Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s licence renewed by CRTC By Michael Woods, Postmedia News August 8, 2013 APTN has covered major news items such as Idle No More protests. OTTAWA — Canada’s only broadcaster devoted to aboriginal programming will remain on television, after the country’s broadcast regulator said it will keep its guaranteed placement on basic cable. On Thursday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) renewed the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s mandatory carriage licence for another five years. The decision means that APTN, devoted to “providing a positive window on Aboriginal life for all Canadians,” keeps its coveted spot on basic cable television, and the guaranteed funding that comes with it. The concern was that if APTN lost its guaranteed cable placement and the money that comes from it — which accounts for most of its $38-million budget — it would have lost much of its subscriber base and been reduced to a shadow of its former self. “It would have been very difficult for us to meet the mandate of the network to produce original programming for the original people of this land, because we just wouldn’t have had the money to do it,” APTN CEO Jean Larose said. “The impact would have been tremendous on us.” APTN provides programming in English, French and 30 different aboriginal languages and dialects, which “reflects the attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity of Aboriginal peoples, which would otherwise not be seen on television,” the CRTC said in its decision. “As the only television channel by and for Aboriginal peoples of Canada, APTN is exceptional in its contribution to Canadian expression, cultural sovereignty and regional reflection,” the ruling said. However, the network fell short in its request for a 15-cent increase in subscriber fees. The network asked for an increase from 25 cents to 40 cents per subscriber. On Thursday, the CRTC granted it a 31-cent subscription fee per household. “That increase isn’t what we hoped for based on the plans we had, but it will certainly allow us to maintain the network at a somewhat comparable level as what it’s been doing in the past few years.” Those ambitious plans included creating more original online programming to target a younger audience, and running more community outreach events. Larose said it was apparent at hearings earlier this year that the commission wasn’t interested in granting money for those purposes. But he said the CRTC recognized the vast community support for keeping APTN at its current level. More than 800 interventions were filed to the CRTC in response to APTN’s application in a five-week consultation window earlier this year. The CRTC said a “large majority of the interventions were in support, including those from Aboriginal persons, organizations and production companies.” The CRTC’s decision also noted that APTN is the only outlet for most of Canada’s independent Aboriginal production industry. Despite Thursday’s victory, the network may be hard-pressed to maintain its level of original programming, due to potential difficulties in keeping up with rising costs. For example, its licence renewal comes with more onerous requirements regarding closed captioning and described video. And earlier this year, much of its funding from the Canada Media Fund was slashed. But Larose said the CRTC made “the best decision that they could make under the circumstances. “We’re happy with the result.” On Thursday, the CRTC granted mandatory distribution to three new services. It denied mandatory carriage to a number of new applicants, including Sun News Network. mwoods@postmedia Twitter/michaelrwoods ottawacitizen/life/Aboriginal+Peoples+Television+Network+licence+renewed+CRTC/8763987/story.html
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:44:46 +0000
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