Quebec groups call for overhaul of community TV; CRTC review pending

The CRTC plans to review the future of community channels in Canada within the next few months, after receiving hundreds of complaints about how cable operators are operating the local channels. The criticism has been particularly vocal in Quebec, where individuals, organizations and institutions have written asking that the regulator hold a proceeding to clearly define what it meant, and required from, community television. The Bloc Quebecois is among the critics. "Is there a need, today, to modernize the concept of community television and to redefine its mission, its means and its obligations," BQ MP Pierre de Savoye asked at a June 15 hearing of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. "Perhaps it is even time to get community television out from under the control of the cable industry as was done with community radio." (translation) On June 14, Bloc MP Maurice Godin tabled a petition in the House of Commons signed by 2,500 people from the Chateauguay region asking for a CRTC review of community television. At issue are the new Broadcast Distribution Regulations that came into effect in January 1998. Critics charge that the revised rules allow cablecos to regionalize and centralize their community cable stations. At the Heritage committee meeting, community television advocates who operate their own stations with money from cablecos, had harsh words for Quebec’s largest system. They accused Vidéotron ltée of taking over community TV for its own promotional purposes in order to counter competition. Isabelle Voyer, VP of the Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec, which represents 34 of the 50 community communications organizations in Quebec, said her group has had concerns about this issue for years. "As early as the spring of 1997, even before the new regulation came into effect, we had serious concerns about possible deregulation," she told the Heritage committee, "and about the fact that there would no longer be any firm obligations or regulations governing the activities of community television. " (translation) Gérald Gauthier, development and research officer at the federation, said about 10 independent community TV corporations have lost access to the community channel as a result of the BDU rules. "More-over, no alternative structure was established offering identical local community coverage for the regions affected. The intent of the regulation was to encourage fair competition that is advantageous to consumers, and to strengthen the presence of high- quality Canadian programs in our broadcasting system. However, the CRTC did not offer the necessary protection to community television, and left it to the mercy of the commercial objectives of the cable companies." (translation) Gauthier said the new regulations remove cablecos from any obligation to protect the objectives of community television. "The CRTC, in close co-operation with (the federation), will have to define the community component of community television, just as it clearly defined it in the case of community radio," said Gauthier. "For the immediate future, the CRTC must impose a moratorium on Vidéotron as regards all the independent community television channels that have been or will be closed," Gauthier said through a translator. Voyer went even further, suggesting that the funding formula for community television be redefined. "If community television is important in the Broadcasting Act and in the broadcasting system, why note think about setting up a community production fund with redistribution mechanisms," she asked. Another option is to allow low-powered conventional TV. The CRTC’s executive director of broadcasting, Jean-Pierre Blais, told the committee that the CRTC has received an application for such a service. "Of course, there is a cost associated with that," he explained, "but this would be another way to add community voices to the broadcasting system." Vidéotron president Guy Beauchamp said much of the community television produced before Vidéotron took over and created its Canal Vox was "unprofessional, homemade, inexperienced, of inferior quality that spent its time engaging in programming to raise funds. Actually, it encouraged that image of itself. " (translation) "We gave a new orientation to local television," he added. "Local television shouldn’t only engage in programming; it also must be appreciated and listened to by the community. If the people don’t watch it because it’s marginalized, I’m sorry, but that’s not community television; it’s the televised expression of a certain group within the community. Our concern was to bring back an audience for local television and that’s what led us to make this change." He added that viewership of Canal Vox went from 19 per cent to 27 per cent of subscribers after Vidéotron began programming it. Blais said the CRTC has received complaints about the lack of access to, and limited presence of, community program on community channels. "Following an internal review, and taking into account the comments received from Canadians, we believe it is necessary to review certain aspects of both the policy on broadcasting distribution undertakings and the regulations," Blais said. "This ... is included in our Action Plan 2000-2003." Spending on community television for all of Canada dropped from $77.7 million in 1997 to $74.5 million in 1999. In Quebec, spending stayed steady at about $21 million. There are 709 community television channels operating in Canada.

Quebec groups call for overhaul of community TV; CRTC review pending

Broadcast | July 6, 2000

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