Search Results for: Canadian Heritage

Radio / Television News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CBC needs more backing

CANADIAN HERITAGE MINISTER James Moore told reporters at the Canada Media Fund announcement that CBC will receive "record" funding from the government this year, something his parliamentary secretary – Dean Del Mastro – later repeated in the House of Commons. Sort of true. In 1990-91, the CBC received $1,078 billion from the government. In today’s dollars, that would be $1.5 billion. Those were the days when the public broadcaster still had a very strong presence in local markets across the country. And because of the apparent lack of flexibility from the government this year, the CBC will likely have… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF doles out $285 million to broadcasting industry

TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) will hand out approximately $285 million to Canadian television producers this year through the broadcaster performance envelope stream. The funds are earmarked to support English and French programming in the genres of drama, children and youth, variety and performing arts, and documentary. English-language broadcaster envelopes will total $194 million, while $91 million will be allocated to French-language broadcaster envelopes. The CTF supports the development of Canadian talent, programs, and audiences through financial investment and industry research, and is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada’s broadcasting distribution undertakings. As Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Cautious optimism, but questions remain about CMF

TORONTO and OTTAWA – Television industry stakeholders continue to weigh in on the new Canada Media Fund (CMF) announced Monday. CTV said in a statement that they “welcomed” the Fund, and “applauded the proposal (for) striking down antiquated rules that prevented broadcaster investment in the creation of high-quality Canadian programs for both broadcast and digital platforms.” "Congratulations to Minister Moore for recognizing the importance of audience success and for putting the audience first in the creation of this fund. All of us in media exist to serve the audience," said Ivan Fecan, president and CEO… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF dumped in favor of new, larger, multiplatform fund, Minister Moore announces (corrected version)

TORONTO – Getting funding to make television in Canada is about to get a whole lot different. Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore announced today the Canadian Media Fund, a combination of the existing Canadian Television Fund and the Canadian New Media Fund. The new fund, according to the Minister will be “reformed and rebranded” through a radically different partnership with the groups who provide the funding (government, DTH, cable and telco TV providers) and those who spend it (the production community). Its mandate will be to ensure the production of quality content and to make it available on multiple… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF decision coming Monday

TORONTO – As we reported Thursday, the federal government will release its decision on the fate of Canadian Television Fund on Monday. Heritage Minister James Moore has scheduled a press conference for 10:00 Monday morning in Toronto, where he will “make an announcement concerning the Canadian broadcasting industry”. What else could it be?  Cartt.ca will be there and bring you whole the story. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF fix due?

OTTAWA – We’d almost forgotten about it, but the federal government just might release its decision on the Canadian Television Fund next week. A source with knowledge of the decision’s timing told Cartt.ca this week that Heritage Minister James Moore may have an announcement as early as Monday. The fund has spent a lot of the past 24 months defending itself and making a few changes in the way it does things. This impending release and any potential changes in how the $250 million in annual TV production money is collected and doled out was spurred on by the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF ups funding commitments this year

TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) has bumped up its program commitments for 2009-2010 by almost 14% over last year. The increases will be directed to the following CTF programs: – the broadcaster performance envelope has been allocated $285 million, a 7.2% year over year increase ($194 million to English and $91 million to French); – French-language projects outside of Quebec will increase to $10.2 million from $9.3 million; – funding to Aboriginal-language projects will increase from just over $3 million to $4 million; – the allocation for the digital media program will grow to $10 million; – funds for the production incentive… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

What layoffs? CMG asks CBC

TORONTO – The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) has asked for clarification on comments made by CBC president Hubert Lacroix during his speech at a business luncheon in Toronto on Thursday. At that time, Lacroix reportedly said that he was asking the federal government for financial assistance to deal with an expected budget shortfall and to cover downsizing costs in 2009/2010. He also said that while no decisions would be made for 2009/2010 until the CBC board meets in mid-March, he is seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister before then, and is meeting with Heritage Minister James Moore next week. But the CMG, who… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Production industry needs “balanced approach to policy, regulation and funding” to survive, report

OTTAWA – The Canadian production industry is facing two significant challenges – the current economic "crisis", and uncertainty over how Canadian content will reach audiences over digital platforms, according to the Profile 2009 report. In order to maintain the 131,600 jobs the sector creates, the industry needs new approaches to access and funding, along with a balanced approach to policy, regulation and industry funding, said the press release announcing the report’s findings.  The annual economic report is published by the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) in collaboration with the Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ),… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Al Jazeera English plans to launch in Canada

TORONTO – Middle East-based news and current affairs channel Al Jazeera English (AJE) is asking the CRTC to add it to the list of eligible satellite services in Canada. The channel, which is already seen in more than 100 countries and 130 million households worldwide, said it is committed to opening a Canadian news bureau if it is authorized for distribution here. Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) will present the application to the CRTC, acting in their capacity as "the channel’s sponsor", the press release said.  ECG is a Canadian multi-ethnic broadcaster which currently offers 12 television channels in Canada. AJE… Continue Reading