10.2 Programs of national interest (PNI) & independent production expenditures
Television broadcasting and audiences
A subsection of CPE is known as programs of national interest (PNI), and therefore PNI spending counts towards broadcasters CPE requirements. PNI expenditures includes programming that has been identified as risky to produce and difficult to monetize. PNI in the English-language market include long-form documentaries, drama and comedy programs, and award shows. In the French-language market, it is the equivalent program categories with the addition of music/variety.
For the large English-language private television ownership groups, the PNI requirements range from 5% to 7.5% of prior year revenues. For the large French-language private television ownership groups, they range from 15% to 18%.[25] At least 75% of the PNI spending requirement is to be produced by independent production companies.[26]
Exhibit 10-4 Spending on programs of national interest* (PNI), by English and French-language broadcasting groups**
Source:
CRTC, data from the 2025 Aggregate Annual Returns filed by the Broadcasting Groups.
Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
*Includes Canadian drama and comedy; long-form documentary; English-language award shows; and French-language music, dance and variety programming.
**English-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Rogers and Corus, designated groups. French-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Quebecor and Corus, designated groups.
**PNI totals for CBC and Radio-Canada are estimates based in part on CRTC data and will also include expenditures from National News services (i.e., CBC News Network and ICI RDI).
Exhibit 10-5 Spending on independent production, by English and French-language broadcasting groups*
Source:
CRTC, data from the 2025 Aggregate Annual Returns filed by the Broadcasting Groups.
Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
*English-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Rogers and Corus, designated groups. French-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Quebecor and Corus, designated groups.
Exhibit 10-6 Spending on non-Canadian programming, by English and French-language broadcast group*
Source:
Source: CRTC, data from the Aggregate Annual Returns filed by the Broadcasting Groups.
Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
*English-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Rogers and Corus, designated groups. French-language private ownership groups include: Bell, Quebecor and Corus, designated groups.