As promised in its Let’s Talk TV decisions, the CRTC has announced new methods to monitor how much kids content is airing on Canadian channels and how much is being spent on kid-focused content.

In March, the CRTC announced its intention to gather better data on kids content by creating new program categories based on the age of target audiences. Previously, television programs were logged and classified by channels in categories laid out in three pieces of CRTC regulation: the Pay Television Regulations, the Specialty Services Regulations and the Television Broadcasting Regulations.

Under the old system, kids programming could fall into almost any of the 27 possible program categories and subcategories outlined in the regulations. The only category that was specific to kids programming, Formal Education and Pre-School, did not capture content geared towards school-aged kids and youth, the regulator noted its updated regulatory policy released Tuesday.

To better record the type of programming channels are listing in their program logs, the CRTC intends to introduce new audience markers to define the target audience of a program: preschool children (0 – 5 years), children (6 – 12 years), teenagers (13 – 17 years) and adults (18 and over).

These amendments, the CRTC said, will standardize the target audience demos across all regulations and allow the commission to gather more accurate data about how much kids content is on the air. Starting Sept. 1, channels will be required to record a program’s target demo info using the new audience markers. The CRTC, however, will also issue a notice of consultation on these changes on a yet-to-be-determined date.

The updated regulatory policy regarding kids content also included changes on how channels must report their spending in individual program categories. For the 2014-2015 broadcast year, channels must submit their annual return forms with a breakdown of total expenditures on programming acquired or produced for three kid-related target audiences: preschool children (0 – 5 years), children (6 – 12 years) and teenagers (13 – 17 years).

“This information will be used by the Commission to assess the expenditure levels on programming for children and youth in the context of future licence renewals,” the regulatory policy reads.

In a statement to Playback Daily, DHX Television SVP and general manager Joe Tedesco indicated the kids’ broadcaster welcomed the changes in policy.

“We have always been of the mind that Canadian kids and families should have access to relevant and relatable Canadian programming, and are pleased with the CRTC’s plans to engage in active monitoring of how much homegrown content families is being delivered,” Tedesco said.

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