TORONTO – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) says that for the sake of the local economy, Canadian TV broadcasters must invest in Canada’s film and television industry, not spend “record amounts to buy Hollywood shows”.
The statement follows the release of the CRTC’s annual report earlier this week showing that Canada’s private TV broadcasters spent $775 million on foreign programming in 2008, up 7.4% from 2007, while spending on Canadian dramas "remained relatively stagnant" at $88 million.
“Buying shows like ‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘Entertainment Tonight’ does not help Canada’s economy. Private broadcasters are already spending almost 10 times more on foreign programs than on Canadian dramas,” said ACTRA’s national president, Richard Hardacre, in the release. “The CRTC can’t let the big broadcasters ignore Canada’s $5 billion film and TV industry.”
ACTRA reports that Canada’s film and TV industry contributes $5 billion to the Canadian economy and creates over 126,000 full-time jobs.
