TV Broadcasters Want to Make More Money; Look To CRTC For Leeway
November 28th, 2006 | by MadHacktress |In Ottawa this week there is a meeting taking place between the television broadcasters and their regulator, the Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission. The broadcasters will be asking for a loosening of the rules and policies that guide their money-making options.
The broadcasters’ contention is that it is harder, these days, for them to make the same living they once made in the heyday of the television industry. Because the Internet and pay-TV are becoming a bigger draw for the attentions of the people, the television broadcasters are feeling a crunch on their fortunes.
They’re not claiming poverty, to be clear, they’re claiming not rich enough.
Ottawa may be receptive to the industry’s hopes and dreams. Recently a member of the Conservative cabinet, Minister of Canadian Heritage (one of the ministers who oversee the CRTC) Bev Oda, was quoted as saying that Canada’s New Government is committed to “more regulatory flexibility”.
I don’t think that regulation, or lack thereof, is the answer to the problem. Allowing the television broadcasters more adverts per hour, or letting them count daytime infomercials as Canadian content, is not going to solve their problem in the long run. What the Canadian broadcasters need in a shot in the arm with ambition.
They need to find, within their corporate selves, a will to adapt to the changing face of media. Before there was television there was print and radio. Television came along, burst on to the scene and kicked radio in the ass. Radio survived, found its calling and, indeed, has made at least a few people rich.
Now it just might be television’s turn to make way for New Media.
It’s not to say that there’s no place for the television broadcasters in New Media - CBS’s InnerTube does pretty well for itself, after all - but they have to keep abreast of these options and the changing face of media in order to stay competitive. Some of the best information sites on the Internet are run by “old” media companies: CNN.com, for instance.
I hope that the CRTC carefully considers its options when confronted with the requests of the television broadcasters. These looser regulations are unlikely to be the miracle cure that these corporations are hoping they will be.
I hope, instead, that broadcast television officials will take a little time and think about their services and how they can find a feasible place in the new definition of media. YouTube killed the television star would be an unfortunate catchphrase for the future.
To the Canadian broadcast networks: move forward or get left behind.
Entry Filed under: In The News, Pure Opinion
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