Canadian Content

Here's something most of those living in the U.S. probably haven't heard of: Canadian content requirements, sometimes known as can-con.

Radio and television channels--including cable and satellite channels--must include a certain percentage of Canadian content among their broadcasts. The actual percentages, as well as definitions of what constitutes "Canadian content," vary. For example, a station playing classical music may be required to play a lower percentage of Canadian content than a "top 40" type station. The reasoning is that fewer recordings of Canadians performing classical music, or people performing classical music written by Canadians, exist.

Television stations have similar restrictions. While some stations develop new programs, others don't. A station may fulfill its requirement to broadcast "Canadian" content by showing programs filmed in Canada for US television stations, which is why Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye runs every single afternoon. Even its Deaf-related storylines can't redeem that show. (Sorry.)

The whole idea was to support Canadian creatives in their efforts to, well, create Canadiana. As is true of most policies, practice is different from theory. I'm really not qualified to comment about specifics any more than that.

Canada isn't the only country with content restrictions. In France, Ireland, and the UK, a certain percentage must be EU-created content. Australia, the Philippines, and Mexico also have content restrictions.

All these countries worry that US content will simply overwhelm their airwaves and snuff out their homegrown creative talent. While I have a hard time believing that US programming is so great that it would find an audience around the world, I read somewhere recently (Discover? Macleans?) that CSI: Miami is the most-watched program worldwide. Which is a form of frightening unto itself, isn't it, Mr. Wolfe?

In any case, the whole point of bringing up can-con is to say that I will be sharing thoughts and recommendations about Canadian music and literature here from time to time, for the benefit of my faithful reader in the US and any others I should happen to attract in the future.

And to point out that there really isn't a need for me to share thoughts and recommendations for Canadians about literature and music from the US, is there? Which confirms that can-con is still a relevant concept, even if the practice is slightly off-kilter.