OTTAWA – The country’s broadcast regulator says its wants to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to Canadian content on television.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission today announced plans to significantly ease broadcast quotas for Canadian programs on daytime television. But the country’s broadcast networks will still have to spend as much money as they do now on Canadian content. They will also have to continue to dedicate at least half of their primetime schedules to Canadian programming.
CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blais expressed hope that the changes would allow for the production of more big budget Canadian dramas and comedies that can make a mark on the international stage, rather than lower cost or repeat programs designed to simply meet “Can-con” quotas during the day. However, without any additional dollars in the system to produce Canadian shows or buy foreign offerings, it’s unlikely the number of repeats will be reduced significantly.
“We have more than enough money and talent to tell our stories,” said Blais.
Current rules requiring Canadian-made programs to make up at least 55 per cent of local, daytime TV will be scrapped. The CRTC’s changes will also require that at least 35 per cent of the programs aired on specialty channels are made in Canada. Currently, specialty channels must broadcast between 15 and 85 per cent Canadian content.
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