Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC, in French Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes) was established in 1968 by the Canadian Parliament to replace the Board of Broadcast Governors. It regulates all Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems and enforces Canadian content rules.
The CRTC regulates what prices cable television companies are allowed to charge, as well as which channels they must or may offer. They give priority to Canadian signals—many non-Canadian channels which compete with Canadian channels are thus banned. As well, when a Canadian network licenses a television show from an American network and shows it in the same time slot, cable companies must replace the show on the American channel with the broadcast of the Canadian channel (along with any overlays and commercials). This explains why Canadians don't see the popular American Super Bowl advertisements even when watching an American network.
In 2004, the CRTC was involved in three controversial decisions:
- CHOI: The CRTC announced it would not renew the license of the popular CHOI radio station in Quebec, after receiving about 50 complaints about offensive behavior by radio jockeys. Many thousands of the station's fans have marched in the streets against the decision, and are organizing a march on Parliament Hill.
- RAI: This Italian station was banned on the grounds that it would compete with Telelatino, a station which already produces shows in Italian. Many Italian-Canadians who either prefer RAI or cannot receive Telelatino are using "grey market" satellite dishes of dubious legality, which pick up signals from the United States, in order to watch RAI.
- Al Jazeera: Despite concerns over possible anti-semitic incitement on this station, it has been approved by the CRTC as an optional cable offering. However, the CRTC is demanding that any carrier which shows Al Jazeera must edit out any instances of hate speech. Many in the Arabic community feel frustrated, since it seems unlikely that any cable company will carry the station under such restrictions. The Canadian Jewish Congress has expressed its opinion that the restrictions are appropriate, while the Canadian B'nai Brith is opposed to any approval of Al Jazeera in Canada. Again, many Canadians are using grey market dishes to receive the station without regulation.
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