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Independent producers call for broadcasters to step up support for Canadian television production

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) this week urged the CRTC to take steps to ensure a fairer partnership between Canadian independent film and television producers and broadcasters. The recommendation was made in a submission filed with the Commission with respect to the CRTC’s review of the regulatory framework for over-the-air television.

The CFTPA made 22 recommendations in the areas of Canadian program expenditures, terms of trade, benefits on ownership transactions, advertising, and fee for carriage. The recommendations are intended to assist the CRTC in framing “smart regulation” for the television industry.

“The basis of our proposals is clarity, transparency, and fairness. It involves recognition that domestic production should be fully funded in the Canadian marketplace,” said Guy Mayson, President and CEO, CFTPA. “Canadian broadcasters can and should make a greater contribution to independent production through higher licence fees, required expenditures on Canadian priority programming, and making more “shelf space” available to exhibit that programming in the heart of prime time.”

The CFTPA urged the Commission to put in place a regulatory regime that will ensure the full financing of Canadian productions within Canada. This means a fairer partnership between the production and broadcast sectors, which we believe can best be achieved through terms of trade agreements. It means adequate licence fees for initial broadcast windows, revenue-sharing on ancillary rights, and a better benefits policy to ensure more financing of Canadian independent production.

“The Canadian television market faces a particular challenge because of our proximity to the U.S.,” said Ira Levy, Chair, CFTPA Board of Directors. “This country is in danger of losing our Canadian voice and presence on the most powerful communications platform – television – unless there is a strong Canadian production industry with ready and assured access to Canadian airwaves. The ability of independent producers to continue to sustain the existing level of domestic production is highly doubtful in the long term, unless the independent production sector is placed at the centre of a new regulatory model.”

The CFTPA is a non-profit trade organization that works on behalf of almost 400 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and interactive media products in all regions of Canada, including Quebec. More specifically, we promote the general interests of our members provincially, federally, and internationally; we negotiate and manage labour agreements with guilds and unions; we administer copyright collectives; we train new industry entrants through 7 national internship programs; and we undertake a number of other specific initiatives that help increase awareness and enhance communication within the Canadian and international production communities.

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For more information on this, please contact:

Jeff Brinton
Director of Communications and Media
Canadian Film and Television Production Association