On the specialty channels, but especially on the available private sector television networks, there are increasing numbers of American television programs that have been translated and dubbed. I'm also talking about purchased American formats. The format is purchased and redone to suit audiences here. Le Banquier is an example of that. That's what I was alluding to. I don't mean that these programs shouldn't exist, but, with the disappearance of CRTC regulation and with the new objectives regarding youth and drama programs, these types of programs are entering into Canadian content.
So, with deregulation, we have witnessed a shift in air time occupied by the stations. It is therefore becoming all the more important in my mind that there be a public television network and that it keep the objectives with regard to what Marc Grégoire said earlier, that is to say concerning a culture from here, writers from here, and that they be able to find a place where they can express themselves. I'm thinking of high-cost series, which are probably more costly, but the quality of which is higher than what is done on the whole. I'm thinking very much about the BBC model in England. The BBC's funding enables it to produce high-quality programs that are sold around the world. So I don't think that investments in high-quality programs are necessarily a losing proposition.
There are markets for television in the world. The new platforms that are developing increasingly need content. This could be a good opportunity for CBC/Radio-Canada to produce programs with what could be global content, somewhat like the BBC model. The BBC is obviously subsidized to a large extent out of television fees. Could we possibly think of other models that would enable the CBC to get the money that would enable it to carry out this mandate? The mandate is so broad, but at the same time, within that very broad mandate, I think there is an opportunity to find ways to fund even more production by a corporation or organization that is more neutral and less subject to the laws of the market in terms of profits and shareholders.
Currently, in the context of the development of new technologies, I can even see an opportunity. I've often had occasion to go on the Canada Web site, and even that of Quebec. All the information provided there is phenomenal. This affords each region of Canada an opportunity to have a window through which it can display its specific character, since Canada is a very big country. Vancouver is very different from Montreal, Moncton and Fredericton. These new technologies can accommodate the contribution of a vision that we could have of Canada's regions as a whole. If CBC/Radio-Canada, which is already present on the Internet, is able to find other ways to enhance the regions' presence at lower cost... Managing to have each region present on CBC/Radio-Canada television is often a problem under the CBC/Radio-Canada mandate.