We are spirited defenders of Canadian programming because we have a lot of skin in the game. Broadcasters have the most skin in the game. We said in our presentation that if you look at the contributions made by way of financial measures, broadcasters surpass any other sector by virtue of $1 billion-plus per year in the last year on record.
Is it attracting all the audiences that we would hope it would, and is it as successful? In an ideal world, of course, one would always say there's room for improvement, and we hope to strive toward attaining those more lofty goals of higher audiences for all program categories. But I would simply go back to one reality to hopefully guide your committee in thinking about these things.
If this committee, just for a moment, spent only five minutes in absorbing what these four charts tell you, the four charts basically are defined to show 1996—at the creation of the fund—and last year. They provide a picture of English language television then and a picture of English language television now. The same is true for the French sector, then and now.
The charts give you a sense to absorb the degree of fragmentation that has developed in the system. I think you would then be capable of moving onto the next step, which is where we do go from here in light of that fragmentation.
I would add one additional comment, Mr. Chair. This is the regulated system only. It takes nor makes no account of unregulated services that are equally vying for Canadians' attention in growing numbers.