Glossary of Terms - English
Audio description: Audio description (AD) uses a program host or announcer to provide a basic voice-over, reading text and describing graphics that appear on the screen. AD is often used for newscasts, weather reports, sports scores or financial data, and is best suited to live, information-based programming. French: La description sonore(DS)
Average number of employees: The typical weekly average of full and equivalent part-time employees. Part-time employees are included as equivalent full-time employees by calculating their work time in proportion to a typical full week’s work. Non-Staff commissioned sales representatives should not be included as employees. French: L’effectif moyen total
Business Services: Includes all commercial, financial, professional, technical, administrative and management services, royalties, patents, copyrights, advertising, commissions, salaries, insurance premiums and claims, equipment rentals, computer services and all other receipts from and payments to non-residents for services which are directly remitted or charged to accounts. Merchandise exports and imports, travel and freight and shipping transactions are to be omitted. All amounts are to be reported net of withholding taxes. French: Services commerciaux
Children’s programming: For purposes of annual reporting, Children’s Programming includes programs produced for children under 12 years of age. French: Émissions pour enfants
Closed captioning : Captioning is the on-screen textual representation of the audio component of a program. It is presented as a banner, usually at the bottom of the screen, and provides a text rendition of all significant audio content, including on-screen dialog, sound effects and non-speech information such as the identity of speakers and their manner of speaking. French: Sous-titrage codé
Cooperative Productions: Programs produced by two or more television licensees that respond to the needs and interests of the audience in the communities or regions served and involves a sharing of costs and production personnel, particularly in under-represented categories such as drama, music/dance, variety and children’s programming. French: Coproductions
Corporate grants: Revenues received from corporations, associations, foundations and/or individuals, either in support of the general broadcasting operation, or in underwriting specific initiatives. Contributors should not have received commercial spot time as a result of making a grant, although they may have been identified in a brief on-air credit recognizing their support. Grants received from sectors of government should not be included here, but reported under Government Grants. Grants for which commercial announcements were made as a result of a contribution should not be reported here, but included in Local Time Sales or National Time Sales, as the case may be. French: Suventions privées
Described video: Described video (DV) is also called video description or described narrative. DV is a narrated description of a program's main visual elements, such as settings, costumes, or body language. The description is added during natural pauses in dialogue, and enables people to form a mental picture of the program. Described video uses a separate audio track. French: Vidéodescription (VD)
Dubbing: Dubbing is where a foreign program or a program recognized as Canadian by the Commission is dubbed in Canada in either official language of Canada or in a native Canadian language by a process of lip synchronization or voice-over translation using Canadian resources. French: Doublage
Fringe benefits: The taxable items, other than salary, shown on employees’ T4 slip such as profit sharing and bonus arrangements, the cost to the employer of providing retirement pensions to employees, whether or not under the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan or other government pension plans and the cost of providing benefits such as group medical, group life, employment insurance, workers’ compensation and other employee benefits. Fringe benefits does not include the value of board and lodging or other payments in kind. French: Avantages Sociaux
Government grants and parliamentary appropriation: Revenues received from sectors of government (federal, provincial, local or foreign), either in support of the general broadcasting operation, or for specific initiatives. Contributors should not have received commercial spot time as a result of making a grant, although they may have been identified in a brief on-air credit recognizing their support. Grants for which commercial announcements were made as a result of a contribution should be included in local time sales or national time sales, as the case may be. French: Subventions publiques et crédits parlementaires
Gross revenues from advertising sales: This represents revenues that include both local and national time sales. French: Recettes brutes provenant des ventes de publicité
Infomercials: Programming exceeding 12 minutes in length that combines entertainment or information with the sale or promotion of goods or services into a virtually indistinguishable whole. It may also involve the promotion of products mentioned in distinct commercial breaks within the infomercial programming itself. French: Infopublicités
Interstitials: Programming, in no case longer than 30 minutes in duration, the purpose of which is to fill in the time between the presentation of the major programs distributed by the licensee, and includes material that promotes the programs or services provided by the licensee, excluding indirect overhead costs. French: Matériel d'intermède
Local time sales: Revenue from the sale of air time by local sales representative, net of advertising agency commissions and trade discounts. Local Time sales includes the fair market value of bartered contracts, sponsorship, or any other non-monetary transactions. This does not include revenue from infomercials. French: Ventes locales de temps d’antenne
Loss on equity investments: Equity investments and loans to assist in the financing of Canadian productions are not considered to be eligible Canadian program expenditures. However, losses on arm’s length equity investments and arm’s length loans to assist in the financing of Canadian productions are considered to be eligible and are to be entered on this line in the year that investment/loan is written-off. French: Pertes liées aux investissements en capital
Music licence fees: Fees paid to broadcast musical works (e.g. payments to Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). They are reported under “Programming and Production expenses” rather than “Administration and General Expenses” to more properly reflect the correct expense classification. French: Redevances musicales
National time sales: Revenue for national advertising, net of any advertising agency commissions and trade discounts. National sales are usually commissionable to the station’s national representative. This does not include revenue from infomercials. French: Ventes nationales de temps d'antenne
Neighbouring rights: (payments to Re:Sound) – Payment for the communication to the public by telecommunication of published sound recordings of musical works. French: Droits voisins
Network payments from CBC: Revenue that is derived from the sale of air time of the broadcasting undertaking by the Canadian Broadcasting Coporation (CBC) and paid by the CBC to the licensee. French: Paiements du réseau de la SRC
Network payments to station (excluding CBC): For the network, it should include net payments made to the affiliates as a reduction of the revenue. For the affiliates it should include their share of the network net payments, or the reverse as the case may be. French: Paiement de réseau à la station (excluant la SRC)
Program inventory write-downs: When it is determined that a previously capitalized program acquisition or production will not be telecast on the licensee’s facilities or will not be telecast further by the licensee, and: a) the program is sold or syndicated, the remaining unamortized portion of the original capitalized cost of the program should be written down matching the amortization of the costs against the revenues earned or to be earned from the sale or syndication; b) the decision not to telecast or telecast further results in a permanent reduction to the value of the program, that portion of the original capitalized cost of the program representing the reduction should be written down in the year that the decision to reduce the value of the program is made. French: Réduction de la valeur du stock d’émissions
Programming Category 1: News: Newscasts, newsbreaks, and headlines. Programs reporting on local, regional, national, and international events. Such programs may include weather reports, sportscasts, community news, and other related features or segments contained within “News Programs.” (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 1 : Nouvelles
Programming Category 2(a): Analysis and Interpretation: Programs on various topics that include analysis or discussion, such as talk or panel shows, consumer affairs or reviews, news magazines and documentaries that do not fall under category 2(b). This category excludes programs presenting information primarily for entertainment value. The Commission notes that “Docutainment” programs, gossip or entertainment talk shows fall more appropriately under category 11(a). Lifestyle magazine shows generally fall under category 5(b). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 2(a) : Analyse et interprétation
Programming Category 2(b): Long-form documentary: Original works of non-fiction, primarily designed to inform but may also educate and entertain, providing an in-depth critical analysis of a specific subject or point of view over the course of at least 22 minutes. These programs shall not be used as commercial vehicles. Further, programs that fall under the category 11(b) Reality television do not qualify as 2(b) programming. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 2b): Documentaires de longue durée
Programming Category 3: Reporting & Actualities: Programs focusing on the coverage of conferences, political conventions, opening/closing of events (including awards dinners) and political debates, as well as programs of a non-entertainment nature intended to raise funds. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 3 : Reportages et actualités
Programming Category 4: Religion: Includes programs dealing primarily with (i.e. more that 50%) religion and religious teachings, as well as discussions of the human spiritual condition. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 4 : Émissions religieuses
Programming Category 5(a): Formal education & pre-school: Programs presenting detailed information related to a wide variety of topics and used by the viewer primarily to acquire knowledge. The programs can be related to established curricula. All programs targeted at pre-schoolers (ages 2-5) except those that are primarily comprised of drama. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 5a) : Émissions éducatives formelles et pour enfants d'âge préscolaire
Programming Category 5(b): Informal education/Recreation & Leisure: Programs presenting information on recreation, hobby and skill development, recreational sports and outdoor activities, travel and leisure, employment opportunities, and talk shows of an informative (“how-to”) nature. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 5b) : Émissions éducatives informelles/Récréation et loisirs
Programming Category 6: Sports: It includes programs of live or live-to-tape sports events and competitions including coverage of professional and amateur tournaments. The category also includes programs reviewing and analyzing professional or amateur competitive sports events/teams (i.e. pre- and post-game shows, magazine shows, scripted sports, call-in and talk shows, etc.). This category includes the following sub-categories: Category 6(a) Professional sports; Category 6(b) Amateur sports. Documentaries on sports-related topics fall under category 2. Programs on leisure and recreational sports fall under category 5(b). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 6 : Sports
Programming Category 7: Drama and Comedy: Entertainment productions of a fictional nature, including dramatizations of real events. They must be comprised primarily of (i.e. more than 50%) dramatic performances. Category 7 includes the following subcategories: a) On-going dramatic series; b) On-going comedy series (sitcoms); c) Specials, mini-series, and made-for-TV feature films; d) Theatrical feature films aired on television; e) Animated television programs and films (excludes computer graphic productions without story lines); f) Programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy; and g) Other drama, including, but not limited to, readings, narratives, improvisations, tapes/films of live theatre not developed specifically for television, experimental shorts, video clips, continuous action animation (e.g. puppet shows). (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 7 : Émissions dramatiques et comiques
Programming Category 8(a): Music and dance: Programs comprised primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of live or pre-recorded performances of music and/or dance, including opera, operetta, ballet, and musicals. The performance portion excludes videoclips, voice-overs or musical performances used as background. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8a) : Musique et danse
Programming Category 8(b): Music video clips: Short film or videotape productions or concert excerpts (clips) not produced primarily for the particular program in which they are presented, which normally contain one musical selection with visual material. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8b) : Vidéoclips
Programming Category 8(c): Music video programs: Programs consisting primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of music videos and in some cases including a host and other programming elements. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 8c) : Émissions de vidéoclips
Programming Category 9: Variety: Programs containing primarily (i.e. more than 50%) performances of mixed character (e.g. not exclusively music or comedy performances) consisting of a number of individual acts such as singing, dancing, acrobatic exhibitions, comedy sketches, monologues, magic, etc. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 9 : Variétés
Programming Category 10: Game shows: Programs featuring games of skill and chance as well as quizzes. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 10 : Jeux-questionnaire
Programming Category 11(a): General entertainment and human interest: Programs primarily about the world of entertainment and its people. These programs include celebrity profiles that may use promotional footage, talk or interview shows, award shows, galas and tributes. They also include entertainment-oriented magazine shows; fund-raising shows which include entertainers (i.e. telethons); human interest programs consisting of live or live-to-tape footage without significant portions devoted to in-depth analysis or interpretation; and coverage of community events such as carnivals, festivals, parades and fashion shows. Programs consisting primarily (i.e. more than 50%) of performances fall under categories 7, 8 or 9. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie 11(a) Émissions de divertissement général et d’intérêt général
Programming Category 11(b): Reality television: Programs that present unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, document actual events and typically feature ordinary people instead of professional actors. This type of programming involves passively following individuals as they go about their daily personal and professional activities. Though unscripted, this programming may be directed and may resemble a soap opera – hence the popular references to “docusoaps” and “docudramas.” Though this type of programming may be factual, it lacks or has very minimal amounts of in-depth critical analysis of a specific subject or point of view that is the key defining element of category 2(b) Long-form documentary programming. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 11(b) : Émissions de téléréalité
Programming Category 12: Interstitials: Programs with a running time of less than 5 minutes, exclusive of advertising and other interstitial material, consisting of material that can be described under categories 2 to 11. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 12 : Interludes
Programming Category 13: Public service announcements: Messages of less than 5 minutes duration intended to educate the audience about issues of public concern, encourage public support and awareness of a worthy cause, or promote the work of a non-profit group or organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in local communities or in society or the world at large. These include community billboards. These messages are not intended to sell or promote goods or commercial services. No payment is exchanged between broadcasters and producers for the broadcast of these messages. When public service announcements are logged, the start and end times must be entered, the program class must be “PSA” and two components of the key figure must be recorded: “Origin” and “Category” (130). No other components should be entered. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 13 : Messages d’intérêt public
Programming Category 14: Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos: Programming exceeding 12 minutes in length that combines information and/or entertainment with the sale or promotion of goods or services into a virtually indistinguishable whole. This category includes videos and films of any length produced by individuals, groups and businesses for public relations, recruitment, etc.
When this material is logged, the start and end times must be entered, the program class must be “PGI,” and the category 140. No other components of the key figure should be entered. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 14 : Infopublicités, vidéos/films promotionnels et corporatifs
Programming Category 15: Filler programming: Programming, in no case longer than 30 minutes in duration, the purpose of which is to fill in the time between the presentation of the major programs broadcast by the licensed pay services and those specialty services authorized to distribute filler programming, and includes material that promotes the programs or services provided by the licensee. (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-808) French: Catégorie d'émissions 15 : Matériel d’intermède
Remuneration (Salaries and wages): Payments for regular hours worked, overtime, vacation and holidays, and commissions paid to staff under the sales and promotion category (including “fringe benefits” and “Director’s fees”). Commissions paid to non-staff are not considered salary and wages. French: Rémunération (Traitements et salaires)
Reproduction of musical works (Payment to CSI): Payment for specific uses of the musical works in the repertoire by commercial radio stations. French: Reproduction des oeuvres musicales (Paiement à CSI)
Revenue-Other: Broadcast related revenue received from the use of talent, services and technical facilities. French: Autres recettes
Script and concept development: Expenditures, excluding overhead costs, that are incurred prior to the commencement of pre-production and before the financing of the project is in place. Spending on programs that are assured of going to air at the time of the expenditure is not considered as script and concept development expenditures. French: Conception et rédaction de scénarios
Special Recognition Program: A form of Canadian content accreditation given co-ventures (international co-productions involving countries that do not have a film or television production treaty with Canada). French: Programme d'accréditation spéciale