BANFF – The Canadian Television Fund, saying it was responding to “a concern” but declining to name whose concern, said it would put off any changes to its bylaws until the CRTC is finished its review of the fund.
Two weeks ago, Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw sent a blistering letter to the CTF saying the fact the organization was planning to alter its bylaws at the same time the CRTC is examining the fund and its operations “flies in the face of common sense.”
Today, buried in a press release of the CTF’s report to stakeholders, the CTF said: “At a meeting held earlier today, the CTF Board of Directors considered proposed by-law amendments intended to formalize the current administrative practices of the CTF. Amendments relating to governance and internal financial controls are part of the Board’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the governance practices of the CTF,” reads the release.
“Given the current CRTC Task Force on the CTF and a concern raised about the timing of the by-law consideration, the Board deferred formal approval of the amendments pending the completion of the CRTC review process.”
We figure the “concern raised” was, in fact, Shaw’s.
The Stakeholders Report 2007 mostly provides the latest information from the CTF, including a comprehensive summary of activities and funding results for 2006-07. It was presented by Douglas Barrett, Board Chair, Bruce Ryan, Chair, Finance and Audit Committee, Michel Carter, Independent Board member, Valerie Creighton, CTF President, and Stéphane Cardin, Vice President, Strategic Policy Planning and Stakeholder Relations.
“The CTF is dedicated to ensure maximum transparency and clarity to all our stakeholders,” said Barrett, in the press release. “We have expanded the breadth of our reporting and welcome the opportunity to provide the industry with meaningful and detailed information.”
Highlights of the Stakeholders Report 2007 include the following:
§ CTF revenues for 2006-07 totalled $273.5 million;
§ 95.5% of funds supported CTF programs;
§ 4.5% of funds went to the combined administration of both the CTF and the Television Business Unit at Telefilm, which administers all CTF programs;
§ 370 development projects were funded, with total development budgets of more than $20 million;
§ 509 production projects were funded, with total production budgets equalling $880 million;
§ Total CTF-funded programs included:
* 57 English-language dramas and 32 French-language dramas;
* 41 English-language and 26 French-language Children and Youth programs;
* 165 English-language documentaries and 119 French-language documentaries; and
* 18 English-language and 37 French-language Variety and Performing Arts programs
§ 2,297 hours of new Canadian programming were generated by CTF-funded programs.
In addition, the CTF outlined priorities for 2007-08. “In the past year, the CTF invested considerable effort in stakeholder consultation to encourage more dialogue about program priorities,” said Creighton, in the press release. “The CTF is committed to refining our Broadcaster Performance Envelope (BPE) allocation process, including a discussion of factor weights and the approach to measuring audience success. We will also continue with important policy work including the second phase of our Guidelines review, an examination of our Special Initiatives and a discussion on the funding of content intended for new platforms.”
Four new members were elected to the 2007-08 Board: Dale Taylor (Independent member), nominated by the Department of Canadian Heritage, Dean MacDonald (Independent member) and Alison Clayton, both nominated by the cable industry and Serge Bellerose, nominated by the CAB. In addition, 13 standing members were renewed to its 20-member Board.
Barrett was re-elected for another term of one year. The chair of the CTF Board sits as an Independent member.
“The CTF Board brings together considerable industry expertise,” said Barrett. “It’s one of the few national forums that represent such a wide range of sectors. I would also like to thank outgoing board members Jean-Pierre Blais and Lori Assheton-Smith for their dedication, acumen and expertise brought to the CTF Board. Their contribution, especially through their efforts on the Independent Committee, has strengthened CTF governance and decision making,” notes Barrett. “I welcome and look forward to working with the new Board members. Their expertise and proven track record will be true assets as we continue to evolve and improve our support to the Canadian television production community.”
The CTF Board comprises senior representatives from Broadcast Distribution Undertakings (BDUs), Canada’s cable and direct-to-home providers, CBC/SRC, the Department of Canadian Heritage, broadcasters and producers. Each member is responsible for appointing members to Board. Five members must be independent.
The 2007-08 Board includes:
* Independent member
Douglas Barrett* (Chair of the Board)
Executive Chairman
PS Production Services Ltd.
Canadian Heritage nominates five independent members
Dale Taylor*
President and CEO
Graystones Media Group
Bruce Ryan*, CA, CFA
Vice-President, Finance & CFO
Ember Resources Inc.
Gail Scott*
Board Member, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Anne-Marie Jean*
Executive Director for Culture Montreal
Vacant
The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association (CCTA) nominates a total of three members, including one independent member:
Dean MacDonald*
President and CEO
Persona Communications Corp.
Robin Mirsky
Executive Director
Rogers Communications Inc.
Alison Clayton
Independent Consultant
The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) nominates two members:
Scott Garvie
Senior Vice-President, Business and Legal Affairs
Shaftesbury Films Inc.
Paul Pope
Senior Producer
Pope Productions
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) nominates four members:
Judith Brosseau
Senior Vice-President, Programming and Communications (Canal D, Historia, Séries+)
Astral Media Inc.
Corrie Coe
Director, Programming Administration
CTV Television Inc.
Andrew Eddy
Vice-President, Program Strategy and Investment
Corus Specialty Television
Serge Bellerose
Vice President, New Media and Business Affairs
TQS Inc. and COGECO Radio-television Inc.
The Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ) nominates one member:
Claire Samson
President and CEO
l’Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ)
The Association for Tele-Education of Canada (ATEC) nominates one member:
Michèle Fortin
President and CEO
Télé-Québec
The CBC-SRC nominates one member:
Marcela Kadanka
Senior Director, TV Arts & Entertainment
CBC Television
The Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters (CAFDE) nominates one member:
Michel J. Carter, C.A., MBA, ADM.A *
Former President and Chief Executive Officer of TQS Inc. and
COGECO Radio-télévision Inc
The Canadian direct-to-home satellite industry nominates one member:
Vacant
The Canadian Television Fund was created in 1996 as a private-public partnership to support the production and broadcast of high-quality Canadian television programs. Over the past ten years the CTF has contributed 2.2 billion dollars to support 4,470 productions. This has resulted in more than 23,000 hours of great television for Canadians and has triggered more than 7.4 billion dollars in production volume across the country.
