Conventional TV should be made to spend 7% of revenues on drama

BANFF – Canadian broadcasters should be forced to spend 7% of their gross revenues on “indigenous drama”, says the Coalition of Canadian Audio-Visual Unions. “Spending on Canadian television drama has plummeted since 1999,” the CCAU said in its report released at last week’s Banff International Television Festival, “with 2004 recording the lowest level in seven years.” “Drama spending by Canada’s English-language private broadcasters bottomed out at $53.6 million in 2004 from a high of $73 million in 1998 – and that’s despite CTV’s regulated drama spending under its transfer benefits,” said Peter Murdoch, co-chair of the CCAU. “Something has to...