MONTREAL – Calling itself “one of the country’s largest private investor in English and French-language content”, Astral Media said it invested close to $150 million in Canadian content development in fiscal 2008 through its pay and specialty television networks.
"Since we started in this business in 1983, we have invested more than $1.3 billion in the film and television industry," said André Bureau, chairman of the board, in a statement. "Many know Astral Media for the quality of its media properties and the strength of its financial performance, but we are also very proud of the support we offer to the English- and French-language production industries in Canada.”
In reference to Thursday’s CRTC report about Canadian specialty, pay, pay-per-view television and video-on-demand services, Bureau said that Astral is one of the only broadcasters to work almost exclusively with independent producers in Quebec and the rest of Canada, “investing heavily in sustaining this important industry and driver of Canadian economic growth.”
“Not only do we invest heavily in Canadian productions, we also showcase these productions on our networks, offering meaningful visibility for Canadian talent. Every year we are validated in our commitment with the critical acclaim that these investments garner," he continued.
Astral “supported” 18 of the films nominated for Genie Award consideration this year.
Investments in Canadian content are managed individually by each Astral property annually, including The Movie Network, HBO Canada, Mpix, Super Ecran, Cinépop, Family, Playhouse Disney, Canal Vie, Canal D, VRAK.TV, Historia, Séries+, Ztélé, MusiquePlus, MusiMax, and Teletoon, plus The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fond Harold Greenberg.
