DAILY NEWS Jan 15, 2008 4:07 PM - 0 comments

CRTC Did Not Go Far Enough In Supporting Programming--Directors Guild

TEXT SIZE bigger text smaller text
The Directors Guild of Canada is very pleased with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's Diversity of Voices policy announced today. However, the Commission did not go as far as it could have to ensure that Canadians will have access to a diversity of voices on TV. Maintaining broadcaster transfer benefits was a key component of the DGC's submission last fall. The Commission's recognition of the importance of these benefit monies in the creation of original Canadian programming is an important victory for the television and film industry.

"Benefits monies represent a significant portion of funding for Canadian drama and must remain in place to ensure that we have a diversity of voices on Canadian television," says Brian Anthony, DGC National Executive Director and CEO. "We have seen that where broadcasters are required to support Canadian drama through expenditures, they will support it and they will do it effectively. Corner Gas and Degrassi: the Next Generation, two leading Canadian drama success stories, have directly benefited from expenditure requirements for Canadian drama – that is, transfer benefits," adds the CEO.

"The new policy, however, overlooks the issue of on-going conventional broadcaster expenditure requirements," says Monique Lafontaine, DGC General Counsel and Director of Regulatory Affairs. These regulatory requirements are essential to the success and vitality of the Canadian broadcasting system. "It is unfortunate that the consideration of these issues has been postponed once again to the time of the licence renewal hearings, which could be a year away," says Lafontaine.

The DGC will appear at the licence renewal hearings to strongly advocate for on-going broadcaster support for Canadian drama.
Horizontal ruler
Horizontal Ruler

Post A Comment

Disclaimer
Note: By submitting your comments you acknowledge that BroadCaster Magazine has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that due to the volume of e-mails we receive, not all comments will be published and those that are published will not be edited. However, all will be carefully read, considered and appreciated.

Your Name (this will appear with your post) *

Email Address (will not be published) *

Comments *



* mandatory fields