Local Programming Matters

In response to the recent and ongoing conflict between Canadian broadcasters and the cable companies (re: carriage fees), I'd like to share my own personal feelings on this subject. Not necessarily on the various economic arguments that have dominated the issue, but rather on the role that local broadcasters play in the lives of Canadians.

Unless you've somehow managed to live the past year without access to any sort of media--in which case, you wouldn't read this anyway--you're no doubt familiar with the advertisements about this issue. Cable companies argue that broadcasters want to "tax your TV", while broadcasters implore you to consider that "local TV matters".

Of course, neither are entirely factual or complete representations of the issue. Broadcasters charging cable companies a fee for their signal aren't exactly "taxing your TV", they're just cutting into the cable companies' astronomical profit margins, who in turn will recoup this loss by charging subscribers more. And as passionate their cries about the worth of local television, broadcasters continue to cut production, lay off staff, and use their profits to purchase popular American programming. In fact, Canadian broadcasters are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from their American counterparts.

But as I mentioned before, I don't want to weigh in too heavily on an issue that's been beaten to death by every pundit in this country. Instead, I'd like to consider the service that local TV actually provides. As such, I've titled this post, "Local Programming Matters". My question is: why?

In short, because it contributes to the community. Television programming that reflects the area in which it's broadcast provides that most essential media service, to inform and engage an audience about things that matter to them. Local TV does this with a commnity-minded focus.

Smaller towns and cities in Canada rarely have their specific community issues addressed by the national media. Those particular qualities that define an individual community are largely overlooked by Toronto-centric national broadcasters. As a result, local identity begins to erode. The national media has its own mandate, and it hasn't the time or resources to properly cover every community in Canada.

Conversely, local broadcasters can devote themselves to issues that matter only to Victorians or Saskatooners or Monctonites. They can cover community-specific stories and be assured there's an audience for those stories. And in doing so, local broadcasters contribute to community identity and cohesion.

So regardless of the arguments raging between the big players in the Canadian television business, community interests are being served all the way across this country by small market, local broadcasters. Whether it's a local business being profiled, the score of some junior hockey game, or a unique human-interest story, local programming matters.

Dylan