News Releases
July 6, 1998
CBC Calls for More, Better Canadian Content
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is calling for new initiatives to build viewership of Canadian television programs. The CBC's proposal comes in its response to the CRTC review of Canadian content.
In its submission to the CRTC entitled Canadian Television for Canadian Audiences, the Corporation states that efforts to promote viewing to under-represented categories - drama, documentaries and children's programs - require much more than fine-tuning, especially on English television.
CBC President Perrin Beatty says, "The "Canadianness" of Canada's television system is in jeopardy. We need to act now to ensure that Canadian programs can compete effectively for audiences against expensive, heavily promoted U.S. shows."
"For French television", adds Mr. Beatty, "the situation is different. It requires expanding the francophones production base within Canada and around the world by creating new windows of opportunity such as specialty channels".
The CBC brief points out that world-wide the television industry is developing into constellations, closely-knit webs of distribution and programming functions that are anchored around broad-based distribution channels, such as television network.
CBC sees building constellations as the most effective way to forge strong links between producers and broadcasters to create and promote high-quality programming for Canadian audiences and world markets. Today, the most successful North American television services are evolving into constellations. "CBC is no exception", says Mr. Beatty.
The CBC brief calls for the industry and the government to set a target of a 50% increase in Canadian content in under-represented categories on English television.
All participants in the Canadian broadcasting industry have wrestled with the issue of how to increase viewing of Canadian shows. Today more than ever before in its history, the CBC sees its role as telling Canadian stories and it has stepped up its efforts by Canadianizing its English television schedules. Despite the difficulties in achieving change, CBC beleives Canada's television industry can succeed if it is tenacious and can exploit changing technologies and industrial structures to Canadian advantage.
The CBC brief points out that effective action is urgent.
"If our children do not know their own history, if they do not understand both the diversity that enriches us and the values we share in common, if they are not permitted to see their country through Canadian eyes, we risk losing this country by default," it warns.
A summary of CBC's submission is available upon request. For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Sabourin
Director Corporate Relations
(613) 724-5715
Downloadable copies of the full report will be available soon on the CBC's web site at cbc.radio-canada.ca.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada reaches Canadians through eight national radio and television networks, its full-service Web sites, local/regional stations and affiliates, as well as the digital television channel Country Canada and the continuous music network Galaxie. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada has forged partnerships with other broadcasters and is a partner in the satellite radio service SIRIUS Canada as well as in the specialty television services ARTV and The Documentary Channel. Through this array of activities, CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight aboriginal languages. (2006)
For additional information, please contact:
Katherine Heath-Eves
Media Relations
CBC/Radio-Canada (Ottawa)
Tel: (613) 288-6235
heathevk@cbc.ca
www.cbc.radio-canada.ca
