As to the question whether CBC/Radio-Canada is able to fulfil its legislative mandate with the parliamentary appropriations and revenues it currently has, we feel that CBC/Radio-Canada will no longer be able to count on an increase in its advertising revenues in order to maintain its current level of service. Indeed, in Canada, and Quebec in particular, there is a great deal of pressure on conventional television's revenues because of the ever-growing competition from specialty channels and the attraction that the Internet exercises for major advertisers.
The key therefore is not an increase in advertising revenues, particularly in Quebec, but rather adequate funding from the Government of Canada. Better government funding of CBC/Radio-Canada will give it the financial stability it needs to better fulfil its mandate as a public broadcaster and at the same time allow the two private broadcasters in Quebec to evolve in a less crowded advertising market.