The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will review funding cable and satellite companies provide to local television stations throughout the country, including three in Winnipeg.
The Local Programming Improvement Fund is made up of 1.5 percent of gross broadcasting revenues from cable and satellite companies and was established in 2009. By the end of 2012, the fund will have handed out $300 million to 75 stations. CTV Winnipeg, CBC Manitoba (including French) and Global Winnipeg are all recipients of funding in the program, of which one of the requirements is the stations provide local programming that includes news.
Coming up to its third year now, the CRTC will take a look at how the stations are performing, if additional spending on local programming should be made, how the funds are being allocated, if the 1.5 percent contribution should be raised/lowered, or if the program should be cancelled altogether.
Anyone who wants to submit comments on the issue can do so online by February 15, 2012. A public hearing will begin on April 16, 2012 in Gatineau, Quebec.
