News Releases

September 21, 2005

Sylvain Lafrance to Become Executive Vice-President of All French Services at CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada President and CEO Robert Rabinovitch announced today that CBC/Radio-Canada's Board of Directors has approved the creation of a new executive vice-president's position for French Services, and that Sylvain Lafrance has been appointed to the role. All CBC/Radio-Canada French-language media lines - TV, radio and Web - will therefore report to Mr. Lafrance.

"I am pleased to be able to hand these new responsibilities to someone with such an impressive track record, clear vision and extensive management skills; Mr. Lafrance has what it takes for this challenge," said Mr. Rabinovitch, adding that "as Vice-President of Radio de Radio-Canada, Mr. Lafrance is overseeing a major expansion of our radio networks, which have consistently captivated a growing audience while strengthening their public-service roles. Mr. Lafrance also chairs the board for the arts and entertainment specialty channel ARTV. He has worked with the ARTV management team to secure the impressive growth of the channel in the Canadian market. In addition, he was an important player behind the remarkable momentum of CBC/Radio-Canada's New Media unit, which he has headed up for four years."

Mr. Rabinovitch feels it is an opportune time to create the position. "We are taking advantage of a period in which our new media, TV and radio networks are experiencing significant audience success through distinct, relevant programming. We plan to help the media lines grow even more consistently by capitalizing on their individual strengths and providing francophones with more comprehensive, high-performance services for an ever more demanding public."

Mr. Rabinovitch also specified that these changes will affect the French networks only: "We do not believe that such developments in English Services are called for. As a result, we have no plans to make similar structural changes to our English Services".

The new role combines the duties of the two French media-line vice-president positions currently held by Mr. Lafrance (radio) and Daniel Gourd (television). The impetus for this administrative restructuring process began this past June when Mr. Gourd announced plans to leave his position once his mandate is up in November 2005.

Sylvain Lafrance said he proudly accepts this new challenge, and summed up his objectives as follows: "We will develop an overall view of French Services across the country, while respecting the distinct personality of each media line. I believe that the public broadcaster's fundamental role is to improve the quality of democratic and cultural life for our fellow citizens. We must base strategic directions for our French-language services and all resulting programming on this conviction."

In closing, CBC/Radio-Canada's President and CEO extended sincere thanks to Daniel Gourd for his productive mandate at the helm of Télévision de Radio-Canada. Mr. Gourd offered to stay on with the Corporation to ensure a smooth transition.

Sylvain Lafrance will officially begin his new functions when Daniel Gourd retires.

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