OTTAWA – Facing criticism that they spend too little on Canadian programming, Canada’s private broadcasters have answered with a report that says they’re spending more than ever on original Canadian programming.
The report, released Monday by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), says eligible expenditures on Canadian programming by Canadian private conventional, pay and specialty television broadcasters totalled almost $1.5 billion in 2005-06.
“Private broadcasters in this country recognize that their audiences want to see Canadian stories on television. The numbers released today reflect the commitment of broadcasters to providing Canadians with a wide selection of home grown programming,” said CAB President and CEO Glenn O’Farrell.
The report, entitled Broadcasting 2007: Report on the Industry and released on the first day of the CAB’s annual convention, provides an overview of the private broadcasting industry.
It says that private broadcasters’ Canadian programming expenditures have all increased at a faster rate than the growth in broadcaster revenues.
Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, expenditures by private conventional television increased from $540 million to $641 million. Over the same period, expenditures by specialty and pay services increased from $632 million to $915 million.
The report says TV viewers have reacted positively to this “Made-in-Canada” programming by watching more of it.
Including both public and private conventional and specialty and pay television services, the market share going to Canadian television rose from 75.2% in 2002-03 to 78.7% in 2005-06, the report said.
“The audience has spoken. This data clearly indicates that when you offer quality Canadian programming, the viewing public will respond favourably. Canada’s private broadcasters will continue to offer high-quality Canadian programming in the future,” O’Farrell said.
www.cab-acr.ca.
