The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) announced on Tuesday the cancellation of two flagship political shows, attributing the decision to a sharp decline in revenue driven by decreasing cable subscriptions and ongoing delays in the implementation of the Online Streaming Act. Both *PrimeTime Politics*, an English-language political roundup hosted by Michael Serapio, and its French-language counterpart, *L’Essentiel*, presented by Marc-André Cossette, have been removed from both television and online platforms.
Revenue Challenges Lead to Show Cancellations
Christa Dickenson, CPAC’s chief executive, revealed the cancellations through social media, highlighting the dire state of the network’s finances. CPAC, a non-profit bilingual broadcaster, relies almost entirely on a per-subscriber funding model from Canada’s cable, satellite, and wireless companies. However, with subscriber numbers dwindling, the organisation has faced mounting financial strain.
“Subscriber erosion has nearly doubled since 2024,” Dickenson stated, emphasising the urgency of the situation. She pointed out that the delays in modernising the broadcasting system have created significant uncertainty regarding reliable long-term funding. The impact of these cancellations extends to 12 employees, who face layoffs or non-renewals of their contracts, including Serapio, while Cossette is expected to remain with the network.
Maintaining Core Services Amidst Cuts
In her interview with *The Globe and Mail*, Dickenson explained that the decision to cut these specific shows was an attempt to minimise the impact on CPAC’s core functions. Unlike mainstream media outlets that offer analysis and nightly news, CPAC provides unfiltered, long-form coverage of parliamentary proceedings, committee meetings, and political conventions.
“We didn’t want to affect our bilingual live broadcasting or the archiving of parliamentary proceedings,” she noted. This focus on maintaining essential services underlines CPAC’s commitment to offering a unique broadcasting experience that sets it apart from other media.
Awaiting Regulatory Changes
Earlier this month, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved a small increase in CPAC’s funding rate from $0.13 to $0.16 per cable subscriber, effective from September 1. However, this adjustment is merely a temporary solution. Dickenson cautioned that the ongoing decline in cable subscriptions and the shift towards foreign streaming services indicate that a more sustainable funding model is urgently required.
“Since 2018, we’ve lost nearly 25 per cent of our regular revenue,” she added, highlighting the network’s vulnerability. The long-awaited Online Streaming Act, which aims to ensure that foreign streaming services contribute to Canadian content funds, is still in its infancy. Although the Act was signed into law in 2023, the CRTC is still working on the regulatory framework, leaving CPAC in limbo.
Dickenson speculated that it could take another three years before CPAC might begin to see any financial benefit from the new legislation, assuming it survives potential political challenges from the United States.
Why it Matters
The cancellation of these shows marks a significant moment for CPAC and the landscape of Canadian public broadcasting. As the media environment shifts dramatically, with viewers increasingly turning to digital platforms, the need for a stable, reliable funding framework becomes ever more critical. The loss of *PrimeTime Politics* and *L’Essentiel* not only reduces the diversity of political discourse available to Canadians but also raises questions about the future of bilingual broadcasting in the country. How CPAC navigates these challenges will be pivotal in shaping the future of political coverage in Canada.
