Media Centre > News Releases > Archive > 1996 > October 28, 1996

Copyright law must be fair, practical to work, insists CAB

EDMONTON, October 28, 1996 -- The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) today urged the federal government to grant private TV and radio stations the fair and long promised 'common sense' rights they need to serve Canadians efficiently and compete effectively in the global marketplace.

A resolution passed unanimously at the association's annual business meeting, in Edmonton, said simple time-shifting and transfer-of-format rights are crucial for dealing with everyday programming and scheduling challenges. Their absence from copyright legislation threatens to inconvenience listeners and viewers, limit the diversity of Canadian TV shows and put the government's cultural and job creation objectives at risk.

Bill C-32 would impose tough fines simply for airing instant replays of sporting events containing music, downloading programs onto studio equipment, or delaying live broadcasts to accommodate Canada's six time zones. At least 28 countries have time-shifting and transfer-of-format rights, including Britain, Australia and the United States, Canada's chief competitor.

Broadcasters' competitive disadvantage with the Americans is further compounded by the absence of a signal right recognizing their creative role, or criteria the Copyright Board could use to set market-based rates for music use.

CAB maintains policy makers must go beyond the theory and the principle and consider the practical effects of C-32 on Canadians and the businesses that serve them.

Private stations already pay nearly $70 million a year for music rights. Clearing music for time-shifted programs could add more than $10 million to the tab. The money would go to the same composers, authors and publishers already paid from the 2.1% of TV station revenues, and 3.2% of radio revenues, stations send SOCAN each year.

CAB represents the vast majority of local-serving, advertising-supported television and radio stations.

For more information contact:

Susan Tolusso
Director, Communications
(613) 233-4035 ext. 331
(stolusso@cab-acr.ca)