CBC/Radio-Canada licence renewal consultations begin
Canada's broadcast regulator has re-launched public consultations on the renewal of CBC/Radio-Canada's radio and television licences.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said Wednesday that public hearings coming in November will include discussions on the broadcaster's strategy, the quality of service in English and French, regional representation and service in Northern Canada.
CBC/Radio-Canada said opportunities for new revenue generation are among the items it has deemed critical to its strategy.
As part of CBC/Radio-Canada's licence application, the corporation is seeking permission to having advertising on its Radio 2 and Espace Musique services.
"While a reduction to the corporation’s budget and the recent elimination of the [Local Programming Improvement Fund] pose major challenges, our direction and our priorities remain unchanged. Now we need a regulatory framework that will allow us to continue moving forward," Hubert Lacroix, the president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said in a statement.
"It's been 13 years since our licences were renewed. This is an important process and we look forward to working with the commission on exploring ways to meet our challenges," Lacroix said.
The deadline for comments is Oct. 5. The CRTC will hold public hearings beginning in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 19.
The CRTC originally started the public consultations on CBC/Radio-Canada's licence renewal last summer, but it was halted in July 2011.