Télémédia's English stations to Standard, Rogers and Newcap in 2002 will increase these operators' share of total tuning.

IV. Competitive Licensing

• In the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy, the Commission determined that in order to encourage competition and choice it would no longer apply the criteria outlined in the Radio Market Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1991-74, 23 July 1991. The elimination of the Radio Market Policy combined with the revised common ownership policy have resulted in numerous competitive processes for new FM stations in markets across Canada.
• In Decision CRTC 99-480, 28 October 1999, the Commission outlined the factors that will generally be among those relevant to the evaluation of competitive applications. The Decision also noted that the relative weight and significance of the factors would vary depending on the specific circumstances of the market concerned.
• The following table reveals the factors that were noted in the Commission's decisions as contributing to the success of competitive applications since the introduction of the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy.

Table 13: Factors Contributing to Successful Applications for
Commercial Radio Licences Considered by Competitive
Processes Following the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy

Source: CRTC Decisions

• Can. Con. refers to applications that proposed to exceed the minimum regulatory requirement for Canadian content.
• Of the 35 new licenses awarded via competitive processes, only 6 were awarded to a licensee included in the 10 largest commercial radio operators.

V. Canadian Talent Development (CTD)

The Commission reviews radio licensee contributions to CTD in the following instances:

A) Applications for new radio stations
B) Transfers of control or ownership (benefits)
C) Renewal of radio licences

A. Applications for New Radio Licences

• Since the introduction of the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy through to September 2002, the Commission has licensed 35 new radio stations through competitive processes in markets across Canada. These stations have committed over $23 million to CTD initiatives over their initial licence terms.
• In addition, there were 36 new radio licences or AM to FM flips granted without a competitive process. These stations committed a combined $395,000 towards CTD initiatives.

B. Transfers of Control or Ownership (benefits)

• As outlined in the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy, applicants for the transfer of ownership or control of radio stations must make commitments to benefits that represent a minimum direct financial contribution to CTD of 6% of the value of the transaction. Three percent is to be allocated to the StarMaker/RadioStar music marketing and promotion fund, two percent to either FACTOR or MusicAction and one percent at the discretion of the purchaser.
• Since the adoption of the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy to July 26, 2002, there have been 67 Commission approved control and/or ownership transactions involving 303 radio stations. CTD benefits from these transactions have totalled $92.6 million.

Chart 3: Value of Radio Transactions ($ millions)

Source: CRTC Decisions and Administrative Approvals as of July 26, 2002

Chart 4: Value of Transfer Benefits ($ millions)

Source: CRTC Decisions and Administrative Approvals as of July 26, 2002

C. Renewal of Radio Licences

• As part of their licence renewal applications, all licensees of private commercial radio stations are asked to make an annual financial commitment to Canadian talent development.
• In Contributions by radio stations to Canadian talent development - a new approach, Public Notice CRTC 1995-196, 17 November 1995, the Commission, in conjunction with the industry, established an approach which would ensure a minimum annual payment of $1.8 million to eligible third parties associated with Canadian talent development.
• The following table indicates the amount of money contributed to CTD initiatives in the context of licence renewals.

Table 14: CTD Annual Contributions - Licence Renewals

Source: CRTC Financial Database, Annual Returns

VI. Diversity of Formats

• In the development of the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy the broadcasting industry submitted that an increase in consolidation in markets would lead to an increase in the diversity of formats.
• The following tables (15-18) compare the diversity of radio formats available in a sample of markets from across Canada, 1999-2001.
• Note that formats change frequently. The format information used in tables 15-18 is based on the BBM Fall market books for the respective years in conjunction with other reference material.
• Overall, the number of distinct radio formats available in the sample of markets has generally remained at the same level since the introduction of the 1998 Commercial Radio Policy.

Table 15: Formats of Market Stations for Vancouver,
Kelowna, Calgary and Regina

Table 16: Formats of Market Stations for Sudbury, London,
Toronto and Ottawa-Gatineau