An increasing appetite for consumer viewing of TV online, evolving distribution technologies, and shifting revenues streams are threatening an imminent collapse of the Canadian Broadcasting System. However, evidence - including recent hit successes on the public broadcaster and Canadians’ continued reliance on traditional subscription TV - demonstrates that while the system will be impacted, change will be gradual and old and new media can co-exist.

New entrants in the broadcasting system - content aggregators, curators, and niche channels - will challenge the existing players, and a zero-sum game may emerge with clear winners and losers based on, among other factors, who owns content rights and can exploit them. But this zero-same gum can be prevented if broadcasters, producers, and BDUs can work together find ways to work together to exploit the opportunities of new platforms.

As the system adjusts to new viewing habits and technologies, much of our existing policy, regulation and content support systems will become difficult to maintain and will have to make substantial adjustments. Old protection measures may need to be replaced by new incentives and frameworks - such as an evolution of the tax credits and a new media type of trade framework - to promote an economically and culturally successful Canadian broadcasting system.

To view a complete copy of Green Paper II: The Future of Television in Canada, please visit: http://www.bwtvf.com