The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network this week applied to the CRTC requesting to renew its mandatory distribution licence, with an increase in its monthly wholesale rate per subscriber fee from 25 cents to 40 cents.

“APTN is requesting a 15 cent increase…so as to continue their service to Aboriginal audiences, sustain a strong and talented Aboriginal production industry and grow opportunities to better serve the needs of Aboriginal communities through a comprehensive strategic plan,” the network said in a release.

The network said the increased wholesale fee for the next licence term is essential to its future strategy.

Part of that strategic plan includes pursing a multiplatform content strategy for the network’s programming. The network also proposes creating a new digital platform, digitaldrum.ca, for Aboriginal youth to communicate and view content.

“APTN, and Aboriginal Peoples, need to participiate fully in new forms of digital media and content distribution. The key point is that without APTN, First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples would see next to nothing about themselves either in the television landscape – or in the extended multiplatform and mobile viewing environment that is now emerging,” the network insisted in its application.

APTN also plans to boost production budgets on new and original Aboriginal programming with a multi-platform delivery in mind.

The network said its key strategies will also focus on enhancing its news programming and infrastructure to bolster its position as a competitive news network, by increasing accessibility and local and regional content.

APTN also asked the CRTC for changes to its current licence conditions, including slightly upping its required hours of Canadian and French-language programming during the broadcast day. It also requested to increase the minimum hours of Aboriginal-language programming in the broadcast week from 30 to 35.

APTN, which launched in 1999 and is available in approximately 10 million Canadian households, provides general-interest television with programming that reflects the diversity of Aboriginal people, lives and culture.

The service, which does not receive government funding for operations, generates revenue through subscriber fees, ad sales and strategic partnerships.

The CRTC is accepting comments and interventions until Feb. 20. It will hold a hearing beginning Apr. 23 to consider this and other applications.

Image courtesy APTN