CAB WANTS MORE MONEY INTO CANADIAN PROGRAMMING
By Adnews Staff
Cableco, telcos and satellite distributors should funnel 5% of their broadcast revenues into Canadian programming, according to a brief by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. The brief was submitted to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission this week. The association estimates $40 million a year would be lost to Canadian programming if 1.5% of cable's contribution is diverted into community channels, as recommended by the commission. "In a competitive marketplace, support for community programming and community access is guaranteed," CAB president Michael McCabe says in a release. "There's no need for the commission to establish minimum funding requirements." An annual 5% contribution from all industry players would leverage other funding resources that could support over $200 million in additional Canadian production. The CAB also disagrees with a ruling whereby broadcasters wanting to buy stations will have to continue to demonstrate benefits to the community and the broadcasting system, but distributors no longer need to do this. CAB says that if this requirement is dropped for distribution, it will also be dropped for programming. CAB represents the majority of local-serving, advertising-supported private TV and radio stations.