advocacy

The CRTC’s public proceedings to modernize the regulatory framework for Canadian Content

July 12, 2023

DOC’s Executive Director Sarah Spring appeared before the CRTC on December 8, 2023 to present DOC’s vision for an accessible, equitable and sustainable sector on the final day of the CRTC’s historic hearing into how to build a new broadcasting system in Canada.

Click on the image below to watch DOC’s presentation

The hearing that began on November 20th 2023 and concluded on December 8th was part of the CRTC’s “Regulatory Plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting system”, following the passing into Law of Bill C-11 in April 2023.

The consultations are taking place over three Phases:

Phase I: Written interventions (concluded)

This phase invited the industry to submit written comments on the following issues:

Which online streaming services will need to be registered with the CRTC

Changes to orders under which online services have operated in Canada

Questions around which online undertakings (streamers) should contribute, how much and to which funds.

Phase II: Public consultations (hearing) Fall / Winter 

​​In this phase, the CRTC will look at how to tailor our expectations of and requirements for different broadcasting services, including:

  • Definitions of Canadian and Indigenous content;
  • CRTC’s approach to licensing;
  • Funding to improve public participation in broadcasting processes;
  • Audio-related support, such as contributions for music and spoken-word programming;
  • Mechanisms, such as incentives and regulatory measures, that could be used to:
  • support emerging talent
  • foster creation, production, distribution, promotion, and discoverability of diverse content;
  • Supports for news and local programming;
  • Market access and other power imbalances;
  • Fair negotiations, ownership, and dispute resolution;
  • Improving protections for consumers; and
  • Broadcasting industry fees.

Phase III: Implementation (late 2024)

Read DOC’s official interventions CRTC Proceedings 2023-138, 2023-139 and 2023-140: