Column: Irene S. Berkowitz examines the long-term implications of the BTLR report for Canadian media makers.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage said he recently spoke with the review panel chair Janet Yale to “discuss the urgency to take action.”
Following the release of the long-awaited report, Heritage minister Pablo Rodriguez said the government will require web giants to create and promote Cancon.
APTN’s Jean La Rose says the broadcaster has been pushing for the review since 2011 and expects a productive collaboration between the CRTC and Indigenous community.
Following two joint requests for an extension, the CRTC has pushed back the deadline for its expanded PNI report.
In its Acts review submission, the global streamer said “it’s not clear what purpose would be served by regulating foreign, global online services as ‘broadcasters’ in Canada.”
The commission said the manner in which the Bell Fund’s TV Program is structured is consistent with CRTC policies and need not be revised.
The commission has put out a call for English- and French-language groups to weigh in on a new production report to replace its annual PNI report for licensees.
Day two saw Bell Media highlighting the scale of its existing news operations while other applicants questioned the ability of big media cos to prioritize multi-lingual programming.
Despite the apparent overturn of the CRTC’s simsub ban in the trilateral USMCA pact, the commission declined to consider the matter while it is still before the Supreme Court.
Originally set for Nov. 30, the seven-person panel has extended its submission deadline until early next year.