Daily News Monday, November 06, 2024
Broadcasters Need to Invest in Homegrown Drama--ACTRA
broadcasters that it is time they invest in more Canadian TV drama. "New Realities, New Rules" is the theme of this year's CAB convention. ACTRA spoke
out during the annual Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention on Monday, November 6, 2024. Among the Canadian stars taking part were Joy Coghill (Da Vinci's Inquest, Stargate),
Jackson Davies (X-Files, Beachcombers), Donnelly Rhodes (Da Vinci's Inquest, Battlestar Galactica), Christine Willes (The Wicker Man, Dead Like Me) and
UBCP President Howard Storey (Cold Squad, Mysterious Ways).
"We're focusing on more reality television, when what we need is new rules to protect our Canadian cultural sovereignty and to get more home grown
dramas on our televisions," said Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas, Robson Arms), "The success of Corner Gas is a perfect example of Canadian television
programming that audiences want to see. The support and commitment that this television series continues to receive has been critical and we need to build
on this success by increased funding and scheduling support for more Canadian dramatic programming."
This month the CRTC begins hearings as part of its review of the regulatory framework for Canadian television, which ACTRA has called for since
2000. The investigation is crucial as the 1999 Television Policy that caused the collapse of Canadian English-language drama must be fixed.
ACTRA's CRTC submission calls for regulations requiring Canada's private broadcasters to spend at least 7% of their advertising revenues on new
Canadian English-language drama programming and to schedule at least two hours more of Canadian dramas in real prime-time (Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to
11:00 p.m.).
