TORONTO – Ontario’s French-language public educational broadcaster, TFO, will become a separate, stand-alone organization on April 1 – breaking its ties with English-language broadcaster the Ontario Education Communications Authority (TVOntario), Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced Friday.
The split was originally revealed on June 29, when the Ontario government asked TVOntario’s board to submit a plan by the end of 2006 for moving forward on that objective. The plan also includes a proposal for TVO to transition from analog to digital and roll out a new content strategy, while a separate TFO will be able to develop further in its role of servicing Francophone communities in the province.
Friday’s announcement by the provincial government confirmed the approval of the plan submitted by the TVOntario board.
Five Francophone members of the current TVOntario board are on the new TFO board. Former TVOntario board vice-chair Gisèle Chrétien becomes chair of the new TFO.
The autonomous TFO will include a French-language working environment, a new Toronto-area digital production facility, and an ongoing commitment to in-house productions that reflect and meet the unique needs of Franco-Ontarians.
“With its own board and operating entirely in French, TFO is now in a position to further increase its impact as a champion of Franco-Ontarian culture, an active participant in the Franco-Ontarian economy and a support to the French language education system,” said Chrétien.
Established in 1986 as a service of TVOntario, TFO is the only French-language educational broadcaster outside of Quebec.
