Some remain skeptical that the CRTC's new incentive based scheme will result in significant increases in Canadian drama.
Article says that the cultural sector should not have to rally the troops, demonstrate its importance and show undying gratitude just to maintain its funding.
The Canadian film industry may be withering away for lack of funding, but the talent needed to revive it is ever present.
Incoming Telefilm CEO Wayne Clarkson expected to take a more Canadian approach to strengthening Canada's film industry then that practiced by his predecessor, Richard Stursberg.
Progressive Conservative leader John Tory and NDP culture critic Rosario Marchese call upon Dalton McGuinty's Liberals to raise the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.
Ontario's film community lobbies for tax breaks on foreign productions; says industry is ailing and no infrastructure can be built when there is no revenue.
Canwest Global CEO says conventional broadcasters should be entitled to receive a carriage fee from broadcasting distributors, calls for an end to advertising limits and to the ban on advertising of prescription pharmaceuticals.
The CRTC unveils its new scheme for an incentive based system that would allow broadcasters more advertising minutes in exchange for airing more Canadian drama.
Conservative leader addresses convention of Canadian private broadcasters, states that the Conservative Party would "seek to reduce CBC's dependence on advertising revenue and its competition with the private sector for these valuable dollars".
Provincial opposition members and film workers say the Ontario Liberals should increase tax credit incentives to attract more film production to the province.
Minister of Canadian Heritage hints that the federal government's upcoming financial review may reallocate funds from other sectors to television and film.
Rumoured appointment of Wayne Clarkson as CEO of Telefilm Canada praised by industry.
Sources say executive director of the Canadian Film Centre, Wayne Clarkson, will be nominated to the post of CEO at Telefilm Canada; article claims Heritage Committee review process "widely regarded as a matter of optics and formalities".
Liza Frulla confirms Telefilm, the CBC and the NFB were asked to assess the feasibility of a 5% cut to their budgets.
Funding cuts have forced CBC to become dependent on sports programming in order to meet statutory obligations.
Columnist argues Canada's cultural sovereignty is not under threat.
CBC President Robert Rabinovitch seeks permanent funding to restore CBC local and regional programming capacity on English television.
FRIENDS gives CBC President Robert Rabinovitch a C- for his performance on a variety of performance measures, including CBC funding, regional programming, Canadian content, and CBC Radio.
Liza Frulla annouces that the arts industry will have to suffer five percent cuts accross the board; CBC will incur a $46-million cut.
Columnist says next Telefilm CEO should be a Toronto culture insider.
A new report states that estimated American losses due to runaway film and television productions were grossly inflated.
FRIENDS recommends the CRTC uphold its policy of opposing the entry of foreign programming services likely to offer substantial competition to existing Canadian services.
Telefilm has recently come under criticism because of new funding policies promoting commercial success.
Director Ivan Reitman says that Canadian filmmakers would be more successful if they stopped looking for government handouts and started to produce films that would appeal to "the true arbiter of taste, the general public".
Canada remains a key filming destination for U.S. film and television producers.
FRIENDS and others outline the qualities required of the next head of Telefilm Canada.
Small producters say the production of Canadian entertainment, especially children's shows, comedy and documentaries, can be lucrative, but state no sustainable business model exists for Canadian drama.
CRTC regulation is more about politics than quality broadcasting and should be overhauled, columnist says.
Cable carriers seek approval for proposal to run either paid ads or ads promoting their own services in time usually reserved for promoting domestic shows.
A proposal currently before the CRTC may allow cable companies to sell ads during time in American shows' commercial breaks that is normally reserved for public service announcements and promoting upcoming programs.
Cable and broadcasting associations disagree on the proposed risks and benefits of a proposal to sell ads during time now set aside for program promotion and public service announcements.
The New VI's new owner, CHUM, may not provide the local programming for which the station's licence was originally granted, columnist says.
CHUM says New VI job cuts result from station performing below expectations.
CHUM has promised a $20 million benefit package to Canadian television, mostly directed at western Canadian producers, if the CRTC approves its takeover of Craig Media.
TVO should be cut off from tax support and turned into a not-for-profit entity like America's PBS, editorial says.
BBC aims to reduce overheads as it prepares to seek renewal of its royal charter.
Bloc and NDP power in Liberal minority government means culture-oriented industry groups have an unprecedented chance to gain support and resources, columnist says.
Canada's TV broadcast industry posted record high revenues in 2003, StatsCan says.
The new federal minority government may provide a welcoming space for culture groups to articulate their concerns.
Despite the prevalence of Internet radio and downloadable music, conventional radio broadcasters are still profitable.
Alliance Atlantis has abandoned the film production business and is poised to focus on broadcasting and distribution amid financial writedowns and the resentment of other production companies.
Despite what may be an increasingly savvy electorate, the arts and culture were not emphasized during this year's federal election campaign.
Conventional TV networks and advertisers will adapt to changing technology, viewing habits.
The Liberal Party, the NDP, the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois replied to cultural coalition letter regarding their arts and culture policies.
Conservative cultural and tax policies could seriously harm PEI's economy, letter-writer says.
Unscripted shows are cheaper to produce and draw the audience of young, affluent consumers that advertisers want, CanWest Global study says.
FRIENDS gives qualified support to CRTC advertising incentive proposal, noting potential drawbacks; also recommends 150% drama time credit be retained but restricted to 8-10 pm Mon-Wed during peak viewing months.
TV Festival is marred by technical difficulties, but delegates still create a positive atmosphere.
Twenty Canadian media unions and associations have formed The Canadian Film & Television Industry Council to address cultural issues.
Leaked policy revealing the Conservatives' plan to restructure the CRTC and relax foreign ownership restrictions has pushed Canadian culture onto the election agenda.
Election has failed to treat culture is an issue of national importance, editorial says.
Government-funded art doesn't break even because it's a lecture instead of entertainment, columnist says.
The tax cuts proposed in the Conservative platform total $37 billion, which will come from cuts to programs like the CBC, columnist says.
Industry representatives, NDP candidate Ian Waddell say Conservative plan to eliminate corporate grants and subsidies reflects misunderstanding, would destroy B.C. film industry.
Actors' gathering at CBC headquarters urges public to ask why cultural issues are being ignored in the election campaign.
Speakers at ACTRA-organized gathering at CBC broadcast headquarters criticize party leaders for making no mention of cultural policy issues during televised leaders' debate.
Text of Hélène Chalifour Scherrer's speech at the Banff Television Festival.
Speakers at the Banff Television Festival call for political parties to disclose their cultural platforms.
Arts groups and Liberals criticize Tory arts policies; Conservatives and some commentators say there's nothing to worry about.
Scherrer denounces Conservative cultural policies in her speech at the Banff Television Festival.
The end of federal subsidies would not destroy the Canadian cultural industry, columnist says.
Daryl Duke, who will be awarded the John Drainie Award at the 2004 Banff Television Festival, says Canadian broadcasting and Canadian identity are under threat. Duke is a member of the Steering Committee of FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting.
A Conservative government would relax Canadian content requirements and foreign ownership restrictions in the broadcasting sector.
Columnist theorizes that the Conservative party will be unable to make radical changes to the Canadian broadcasting system, and that Canadians will be "worse off" has a result.
PBS president Pat Mitchell is seeking a niche for the American public broadcaster amid political pressure, funding shortages and commercial competition.
CTV and Global have both scheduled their strongest U.S. shows on Thursdays, the most important weeknight for broadcasters and advertisers.
HDTV is a hard sell not because consumers don't know about it, but because they just don't want it, columnist says.
New study shows Canadian broadcasters pay the lowest licence fees, have the lowest per capita ad revenue and spend the most money on foreign programming of any English-speaking country surveyed.
Unreleased report on the state of film and television production in Ontario shows infrastructure is crumbling and production jobs are being exported to provinces with higher tax credit rates.
Editorial says media conglomerates' stake in the outcome of the federal election makes them reluctant to cover media and cultural policy issues, with the result that these issues are largely being ignored.
Stable, multi-year funding for the CBC, as recommended by the all-party report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, has not been guaranteed in the platforms of either the Conservatives or the Liberals.
With its production business virtually eliminated, Alliance Atlantis is focusing on its "core business" of broadcasting.
CHUM expected to play larger role in funding and airing Canadian drama on English-language television as other broadcasters retrench.
Actor Paul Gross praises CRTC decision to provide incentives for broadcasting Canadian drama, but says broadcasters need a stick, not just a carrot.
CBC's chief programmer says attracting audiences to Canadian programming is difficult but is the CBC's job.
FRIENDS, Heritage Canada Foundation aim to keep cultural issues part of pre-election debate.
Pre-election polling commissioned by FRIENDS shows strong voter support for Canadian culture, Canadian content, and an independent and well-funded CBC. Voters also strongly support maintaining domestic control of Canadian communications/broadcasting companies and limiting media concentration. Includes links to opinion poll results, press releases, media coverage, and other documents.
Richard Stursberg's apparent efforts to promote more commercially-oriented Canadian movies and recruit Canadian actors living in Hollywood have drawn criticism from the domestic film industry.
FRIENDS' pre-election opinion poll shows Canadian voters favour maintaining foreign ownership rules, limiting media concentration, and strengthening CBC.
CTF will help finance This Hour has 22 Minutes and The Eleventh Hour for 2004-05.
FRIENDS responds to RCMP request, asks that broadcasters no longer air one of four FRIENDS' public service announcements.
FRIENDS responds to RCMP request concerning depiction of a Mountie in one of four FRIENDS public service announcements promoting the telling of Canadian stories.
Although Disney's refusal to distribute "Fahrenheit 911" will not harm Michael Moore's financial prospects, it will harm free expression in the U.S.
RCMP complains about use of background image of Mountie in one of FRIENDS' Tell Canadian Stories public service announcements.
FRIENDS withdraws one of four Tell Canadian Stories public service announcements at request of RCMP.
RCMP objects to use of Mountie image in FRIENDS public service announcement, despite having licensed intellectual property to Disney in the 1990s.
CRTC announces new ad-time incentives for Canadian programming; Global reveals a reality-heavy season lineup.
FRIENDS calls CRTC drama incentive, which would grant broadcasters additional advertising minutes for airing Canadian drama, a creative proposal.
As Michael Moore seeks another distributor for his documentary "Fahrenheit 911," Disney says it never agreed to have Miramax distribute the film.
CRTC issues public notice and call for comments on proposed package of incentives to encourage Canadian broadcasters to air more Canadian English-language drama and increase audiences and expenditures to Canadian drama programming.
CRTC proposes advertising minutes incentive for broadcasters to air Canadian drama in prime time, calls on government for long-term solution to drama funding problems.
A more commercially-minded production process and improved capital support could do wonders for Canadian film; Telefilm mulling options.
CBC probably won’t be airing HDTV sports until next year.
CBC believes whistleblower legislation will undermine integrity of its journalists; critics say broadcaster is trying to avoid accountability measures.
Canadian arts personalities’ 1956 suggestions for improving the CBC bear striking similarity to today’s recommendations.
Networks that rely on lowest common denominator programming find it is not always the most popular.
Canadian lawyer/author Peter Grant says the market-based world economy has widened the distribution of cultural products, but decreased their variety.
In the wake of second quarter losses, CanWest says it will spend more on programming to revive ratings and increase advertising revenues.
Switzer says CHUM will focus on local programming, not compete with Global and CTV for most popular U.S. programming.
Cable industry asks CRTC a second time for the right to distribute U.S. Fox News as a direct feed to digital cable and satellite customers.
Fox news application driven by satellite signal piracy, need for cable industry to generate interest in digital television; may succeed on second try.
Telefilm head defends confidential arrangement with U.S. talent agency.
ACTRA insulted by secret deal between Telefilm Canada and a Hollywood talent agency.
Telefilm signs Hollywood talent agency to "find story material" for Canadian films.
Senate report reveals news accounts for 54 per cent of expenditures on Canadian programming by conventional broadcasters.
Problems with Canadian production funding helped but not solved by restoration of funding to Canadian Television Fund.
CBC unlikely to receive the attention it needs from a weakened Liberal government.
Federal budget restores CTF funding, increases grant to CBC.
Production industry praises restoration of CTF budget, two year funding guarantee.
The 2004 federal budget restores funding cut from the Canadian Television Fund in last year's budget.
Liberal budget criticized for paying down debt at the expense of rebuilding Canada.
Doyle offers commentary on nature of Canadian television industry, CBC radio.
Actors' union applauds federal government for restoring funding cut from Canadian Television Fund, calls on private broadcasters to reinvest profits in production of Canadian television drama.
Alternative federal budget discusses importance of public investment in CBC, Canadian broadcasting and Canadian culture (see pp. 33-34).
Foreign location film production in Canada is slowing due to increased competition from other countries and Canada's rising dollar.
High quality educational television available to Ontarians has everything to do with public funding of TVO.
Astral says a single major deal among Canada's media companies will create a "domino effect" of transactions.
Both CBC and CTV this week unveiled ambitious plans, pending funding from the Canadian Television Fund, for a variety of new Canadian prime time drama series, sitcoms and movies of the week for the 2004-2005 season.
CTV says it plans to air six original Canadian series in 2004-05 - provided there is adequate government funding.
Torstar may take a majority ownership stake in 49th Media, which plans to replace American ads with Canadian ones on five U.S. specialty channels distributed by Canadian cable networks.
Profile of Canadian film and television production company Lions Gate Entertainment.
National Post contributor draws analogy between CBC funding and federal sponsorship scandal, suggests both have "defrauded the Canadian people".
The National Film Board is said to be enjoying success by following its original mandate of making important social issue documentaries.
New shows suggest Canadian drama is thriving; in reality, cuts to government funding of film and television production have created a deepening crisis.
Report by opposition party in the UK recommends breakup of BBC and severe cuts to public funding of all but BBC radio, certain public service programming and the channel which carries Parliamentary proceedings.
National Post editorial argues the CBC should be scaled down, receive only modest public funding and not air sports, sitcoms or mainstream dramas, so government can focus resources on "real priorities".
Tony Clement says federal spending should be slashed by billions of dollars, suggests looking at funding of CBC.
Despite two new Canadian productions taking Cold Squad's place, American series filmed in B.C. still outnumber Canadian.
Writer believes the CBC is biased, deserves scrutiny similar to that given the BBC by the Hutton report.
CFTPA head says cancellation of two long-standing English-language Canadian drama series by CTV and Global confirms Canadian drama is in the process of becoming extinct.
Two more hour-long English-Canadian drama series cancelled.
Scherrer admits there is presently no Plan B to assist the production sector if money cut from the Canadian Television Fund is not restored.
The growing proportion of film and television funding provided by private funds emphasizes the need for renewed public support of Canadian production.
A coalition including the CBC, ACTRA, the CFTPA and the CAB is asking Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to restore Ottawa's support of the Canadian Television Fund.
Cable sports channels and private broadcasters benefit from government protection as surely as CBC does.
Telefilm criticized for taking money from successful Quebec producers and giving it to English Canadian ones.
Quebec film producers are unhappy with an announced reduction in Telefilm funding for French-language productions, which apparently punishes them for their success.
The CRTC's statistical and financial data report on the Canadian television industry shows that net profits posted by private television stations doubled in 2003.
The Ontario government denies reports that it has plans to eliminate an important tax credit that supports domestic film and television production.
Hélène Scherrer says she wants to restore the $25-million cut to the Canadian Television Fund, but has failed thus far to make an outright commitment.
Michael Donovan, co-founder of Salter Street Films, reflects on Alliance Atlantis Communications' announcement of its plans to close Salter Street Films
The BBC is right to be worried that the government may slash its budget and place it under private-sector regulation when its charter is up for renewal in 2006.
Domestic TV producers are suffering from falling government subsidies, a collapsing international market, and less U.S. production due to the rise in the Canadian dollar.
Filmmaker Robert Lantos blames the state of Canadian film production on the government funding system and a lack of cultural financiers.
Heritage Minister says she is committed to helping the Canadian production industry, but cannot make funding decisions on her own.
The sudden "resignation" of longstanding Toronto Star publisher John Honderich follows resistance to plans for significant cost-cutting.
The CRTC rejects large cable rate increases sought by sports specialty services Rogers Sportsnet and The Score.
New statistical analyses are needed to allow broadcasters and producers to understand what will attract audiences to Canadian drama.
An interview with Canadian Television Fund president Sandra Macdonald.
The Canadian film and television community is looking for signs of a long-term commitment from government to encourage Canadian production.
Canadian Association of Broadcasters head says the Canadian government needs an action plan for drawing audiences to 'market sustainable' Canadian programs.
New CEO of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association says cooperation and restored government funding needed to make the Canadian production industry viable.
New Minister of Canadian Heritage indicates that she supports maintaining Canadian ownership of the communications sector.
New Canadian Heritage Minister Helene Scherrer says she understands the importance of stable funding for arts organizations, but is committed to freezing current budgets.
Helene Scherrer's early meeting with five Ontario arts organizations gives hope she will address the problems facing the arts community.
CanWest is leading an industry-wide push to convert free online newspaper content into revenue streams.
American actors say Canada need not worry about California Governor's plans to keep movie production work in the U.S., noting that Canada has "too many advantages" to be ignored.
Ontario Premier calls the cost of bringing the Conan O'Brien show to Toronto a "great investment".
Summary of expenditures that resulted in 10-year high in culture spending by government in fiscal 2001-2002.
Canadian Taxpayers' Federation criticizes the use of public money to bring the host of U.S. talk show 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' to Toronto.
StatsCan reports that government spending for the arts and culture has risen, with federal government expenditures reaching $3-billion for the first time during the fiscal year 2001 to 2002.
Government spending on culture increased at its fastest rate in a decade in 2001/02, as the federal government pumped a record amount into cultural activities. Combined, all three levels of government spent a total of $6.8 billion on everything from libraries to the performing arts.
CRTC says spending on Canadian news and information programming increased 36% between 1998 and 2002, while the figure for drama and comedy programming was only 11%.
Lukewarm coverage of Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage report, Our Cultural Sovereignty, is argued to reflect the censorship by omission that can result from media concentration.
Alliance Atlantis is being criticized for withdrawing from film and television production after having acquired, with public subsidies, some of the country's most successful independent production companies.
If Canadian director Denys Arcand's The Barbarian Invasions is nominated for an Academy Award, it will be a test for how Paul Martin and his Heritage Minister plan to approach cultural issues.
