Numeris data shows that Canadians are choosing Netflix over the country’s major terrestrial television networks. Netflix beat out both CTV and Global for average viewers with English-speaking adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and children ages 2-11. The insight is among those contained in government-commissioned report Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada, published by the CRTC last week. Among the report recommendations are replacing prescriptive licensing with binding service agreements for all video and audio services offered in Canada; and a restructured funding strategy to ensure sustainable support for content production, including the participation of television service providers, radio stations, and wireless and internet service providers.
The Government of Canada has launched a review of the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, in addition to the Radiocommunication Act. The review is aimed at modernizing the legislative framework addressing how to best promote competition and affordability for internet and mobile wireless; and examine how to best support the creation, production and distribution of Canadian content in both French and English. As a response to a unanimously passed motion in the House of Commons, the review will be guided by the principle of net neutrality. It will be led by a panel of external experts, chaired by Janet Yale, current president and CEO of The Arthritis Society, and former executive VP at TELUS, in addition to having served as a director general at the CRTC and general counsel at the Consumers Association of Canada. The panel’s final report and recommendations are due by Jan. 31, 2020.
Raj Shoan, former CRTC commissioner for Ontario, has filed an appeal of the latest Federal Court decision against him in May which dismissed his application for a judicial review of his second firing from the commission. Shoan’s appeal argues judicial error saying evidence was ignored.
