The CRTC says the CBC wants to extend for another two years its ruling that allows the public broadcaster to play paid national advertising on two of its radio networks.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommications Commission ruled in favour of the CBC’s request in 2013 for paid advertising on CBC Radio 2 and Espace Musique, now called ICI Musique, until the end of this August.
However, the CRTC said the ruling was met with heavy opposition from listeners and industry insiders.
The CRTC said at the time that the CBC would have to prove the decision did not negatively impact advertising markets or excessively disrupt listeners if it wanted to continue broadcasting ads past August 2016.
The broadcaster also had to maintain its level of investment in radio and continue to offer variety and diversity on the two services.
The CBC, which said in its application that it had abided by all these conditions over the two-year period, said the two services brought in $1.1 million in revenue in the 2013-14 broadcast year and $1.4 million the following year, well below initial expectations.
The CBC estimates the ads could bring in nearly $2 million in revenue over the next two years.
The CRTC is accepting comments on the CBC’s request until June 22.
