GATINEAU – The CRTC today asked Canadians what they think about “online broadcasting services,” and to provide it with data and information on the impact of the various over-the-top video options available to online Canadians.
(We bet many Canadians will obsess over what’s not available to them.)
“The digital environment is providing Canadians with more programming choices than ever before,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, chairman of the CRTC, in the press release. “Canadians have access to libraries of online content that can originate from anywhere in the world, and which can be watched on different screens. This fact-finding exercise will give us a better understanding of the dynamic and innovative environment as it continues to evolve.”
As part of its mandate to supervise the Canadian broadcasting system, the CRTC has investigated similar technological and consumer trends in the past. For example, in 2006, the CRTC prepared a report on the future environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system. In 2009, the CRTC released a report on broadcasting services in official-language minority communities.
The CRTC said today it is gathering data and information at the request of the most significant members of the Canadian communications industry, as expressed in a letter dated April 1, 2011 (and as reported on by Cartt.ca), and further to a resolution of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which was included in its March 2011 report, Impacts of Private Television Ownership Changes and the Move Towards New Viewing Platforms (also covered by Cartt.ca).
Interested parties are invited to comment on a number of topics related to the digital environment and the deadline for submission is June 27, 2011.
After the facts are found the Commission may well hold a full hearing on the topic in the fall.
