The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) discussed the need for direct support for must-carry broadcasters offering key public services in its presentation to the CRTC during the Path Forward hearings on Friday (Nov. 24).

In her opening remarks, APTN CEO Monika Ille (pictured) said the broadcaster supports the creation of a Services of Exceptional Importance Fund, which will offer direct funding to public service-oriented broadcasters in the face of declining subscriber revenues.

“We risk losing headway if we can’t continue to offer the type of authentic and valued programming that we currently do,” she said. “Shrinking resources are making this more and more difficult.”

Mike Omelus, APTN’s executive director, content and strategy, said the broadcaster has seen a 10% drop in revenues since its broadcast licence was renewed in 2018, a loss that he estimates is closer to 28% with inflation factored in.

When asked about the need for a distinct fund for broadcasters, instead of funding for programming, Omelus argued, “if we don’t have the license fees, we won’t be triggering any programming, and the funding from those other funds won’t matter.”

Ille emphasized that, while APTN has helped trigger roughly half a billion dollars in production budgets in the last decade, they don’t have the resources to fund premium dramas such as Little Bird or Bones of Crows, and can only do so by partnering with platforms such as CBC and Crave.

“We’re the Indigenous broadcaster and we can’t be first window, because we don’t have the resources to do that. And that, for me, is sad and even shameful,” she said. “We should be the lead broadcaster on our own storytelling. We love our partnerships, don’t get me wrong, I think the future in the industry is collaboration, but we should take the leading role in those types of shows.”

Omelus said APTN has already had to make cuts, including more reruns in its programming, a reduction in marketing, and a reduced schedule for its Hockey Night in Canada in Cree program. In spite of all this, he said ratings are up 23% year-over-year.

“We’ve never been so relevant as we are today in this era of reconciliation,” said Ille. “Canadians having an appetite for Indigenous stories – that’s why we’ve seen an increase in our ratings… they want to know our stories, told in our voices and our perspectives. We cannot lose that momentum, so for us it is critical to have the means and the resources to sustain, but also to continue to grow.”

Ille also argued that, like the Indigenous Screen Office, Indigenous broadcasters should be taken into consideration at the early stage of forming new regulation, with their needs considered “up front” rather than as an afterthought.

The Path Forward hearings are scheduled to continue until Dec. 8.