A Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) panel has ruled that themes of murder, suicide and domestic violence require a certain level of viewer maturity, meaning that a 13+ classification would have been more appropriate on two episodes of French-language legal drama, Indéfendable, broadcast on TVA. Indéfendable, which airs at 7:30 p.m. on TVA’s schedule, centres on a law firm of criminal lawyers and their clients. The CBSC received complaints about two episodes that included scenes of suicide, with the viewer concerned the scenes were too detailed and did not follow recommendations from suicide prevention organizations. In its decision, the CBSC concluded that scenes of suicide and domestic violence did not constitute gratuitous violence or promote violence under the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Violence Code, but the episodes should have been rated 13+ instead of 8+ under the Quebec classification system. Read more here.
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PSAC), Open Media, Unifor, Quebec English-language Production Council, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting, and the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) are among a dozen organizations requesting the CRTC extend the deadline to comment on implementation of the Online Streaming Act. They’ve filed a joint request to extend both deadlines to July 28. The application cites not enough time to consult and undertake necessary research, as well as the fact that Cabinet has yet to provide policy direction to the CRTC that would help guide submitting parties on reasonable recommendations. The group says the current deadlines overlap with 11 other CRTC proceedings, eight of which are on broadcasting matters.
FRIENDS is advocating for public disclosure requirements in Bill C-18, the Online News Act. The public broadcaster watchdog has launched a Senate lobbying campaign saying basic public knowledge of which platforms compensate which news outlets, to what extent and in what way, is the best safeguard to prevent any inappropriate influence. “At this critical juncture for our news media, we cannot afford to adopt legislation that places corporate privacy above public disclosure,” the organization wrote in a statement on its website.
The Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) returns to Banff Fairmont Springs, June 7-8, with a speakers lineup that WAB President Brett Adnum says will address challenges like consumer and advertiser competition, in addition to inspiring industry leaders with practical advice they can bring back to their teams. Adnum says registration is strong, including representation from Harvard Media, Golden West Broadcasting, Vista Radio, Rawlco Radio, Corus Entertainment, and Stingray. Read our interview with Adnum here.
