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CFTPA and CBC Ready to Ratify Terms of Trade

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association and the CBC are on the verge of ratifying new guidelines for productions involving independent English-language TV producers and the CBC, including CBC Newsworld. The proposed Terms of Trade Agreement, which began at the 1999 Banff Television Festival, will facilitate business relationships between the two groups.

"We are delighted to be recommending this agreement with the national public broadcaster," said Stephen Ellis, CFTPA chair and co-chair of the negotiating committee. "The process has already been beneficial, and I know our members will be pleased to have a more concrete relationship with the largest consumer of independently produced Canadian programming."

"We're very confident that this is a win-win situation for independent producers, the CBC and Canadian viewers," said Deborah Bernstein, executive director, Arts and Entertainment, CBC English Television and co-chair of the committee. "Once final approval for the agreement is given and the document is released, we'll relaunch our website which allows independent producers to effectively direct and target proposals within the CBC.

The announcement was made during the second day of CFTPA's annual Prime Time in Ottawa conference. On Friday, February 8, the CBC will also be participating in a session where they field questions from independent producers on the future direction of the national broadcaster. Called Meeting of the Minds, the panel includes Bernstein as well as Daniel Gourd, Directeur Générale des programmes, Societé Radio-Canada.

The CFTPA is a non-profit, trade association representing almost 400 companies involved in the Canadian media content production industry. The Association promotes the general interests of Canadian media content producers by lobbying government on policy matters, negotiating labour agreements, offering mentorship programs, copyright initiatives, holding seminars, and producing industry publications.

For more information on this, please contact:

Jane L. Thompson
Director of Communications
Canadian Film and Television Production Association

Tel: 613 233 1444 ext 227