CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 1 OF 8 F. ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RADIO NETWORKS RADIO TWO 9. Undertakings to air News and Other Spoken Word Please specify the undertakings the Corporation is willing to make, for each broadcast week; The minimum level of programming drawn from content subcategory 11 – News will be _______ (hours:minutes) of the broadcast week. The combined minimum level of programming drawn from content subcategory 11 – News and sub-category 12 – Other Spoken Word will be: _________ (hours:minutes) or _____% of the broadcast week. Submit your responses to these questions as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. ANSWER The Corporation does not believe that an undertaking of the type identified by the Commission is necessary. The amount of News and Other Spoken Word on Radio 2 will reflect the fact that the primary focus for Radio 2 is music. Currently, the Radio 2 schedule includes 5:15 (hours:minutes) of News and 6:11 of News and Other Spoken Word per broadcast week. It is not our intention to vary substantially from this level of broadcast time during the next licence term and do not feel it is necessary to make a commitment in this area. 1 CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 2 OF 8 10. Undertakings to air music a) Please make a minimum commitment (hours, percentages) with respect to the main musical content categories proposed for each broadcast week : Category 2 – Popular music Subcategory hours : minutes % of music 21 Pop, rock and dance 22 Country and country-oriented 23 Acoustic 24 Easy listening Category 3 – Special interest music Subcategory hours : minutes % of music 31 Concert 32 Folk and folk-oriented 33 World beat and international 34 Jazz and blues 35 Non-classic religious b) Provide a description of the music Radio Two intends to air, including references to plans and policies for each of the aforementioned music content subcategories for which you have made a commitment. Submit your responses to these questions as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. 2 CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 3 OF 8 ANSWER Radio 2 will continue to adhere to its current Canadian content requirements of 50% or more Canadian content for category 2 music selections and 20% or more Canadian content for category 3 music selections. These are substantial commitments and exceed those of private radio broadcasters. CBC/Radio-Canada is not prepared to make specific commitments to musical content subcategories on Radio 2. Radio 2’s programming mandate is to serve the needs of Canadian listeners and promote the work of Canadian creators in a wide variety of genres. The current schedule for Radio 2 (see response to question D-4) illustrates the broad range of music genres the network covers. The popularity of these genres and the body of work produced by Canadian creators in these genres follow cyclical patterns. For example, during the course of the last license period, the popularity of rap and hip-hop has declined substantially while mainstream pop music has increased substantially. Hard rock and classical have also declined while country grew in popularity. Any reflection of the tastes of Canadian listeners and the music being made by Canadian creators in 2011 will be out of date next year and runs the risk of being completely misaligned toward the end of the next licence period. It is for this reason we are not proposing any commitments for specific sub-categories of music. Our programming strategy for Radio 2 is to program the widest spectrum of Canadian music possible to form a coherent service. We will also program to maximize the benefit to new and emerging Canadian artists in these genres. Attached at the end of this section are the conditions of licence CBC would be prepared to accept for its Radio2 service. 11. Non-Canadian content The maximum number of programs not produced in Canada aired during each broadcast week is ____________ (hours:minutes) or _______% of all programming. Submit your response to this question as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. ANSWER At the present time, Radio 2 is not scheduling any non-Canadian programs during the broadcast week and it is not our intention to significantly alter that strategy at any point in the future. 3 CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 4 OF 8 12. Reflection of regions on network Indicate how programs produced in the various regions will be integrated into the network’s programming schedule. Specifically, describe: a) the location and number of complete programs produced in the regions; b) locally produced program segments, such as recorded concerts and other types of performance programming that will be integrated into the network schedule Submit your responses to these questions as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. ANSWER Radio 2 is a national network. While some of these network shows will be produced in centers other than Toronto, there are no specific commitments to locations or amount of content in this regard. In the current schedule, the following network programs are produced outside of Toronto: Tempo, Tonic, In Tune, Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, Deep Roots, Saturday Night Blues, Choral Concert, In Concert, A Propos, and Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap. The reflection of the regions on Radio 2 will be the airing of content, both live and studio recordings, from all regions of Canada to serve listeners in all regions and reflect music-making in Canada in all provinces and territories. 13. Local programming Decision CRTC 2001-530, in renewing the licenses of the stations affiliated to the Radio Two network, outlined the amount of time devoted to local programming by each station. It stated that “The Commission expects the CBC to maintain the levels of regional and subregional programming currently broadcast on each of these stations. The Commission strongly encourages the licensee to surpass these levels during the new licence term.” In relation to each Radio Two station, please provide information relating to the fulfillment of this expectation over the past decade, and the level of regional and subregional programming planned for the upcoming licence term. Submit your response to this question as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. 4 CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 5 OF 8 ANSWER In the last renewal decision for the CBC radio stations affiliated with the Radio 2 network (Decision 2001-530), the CRTC noted that most of each stations programming originated with the Radio 2 network. If there was any local programming provided by any of those stations it was a negligible amount. Radio 2 is first and foremost a national network service. As a national network, Radio 2 is not making any commitments to local programming in the next licence term. Radio One is the radio platform for delivering significant levels of local programming. Radio 2 is CBC’s key platform for delivering Canadian music. 14. Significant changes to the programming strategy In 2007 and 2008, significant changes were made to the music programmed on Radio Two. Please describe the changes that were made, the reasons for the changes, and the objectives that you set at the time. Have the Corporation’s objectives been met? Submit your responses to these questions as part of the document entitled “2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC- Rad2”. ANSWER The National Stereo Service (later called Radio 2) was launched in 1984. The original plans, as noted in the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors meeting from November 1983, intended that the service “will attempt to primarily reach an audience within 24 to 35 years age group… Programming will largely concentrate on Canadian fare featuring extended pop concerts, jazz and folk festival material. This development will also provide a mechanism for discovering, developing and promoting talent which otherwise might not be heard… (it) will also showcase a full range of very listenable material from classics to Canadian (popular) music.” In the early 90s’, the service changed to become primarily a fine arts service with a large component of classical music and jazz. It remained that way for just over a decade. The process that resulted in programming changes to Radio 2 four years ago actually started with extensive analysis and research in 2003 and 2004, followed by wide-ranging and extensive consultations with songwriters, musicians and various arts organizations in all regions of Canada in 2005 and 2006. New shows were piloted and launched throughout this period, broadening the format to include a greater variety of Canadian music. Changes to the morning and afternoon drive time periods began in 2007. A format with a broader selection of music (contemporary, acoustic, folk, world, jazz, blues, classical, etc.) was restored to the network reflecting the roots of the service. The reasons for change were many and varied, but three issues were the main drivers. 5 CBC/Radio-Canada 2011-0288-9-CBC-SRC-Rad2 18-05-2011 F – English-language Radio Networks – Radio 2 6 OF 8 a. As a public broadcaster, we were devoting 50% of our broadcast resources to genres that represented less than 20% of the music being produced and less than 10% of the music being sold.