How New CRTC Rules Will Change Canadian TV

Summary

The video script discusses the influence of television on the audience, highlighting the preference for American TV among Canadians and the dullness of Canadian programming. It delves into the role of the CRTC in supporting Canadian content through regulation, facing challenges from streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, which are unregulated. The script raises concerns about the future of Canadian TV, emphasizing the need for support to tell Canadian stories amidst the global dominance of English-language programming.

Takeaways

• 📺 This television program explores the influence of television on audiences, emphasizing its role in shaping perceptions and behaviors.
• 🇨🇦 Canadian preferences have historically leaned towards American TV, often finding domestic programs less appealing.
• 📉 The survival of Canadian TV is partly due to CRTC regulations requiring broadcasters to fund and air Canadian content.
• 📜 The CRTC's first chairman in 1970 faced significant opposition from broadcasters when enforcing these rules.
• 📊 Outside of primetime, the CRTC is shifting towards incentives for higher-budget shows, aiming for quality over quantity.
• ⚠️ Critics argue that reducing quantity can hinder the discovery of quality hits, as not all expensive shows will succeed.
• 💻 The rise of streaming services like Netflix and YouTube poses a significant threat to traditional Canadian TV.
• 🔄 The CRTC's funding system relies on regulated broadcasting, which is jeopardized by unregulated streaming platforms.
• 🛡️ In response, the CRTC is considering measures like taxing streaming services or making Canadian content easier to find.
• 🌐 Despite challenges, Canadian TV is gaining international acclaim and domestic ratings, but its future remains uncertain without support.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the television program discussed in the script?

The main theme of the television program is the impact of television on the audience, highlighting how television has influenced people and society over time.

How has American television influenced Canadians according to the script?

American television has significantly influenced Canadians, with many preferring American shows over Canadian ones due to their perceived higher quality and entertainment value.

What is the role of the CRTC in Canadian television broadcasting?

The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) regulates Canadian television broadcasting, enforcing rules that require broadcasters to fund and show Canadian content.

What changes is the CRTC making to Canadian content rules outside of primetime?

The CRTC is pulling back on mandatory Canadian content rules outside of primetime and is instead introducing incentives for bigger budget shows to emphasize quality over quantity.

What is the potential impact of the CRTC's new approach to Canadian television?

The new approach could lead to a reduction in the overall quantity of Canadian TV shows, potentially impacting the diversity and availability of Canadian programming, especially outside of primetime.

What challenges does Canadian television face in the current media landscape?

Canadian television faces challenges from streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, which are not regulated in the same way as traditional broadcasters, threatening the funding and sustainability of Canadian programming.

What is the significance of the CRTC's jurisdiction over streaming services like Netflix and Google?

The CRTC's jurisdiction over streaming services is significant because it affects how these services contribute to Canadian content funding and regulation, with ongoing disputes about the extent of CRTC's authority.

How is Canadian television performing internationally according to the script?

Canadian television is attracting international critical acclaim, being picked up worldwide, and achieving good ratings within Canada.

What is the CRTC's stance on data transparency from American streaming companies?

The CRTC is pushing for data transparency from American streaming companies to better understand their support for Canadian programming and to potentially impose regulations or taxes based on this data.

What is the future outlook for Canadian television as described in the script?

The future of Canadian television remains fragile despite its successes, with ongoing challenges from American media influence and the need for continued support to ensure the production and distribution of Canadian stories.

Outlines

00:00

📺 The Influence of Television and CRTC Policies

This paragraph discusses the impact of television on the world and the audience's role as the star. It highlights the preference of Canadians for American TV over Canadian content, which is perceived as dull due to CRTC rules that mandate broadcasters to fund and showcase Canadian content. The speaker, Pierre Juneau, the first CRTC chair, defends these rules despite opposition from broadcasters. The paragraph also touches on the current shift in CRTC's approach, focusing on incentives for higher budget shows to improve quality, and the challenges faced by the Canadian TV industry due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, which are not regulated like traditional broadcasters.

Keywords

💡Television Program

A television program refers to a segment of content designed for broadcast on television. In the context of this video, the program discusses the impact of television on audiences and society, highlighting how it has become a central part of cultural influence and daily life. The script mentions that 'the audience is the star,' emphasizing the importance of viewer engagement and interaction with television content.

💡Audience

The audience in this video is portrayed as the driving force behind the success and relevance of television. It is suggested that television has changed the world and people, including the viewers themselves, indicating that the audience's preferences and engagement are crucial to the medium's evolution. The script discusses how preferences lean towards American TV, reflecting the audience's role in shaping television content.

💡American TV

American TV, as mentioned in the script, represents the dominant influence in television programming, especially for Canadians. It is described as 'expensive' and having a significant impact on viewers' preferences, overshadowing Canadian content. The script suggests that American TV is preferred due to its perceived higher quality and entertainment value, which has implications for the Canadian television industry.

💡Canadian Programs

Canadian programs are contrasted with American TV in the script, being described as 'dull' and less preferred by some viewers. The video discusses the challenges faced by Canadian content creators due to the competition with American programming and the need for support to produce quality shows that can resonate with audiences.

💡CRTC

The CRTC, or Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, is a regulatory agency for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in Canada. The script discusses the CRTC's role in mandating Canadian content on television, which has been a point of contention and a driving factor behind the creation of Canadian TV shows. The CRTC's policies are central to the video's theme of control and support for domestic programming.

💡Canadian Content

Canadian content refers to television programming that is produced in Canada and typically features Canadian stories, themes, or creators. The script highlights the importance of Canadian content as a means of preserving cultural identity and self-expression. However, it also points out the struggle to maintain this content in the face of competition from American TV and changing viewer habits.

💡Innovation

Innovation in the context of the video relates to the creation of new and improved television content. The CRTC is said to be 'pulling back on Canadian content rules' and instead offering incentives for higher-budget shows, aiming to emphasize quality over quantity. This approach suggests a shift towards fostering creativity and excellence in Canadian television production.

💡Quantity vs. Quality

The script debates the balance between producing a large quantity of shows versus focusing on the quality of a few. It suggests that without a sufficient quantity of content, it is difficult to ensure that all shows will be successful, regardless of the budget invested in them. This concept is central to the discussion on how to best support the Canadian television industry.

💡Streaming Services

Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube are mentioned as threats to the traditional broadcast model in Canada. These platforms are not regulated like traditional broadcasters, which affects the funding and support for Canadian programming. The script implies that the rise of streaming is changing the landscape of television consumption and poses challenges for the Canadian TV industry.

💡Regulation

Regulation in the video refers to the rules and policies set by the CRTC and other bodies that govern the broadcasting industry. The script discusses how traditional regulation is being challenged by the emergence of unregulated streaming services, which could potentially undermine the support system for Canadian programming.

💡International Critical Acclaim

The video notes that despite the challenges, Canadian TV is gaining international recognition and being picked up worldwide. This indicates that Canadian content has the potential to succeed on a global stage, but it requires support to continue producing high-quality shows that resonate with diverse audiences.

Highlights

Television has been a major influence on people's lives, changing the world and the way people perceive it.

Canadian audiences have shown a preference for American TV over Canadian programs, finding them dull in comparison.

The CRTC's rules have been instrumental in promoting Canadian content on television, despite resistance from broadcasters.

The first CRTC chair in 1970, Pierre Juneau, championed the rules despite opposition from broadcasters.

The CRTC is now easing back on Canadian content rules, instead focusing on incentives for higher budget shows to improve quality.

Media policy consultant warns that Canadian TV could collapse if the current system faces too many challenges.

Canadians are increasingly turning to streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, which are not regulated like traditional broadcast.

The current funding system for Canadian programming relies on the regulated broadcast system, which is under threat from streaming.

The CRTC chair has publicly acknowledged the threat posed by large American companies like Netflix and Google to Canadian programming.

The CRTC may require streaming services to support Canadian programming, possibly through taxes or other regulations.

Netflix and Google have resisted the CRTC's attempts to gain jurisdiction and access to their data.

Canadian TV is gaining international critical acclaim and being picked up worldwide, despite its fragile future.

Canadian programming needs support to continue telling its own stories and adapting to the changing media landscape.

The CRTC is hoping that Canadians will continue to choose and support their own content amidst a sea of global programming options.

Transcripts

this television program is about

television and the audience is the star

the audience and television just about

the greatest thing that ever happened

changing the world and changing the

people in the world changing you and me

and finding new ways to do it all the

time

for decades much of what's influenced

Canadians has been slashing expensive

American TV our preferences happen to be

towards American television

I find the Canadian programs very dull

hide rather why should American show I

don't really like Canadian television

would I miss Canadian television no

perhaps the only reason there is any

Canadian TV crtc rules that forest

broadcasters to fund and show Canadian

content Hancock's ultimately it boils

down to a question of how much are we

willing to pay for being in control of

our own minds it's a matter of seeing

inanimate autonomous way you know with

our own eyes and not adopting other

people's problems and other people's

solutions all the time

the rules were championed by the first

CRTC chair in 1970 it's the chairman of

the CRTC Pierre you know he ignored the

outcry from broadcasters you're going to

come out of enormous assault now from

the so called vested interest from the

broadcasters who have the stations and

so on how are you prepared to withstand

these assaults well we're prepared but

now outside of primetime the CRTC is

pulling back on cam Cohn rules instead

putting in incentives for bigger budget

shows in the hopes of emphasizing

quality over quantity tearing down

barriers to innovation problem with that

concept is that you need to have

quantity to get the quality if you only

put up three shows there's no guarantee

that all three of them are gonna be

massive hits no matter how much money

you put into them this media policy

consultant says Canadian TV could

collapse

I don't think it's gonna have a huge

impact on primetime drama but I think

for everything else it's it could

decimate it the system is already facing

a mortal threat increasingly Canadians

are streaming and Netflix YouTube you

name it

aren't regulated like broadcast the

whole funding system requires broadcast

regulated broadcast our business model

is dependent on the regulated system for

the financing for the Canadian

programming last year the CRTC chair

publicly tried to rein the threat of

those big American companies in the

Hotpoint was play asking for data again

that's information that we don't

customarily disclose or very much at the

antithesis of your open platform and

this morning the next step would be well

now that we see how little you really

support Canadian programming despite

what you're saying maybe we're going to

require you to the CRTC could ask for

anything from a tax on the Netflix's of

the world to rules making can con easier

to find that is if those companies were

playing balls your chairman can the

panel guarantee confidential treatment

of that information you are not entitled

to a special treatment we are treating

you like every other applicant CRTC's

feeling that it was had jurisdiction

came up against Netflix and Google

thinking no you don't and we're only

here being nice it's still an

outstanding issue don't surprise me

recognize me the bottom line Canadian TV

is attracting international critical

acclaim getting picked up worldwide and

getting ratings within Canada but its

future is as fragile as ever we're still

living next door to the largest producer

of english-language programming in the

world if we don't have support we don't

have our own stories we have to get

ready for the next wave the CRTC is

hoping that in a sea of choice

increasingly impossible to control less

Canada will be more