The Canadian Television Fund says it will give stakeholders a chance to comment on its transition into the Canada Media Fund through an online town hall meeting.

The Aug. 6 online meeting will see the fund present briefing papers on the ‘key policy issues’ raised by its new mandate, after which stakeholders may submit written comments.

The fund says it will later host provincial, territorial, and national focus groups aimed at addressing further questions and concerns. CTF will next year morph into the CMF, broadening its mandate to include the support of new media. The change has raised concerns across the industry, including fears that cable and satellite companies may have too much influence over its revamped board of directors, and that the new fund’s greater emphasis on commercial programming will short-change smaller, more cultural productions.

‘Through the consultation process, industry stakeholders will play an active role in determining the program policies of the Canada Media Fund. This consultation with the industry is critical to a successful launch of the CMF and we look forward to hearing the great ideas this process will generate’, said Valerie Creighton president and CEO of the CTF in a statement.

Further details on the online meeting will be released later, say organizers.