Broadcast unions want nets to disclose how much they spend on Canadian content

Canada’s two largest broadcast unions say large networks should be forced to publicly reveal how much they spent on Canadian programming to ensure past commitments are being met. The unions and other groups are responding to a CRTC review that may force CTV, Global Television and TVA to disclose total revenues and how much they spent on Canadian programming between 1997-2000. The proceeding – PN 2001-5 – could also result in the CRTC releasing data on the actual and potential audience reach of the networks, and a comparison of viewing levels to Canadian and foreign programming by program category for the years 1997-1999. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters opposes having previously confidential information about its members now being made public. "To now disclose this information on the public file amounts to utilizing past policies that are no longer applicable as a benchmark for the future performance of television groups," writes president and CEO Michael McCabe in the CAB’s submission to the CRTC. The CRTC’s 1999 television policy shifted the focus from expenditures on Canadian content to the amount of priority Canadian programming in prime time. But Gary Neil, policy advisor for the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists told CCR that spending on Canadian programming could plunge if the record keeping stops. He draws an analogy to the commission’s change in policy that saw the elimination of Canadian content numbers for television commercials. "Here we are not many years later and the commercial production industry is in a real crisis in this country. ...And it’s now impossible to get information from the commission about how many commercials are being broadcast, how many are Canadian, or the placement," he says. Peter Murdoch, VP of Media at the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, writes, "Only disclosure will allow Canadians to assess whether commitments to taxpayers are being fulfilled." Some groups say the CRTC should go even further and require the networks to disclose program logs, as well as numbers showing how much was spent on Canadian programming and how much was aired. Media Watch would like to see a comparison of supply and viewing levels to original and repeat Canadian programming as well as a list of public complaints received by each network, and the Canadian Conference of the Arts wants more data about licensees’ financial capacity and their programming performance made public. Vancouver-based consulting firm ATW Management Communications is urging the commission to require and release information about each station’s commitment to ethnic diversity. "When you start asking for measuring of progress, licensees will start taking regional and ethnic diversity seriously," said ATW’s Shyla Dutt. However, VP of regulatory affairs at Global, Charlotte Bell writes that retroactively ignoring the confidential circumstances under which data was submitted to the CRTC "constitutes a serious breach of administrative fairness." Global also argues that if the commission wishes to change its policy on the disclosure of information, it should apply to all regulated companies. "The release of these data could create a competitive advantage for those broadcasters whose data are not being released in relation to those broadcasters whose data might be made public," Bell states in the submission. But many interveners say this "competitively sensitive" information is already available to the big players, and that releasing it simply levels the playing field for members of the public to become engaged in informed debate on broadcast issues. Global president and CEO Leonard Asper begs to differ. "There is some competitively sensitive information in those filings. And quite frankly, we operate our business in a better way, and we don’t want those techniques or some of that information disclosed," he notes. Releasing the information would also place the conventional networks on a more even footing with the specialty channels, argue others. Detailed data on the amount of money spent on Canadian programming is publicly available from the CRTC for all specialty channels. Telefilm Canada executive director François Macerola points out in his submission that overall transparency is justified because "broadcasters are using publicly-owned airwaves and benefit from public funds in the production of their programs." CTV Newfoundland affiliate wants to arm itself with data Even one of CTV Inc's own affiliates wants the CRTC to release confidential financial data on the national network as part of its upcoming licence renewal. The general manager of Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Ltd says his company is not privy to any data flowing from CTV's corporate office, including how much it makes and spends. In its submission to the CRTC, Douglas Neal writes, "NTV feels that the information from CTV relating to these matters would be of particular interest, as we believe that the changes being proposed by CTV will directly and negatively effect NTV's affiliation with the network." St. John's-based NTV, which isn't owned by CTV, was granted a year extension to its licence for administrative purposes, pending the outcome of the CTV licence renewal process. "At this point in time, that's as much as I would care to say regarding the matter," Neil told CCR. "...But we are looking for as much information as we can obtain and through whatever means we can."

Broadcast unions want nets to disclose how much they spend on Canadian content

Broadcast | February 14, 2001

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