Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 09/00) - The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has applied to reduce its Canadian content from 90 per cent to 70 per cent.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is currently reviewing the application.

"It would allow us to put on the type of programming that we are receiving from other indigenous populations of the world, like Australia, like the States, like Mexico, and other areas," says APTN spokesperson Debra Piapot.

"It would also allow us to really target those types of Canadian programs that we would like to continue producing."

Piapot says APTN has been managing to fill 90 per cent of their broadcast time with Canadian content, but it's been tough.

"The first year was just a scramble to try and find aboriginal programming to fill 18 hours a day. We had to rely on a lot of off-the-shelf product. "We've paid the consequence for that. A lot of our own people are saying, 'Why are you airing programs that are 20 years old?'"

CRTC regional director Marguerite Vogel says it's perfectly normal for a new licensee to request changes in the beginning.

"The first year, you're basically finding out how everything works. And along the way, you find out what you would like to change. It's not strange at all that we have applications come in from anyone who has received a licence, who has had the chance to look at the business over a one-year period."

In its second year of operation, APTN will introduce about 20 new programs in the fall, and over 10 in January.

"We're introducing 35 new programs that the Canadian public has never seen before from independent producers. We're really excited about contributing a new vision and different perspectives."

The programs will range from current affairs, kids and youth programming, talk shows and documentaries.

"The scope of the genres are coming in as well," says Piapot, adding drama is under-represented because of high production costs.

"If you look at other stations, their Canadian content is way below ours, even at 70 per cent."

CRTC regulations state licensees must have 50 per cent to 60 per cent Canadian content, depending on whether they are public or private broadcasters.

In the same CRTC application, APTN has requested a change in advertising minutes between the hours of 6-8:30 a.m.

APTN has an interest in the infomercial market, but the current 12-minute time limit makes airing such material out of the question.

It's not known when the CRTC will announce its ruling.