In his speech to delegates at the Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec (APFTQ) conference Friday, CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais addressed the regulator’s decision to renew the CBC’s licences to 2018, and challenges that both the Quebec industry and the regulator are facing looking to the future of the expanding digital marketplace.

Blais said CRTC’s renewal of CBC’s licences last week came with “an eye on both the present and the future.”

The chairman added that while the regulator set a floor for the CBC’s PNI programming, children’s programming and regional shows, it expects that the pubcaster will exceed that threshold.

“The CBC’s budget, in constant dollars, is now roughly equivalent to what it was in 2002. All things being equal, the combined effects of government appropriations and inflation will make the CBC’s budget for 2018 – still in constant dollars – about 20% lower than its 2002 budget,” Blais said, according to a copy of the speech available online.

The chairman also made clear the regulator’s relationship with content creators, noting “we are in the business of providing frameworks and containers.”

Blais added that as the marketplace evolves beyond analog and linear, and as new business models emerge, the CRTC’s role is also changing to ensure ideal conditions for creating successful programming.

“Our challenge is to use all the investments made by the production industry stakeholders to fuel creativity and produce content of global interest, in all forms and formats,” said Blais.

To do this, Blais said the regulator is investing in regulatory approaches that are modern, adaptable to technological realities, prioritize rewarding excellence and innovation and that are in the interest of Canadians.

He emphasized that the CRTC is increasingly looking at alternatives to regulations through codes and industry partnerships.

The chairman touted Quebec’s industry as a competitor in the international media marketplace, and one that is addressing the changing business environment resulting from digital disruption.

“Quebec has built itself a rich and diverse star system, which is supported through the print media and popular magazines, but, first and foremost, through the amazing quality of content produced here. Quebecers crave the content you produce and want to see their favourite stars on both the small and big screens, and on emerging screens,” said Blais.

He noted Quebec films like Un gars – une fille, which has been adapted in 20 countries worldwide, and Les Invincibles and Les Bougon, which were adapted for French-language after being developed by the CBC, as examples of Canadian concepts with international appeal, and added that the Quebec industry is also established in the internet TV market.

Blais also encouraged production and creative professionals to move beyond individual projects and look to producing content for a global audience.

“Experimentation—with all the associated risks—is essential to the creation of tomorrow’s business opportunities. Naturally, our early adopters are currently the ones using those new formats. But that is an important group. They are the ones who are pointing the way for other consumers,” Blais said.