Canadian Media

1. Canadian Media Our Culture, Our Identity

2. “ Living next to (the United States) is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.” -- Pierre Trudeau

3. How are we affected by American culture?

4. The Arid Commission of 1929 • Examines the state of radio in Canada • Recommends the creation of a national publicly funded radio broadcast network

5. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation In 1936, CBC radio begins in an attempt to prevent American culture from taking over Canada CBC TV launched in 1952 cbc.ca launched in 1993

6. Massey Commission 1951 Determines that Canada is culturally threatened from the U.S. Led to the creation of the Canada Council, which spends large amounts of money promoting Canadian culture

7. 1971: Quotas Based on a 1956 recommendation, the Canadian government begins to impose quotas on radio and television broadcasters These quotas become known as the Canadian Content, or CanCon rules

8. Current CanCon Rules 35% of all music aired each week on all AM and FM stations must be Canadian 50% of content aired between 6 PM and 12 AM on Canadian TV stations must be Canadian 60% of overall TV programming must be Canadian The CBC must air 60% Canadian content during prime time

9. What counts as “Canadian” music? Canadian radio stations must adhere to the MAPL System – if a song meets two of the following criteria, it is considered Canadian Music – composed entirely by a Canadian Artist – primary performer is Canadian Production – song recorded in Canada Lyrics – written entirely by a Canadian

10. What counts as “Canadian” TV? The definition is not as clear. Things to be considered: Are the producer and key creative personnel Canadian? What amount of money is paid to Canadians for services provided to make the program? What amount of money is spent in Canada on lab processing?

11. Your Task (Choose one): • Create two hours of radio programming. Your program list must adhere to CanCon regulations and be engaging for your radio audience • Create one evening of TV programming (6 pm to 12 pm). You must adhere to CanCon regulations and engage your audience

12. Who enforces these rules? • The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) • Formed in 1976 • The first head of the CRTC was Pierre Juneau, after whom the Juno Awards are named

13. What Else Does the CRTC Do? • Grants licenses to broadcasters in Canada • Ensures that Canadian stations and networks are owned by Canadians • Makes decisions regarding how the Internet is provided to Canadians (e.g. Bell Canada’s new usage-based billing was approved by the CRTC)

14. Censorship in Canada • CRTC is often accused of censorship • Most censorship decisions are made by Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council, formed in 1990 • The CRTC can refuse to grant or re-grant licenses to broadcasters if their content is deemed offensive to Canadians, as it did with one Quebec city radio station in 2004