The CRTC has announced a new review of the regulatory framework for French-language radio in a bid to ensure that French-language content is present in music programming and to provide French-language vocal music listeners “access to programming that reflects their needs, interests and culture.”
Announcing the review on Monday, the federal broadcast regulator noted while Canadians continue to appreciate commercial radio, younger people are increasingly discovering music on other platforms.
The CRTC said listeners are also migrating from French-language to English-language stations in markets such as Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau,
“In light of industry transformations and changing consumption habits, this proceeding aims to ensure better discovery, promotion, creation and consumption of French-language vocal music,” said the federal regulator.
“The places where listeners used to enjoy commercial radio (in the car, at work, at home) now have access to broadband and provide several options for listening to music.”
Thirteen of the 136 over-the-air radio stations approved by the CRTC between 2009 and 2013 were French, according to the regulator’s most recent Communications Monitoring Report.
French-language radio stations accounted for 16% of private commercial radio revenues in 2013, with revenues for AM stations falling 22.6% to $4.7 million and revenues for FM stations growing slightly – 0.5% – to $253.2 million.
Profit for French language stations was $37.2 million in 2013, down from a high of $42 million in 2010.
The report suggests Francophones also have less of an appetite for non-standard radio services than Anglophones. For example, only 4% of Francophones listened to podcasts in 2013, compared to 16% of Anglophones.
Elsewhere, 14% of Francophones used streaming AM/FM radio, compared with 22% of Anglophones, while 7% subscribed to a satellite radio service, compared to 17% of Anglophones.
A recent media consumption study by ZenithOptimedia projected radio to account for 71 minutes of the average 501.1 minutes per day Canadians will spend with media in 2015, down from 87.4 minutes in 2010.
