OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians will now have more opportunities to participate in their community television channels, while cable companies must become more accountable and transparent with their channels’ funds, under the CRTC’s new community TV policy.
The Commission said Thursday that its new policy will require that community members be involved in the creation of at least half of a community channel’s programming. This means that the original idea for a program must come from members of the community, who must also be involved in some aspect of the production, whether in front or behind the camera.
Additionally, at least half of a channel’s programming expenditures must be devoted to this type of programming, as well as to community outreach initiatives and the training and development of volunteers.
“Community channels give Canadians the unique ability to see themselves and their neighbourhoods, towns and cities reflected on television,” said the Commission’s vice chair of broadcasting, Michel Arpin, in a statement. “This can only be achieved through equal partnerships between cable companies and the communities they serve. Access to the broadcasting system must be as open as possible, especially for people who are new to the production of television programming.”
Given the “significant changes” to the policy, the CRTC said that the new requirements will take effect on September 1, 2014.
The Commission also introduced measures designed to improve the accountability and transparency of the funds that cable companies allocate to the operation of their community television channels. Cable companies will have to provide this information on a yearly basis starting in 2012.
More to come. Click here for the full policy.
