Canadian content

Canadian content (cancon or can-con) refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters (including cable TV networks) must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from Canada. It also refers to that content itself, and, more generally, to cultural and creative content that is Canadian in nature.

Related Topics:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission - Radio - Television - Broadcaster - Cable TV - Network - Percent - Content - Canada

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For music, the requirements are referred to as the MAPL system. Following an extensive public hearing process organized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the MAPL system was established as a way to define and identify Canadian content in pieces of music for the purposes of increasing exposure of Canadian music on Canadian radio through content regulations governing a percentage (25%) of airplay that is to be devoted to Canadian music. The percentage was increased to 30 per cent in the 1980s, and to 35 per cent in the 1990s.

Related Topics:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission - 1980s - 1990s

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However, certain stations — especially those playing formats where there may be a limited number of Canadian recordings suitable for airplay, such as classical, jazz or "oldies" — may be allowed by the CRTC to meet Canadian content targets as low as 20 per cent. Stations in Windsor, Ontario are also allowed to meet lower Canadian content targets due to Windsor's proximity to the Metro Detroit media market in the United States.

Related Topics:
Classical - Jazz - Oldies - Windsor, Ontario - Metro Detroit - United States

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Conversely, the campus radio station of Toronto's Humber College, CKHC, voluntarily adopted a 100 per cent Canadian content policy in 2005.

Related Topics:
Campus radio - Toronto - Humber College - CKHC - 2005

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Before the MAPL system was established in 1971 Canadian music was regarded with indifference on Canadian radio. This was a major hurdle for Canadian musicians since they could not gain attention in their home country without having a hit single in the United States first. Even after MAPL was implemented, in the early 1970s some radio stations were criticized for restricting their Canadian content to off-peak listening hours, in program blocks mockingly known as the "beaver hour".

Related Topics:
Canadian music - 1970s - Beaver hour

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The MAPL system has had a huge impact and has proven to be highly successful and largely responsible for the rise of Canadian artists to national and international stardom since its implementation.

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The television show SCTV created the 2-minute long "Great White North" sketch with the characters Bob and Doug McKenzie to both fufill and make fun of the Canadian content rules, as the sketch was loaded with Canadian stereotypes. It became the most popular segment of the show and the characters, played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, would be featured in comedy albums, film and commercials.

Related Topics:
SCTV - Sketch - Bob and Doug McKenzie - Stereotypes - Rick Moranis - Dave Thomas

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