Stakeholders represented three main voices: the broadcasters, the cable television operators and the creative production community. Not surprisingly, the three had very different points of view. The two main issues of concern to these groups were the application of the so-called "level playing field" that would block out programs deemed to be too violent and the classification of television programs

Level playing field

Should everyone have to play by the same rules? If so, should the cable television industry be forced to black out U.S. programs that Canadian broadcasters are not allowed to carry because they don't meet Canadian standards? (These standards are ruled on by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), the body set up by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters to monitor its members' codes of conduct.)

Broadcasters say Yes. They say they are responding to Canadians' concerns about violence on TV, and are cleaning up their act. They say that if, as a result of a CBSC ruling, they aren't allowed to air Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (for example), then local cable operators that transmit U.S. channels shouldn't be allowed to air it either.

Cable operators say that they have real concerns about blackouts, which they see as "consumer-unfriendly," and believe will be perceived as censorship by subscribers. Blackouts limit access not only to children, but to everyone. Who decides what is to be blacked out? How would it be done, given that cable operators usually receive signals only as they go on the air? Instead of blackouts, they propose giving parents enhanced control over viewing decisions with the technological help of the V-chip.

Program creators say that the best way to combat violent foreign programming is to put more Canadian stories on television, in computer games, and on theatre screens. Limiting access through blackouts is not the answer, although those with broadcast interests supported the concept of a level playing field. Replacing offensive foreign programming with Canadian programs that reflect Canadian values is central to a long-term solution, though there is currently not enough funding for Canadian producers to do this effectively.

The Classification of Television Programs

The CRTC recommends that television programs be rated, in much the same way as movies are at the theatre. In addition to a simple rating in TV program guides, the classification system would be linked to the V-chip so that programs with certain classifications could be automatically blocked.

In principle, the broadcasters are in favour of a classification system, but say that the system must be sensitive to local or regional standards regarding violence. (Most non-broadcast witnesses, however, said that a classification system must be national to be effective.) The broadcasters question how a classification system will work, and say that agreeing on a ratings system would be a challenge - especially with U.S. interests, which may not see any urgent need to classify U.S. programs for violent content.

The cable television industry supports a classification system that would work with the V-chip. Members argue that this provides a much better alternative to CRTC-ordered blackouts of U.S. programs, because individuals can make their own decisions about what their children can watch. The cable industry, which is currently field-testing the V-chip, says it can have one for everyone who wants it by July 1996. Representatives agree with the broadcasters that getting everyone, including the U.S. broadcasting industry, to agree on a ratings scheme is the biggest hurdle to making this system work.

The creators and producers of programs approach the classification issue from a different angle. They are concerned that a system could end up acting as a censor, since advertisers might not want to associate themselves with programs that are classified as violent or sexually explicit. The end result might be that money for important and challenging productions (such as the National Film Board's award-winning documentary The Boys of St. Vincent) would dry up. They argue that a generic classification system couldn't possible take into account the context for violence: whether the images are appropriate and necessary to tell the story. Program creators therefore recommend a descriptive type of classification system, accompanied by parental advisories.