Canada's CRTC releases results of fact-finding exercise on OTT services

CRTC releases results of fact-finding exercise on Internet and mobile content

OTTAWA-GATINEAU — Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that its fact-finding exercise on the nature and implications of online and mobile broadcasting activity produced inconclusive results. The CRTC will continue to monitor the evolving communications environment, and this growing activity will be the main focus of its annual consultation with the broadcasting industry in November 2011.

On May 25, 2011, the CRTC launched a fact-finding exercise on online and mobile programming services and their impact on the Canadian communications system. While not containing any clear evidence, the responses filed indicate that:

• The traditional broadcasting system continues to support Canadian programming even as services emerge to deliver content to Canadians in new ways.
• While consumption of online and mobile programming is growing, current measurement tools are unable to accurately reflect trends in consumer behaviour.
• There is no clear evidence that Canadians are reducing or cancelling their television subscriptions. Online and mobile programming appears to be complementary to the content offered by the traditional broadcasting system.
• Canadian creators are taking advantage of the digital environment to produce innovative content and to reach Canadian and global audiences. Canadian broadcasters and distributors are also launching their own online and mobile programming services.
• Some online programming services have established viable business models and are competing in the marketplace for programming rights and viewers.
• Internet and wireless networks may encounter capacity constraints and be challenged to support increasing consumption of media content.

As part of its ongoing efforts to track trends in technology and consumer behaviour, the CRTC will hold another fact-finding exercise in May 2012.