The last 12 months have seen local news issues given a lot of attention. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission’s Let’s Talk TV public consultation into Local and Community Programming. This resulted in a new Television Policy prior to the Group Licensing Hearings for Canada’s major broadcasters this past November.
The Minister of Heritage, Mélanie Joly, is conducting a public consultation into Canadian Content in a Digital World. This wide ranging consultation also confirms the importance of Local News to Canadians.
Unifor Local 830M has been involved in these important consultations and continues to advocate for improved funding and regulatory support for Local News Programming.
This is a detail account of what we have said on the record over the past year:
January 2016: CRTC denies Unifor complaint into OMNI cuts, 2016-8
Unifor National responds to CRTC Decision 2016-8
Unifor 830M’s final submission to Let’s Talk Local TV
June 2016: CRTC Broadcast Decision 2016-224 sets out the frame work for Local News Programming for the up coming Group Licensing and call for interventions 2016-225.
Unifor Nation responds to CRTC’s new broadcasting policy
Rogers makes a group licensing application 2016-0009-9 for CITY & OMNI, releasing very few details for their five year plans
Roger applies for a mandatory carriage license (known as a 9-1-H application) for a Regional OMNI channel, to coincide with their group licensing application, 2016-0377-0
Unifor 830M Journalism Advocacy Letter
Unifor National gives conditional support for Rogers 9-1-H application
Unifor Local 830M supports the National Unifor position, supporting 9-1-H, however does not support Rogers group licensing application for lack of specific details. This submission details the lack of Local Programming Roger’s currently provides in Vancouver. This is most evident when you review 830M’s Membership List from March 2015, which demonstrates the devastating 50% cuts to local programming staffing.
August 25th, Rogers responds to written interventions
December 2016: Unifor Local 830M gives testimony during CRTC Group Licensing hearing 2016-225; 2016-0009-9 & 2016-0377-0
Unifor Nation media release following appearance at Group Licensing hearing
Unifor 830 Final submission to Group Licensing hearing; 2016-225; 2016-0009-9 & 2016-0377-0
Unifor’s Media Actiion Plan publishes a letter in several major Canadian newspapers
Rogers makes final submission to 2016-225; 2016-0009-9 & 2016-0377-0