Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (crtc) Needed or Not?

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Continuing the production of bad television shows because a Canadian produces it or it features Canadian actors or writers is fundamentally wrong and undermines the principle mandate of the CRTC. If a show is of poor quality, regardless of its origin or content people are not going to watch. Therefore, the amount of Canadian content provided is irrelevant when no one is watching. Does this type of scenario provide Canadians will a definite cultural reference? Probably not. Will the changes create a more positive outcome for Canadian television production? It is possible, but it will take more than a CRTC ruling to make that happen. The CRTC is not the creator of the programs presented to the public; it is just there to provide Canadian productions with the opportunity to be seen. It is up to the artists to make relevant programs which will appeal to both Canadian’s and hopefully an international audience.

The rules for radio broadcasters is a bit more complicated and depends on the type of station. For a commercial radio station, the Canadian content requirement is 25% throughout any given broadcast day in a reasonable manner. That seems to say that all the Canadian content can not be played at 3:00 am when there are few listeners. This quota should be much less difficult to fulfill than television as there is a large number of high profile, Canadian singer, songwriters, and composers to satisfy these requirements, It seems likely, that even without the CRTC regulations, the content quota would be met by radio broadcasters. However, having these rules of broadcasting in place does allow for the growth of local artists who are more likely to have their talents showcased because of the CRTC’s intervention. It seems radio stations are more apt and willing to take the risk of playing up and coming Canadian musicians as the population is open and accepting of this practice. Not to mention that most songs are only three to four minutes. Therefore, the potential impact on audiences tuning out is less than that of television audiences which could potentially endure thirty to sixty minutes of poor quality programming because of necessary quotas.

The question of whether the CRTC regulations are needed to preserve Canadian culture can sometimes produce more questions. The idea may be dependent on what one sees as Canadian culture. Is it Anne of Green Gables? Is it Hockey Night in Canada? Is it a gas station and coffee shop in the Prairies? Is it our native heritage represented by those living North of 60? Alternatively, we might ask would any of these programs have existed if the requirement for Canadian content not existed. Necessary is perhaps too strong a word to use. While Canadian culture would very likely prevail with or without the CRTC implemented rules, it does provide a condition that must be met and does fulfill a need. In a country as vast as Canada with its diverse population and regional divides, the Canadian programs produced have provided historical and cultural education that might otherwise not have happened. Even if a program is designed primarily for entertainment, there is the opportunity to engage the audience by providing insight into that which may be uniquely Canadian.

Having an organization such as the CRTC provide citizens with a guarantee they will have access to some type Canadian programs does seem to be essential. It not only provides a platform for Canadian talent to demonstrate itself it also allows those living in this vast country to understand one another better. Some on living on the East Coast might better understand the lives and struggles of people residing in the Yukon. It could provide residents in the British Columbia Rockie Mountains an understand what it is like to live on the flatlands of Saskatchewan. An organization such as the CTRC does perform an important and needed role in the preservation and promotion of that which makes Canadians distinctive.

References

Bradshaw, James. "CRTC Rewrites Canadian Content Quotas on Television." The Globe and Mail. 12 Mar. 2015. Web.

Doyle, John. "CRTC's New Plans: Quality over Quantity? Good Luck with That." The Globe and Mail. 12 Mar. 2015. Web.

"Programming on TV and Radio." Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Web.

News, CBC. "CRTC Eases Canadian-content Quotas for TV." CBCnews. CBC/Radio-Canada, 12 Mar. 2015. Web. Potter, Jessica, and A. Davidson Dunton. "Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission." The Canadian Encyclopedia. 16 Dec. 2013. Web.

Taylor, Kate. "Will the CRTC Get the Future Right as It Begins Dismantling Cancon?" The Globe and Mail. 12 Mar. 2015. Web.