Evidence of meeting #7 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Is that the result on a day-to-day basis, or was that just a one-off?
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
No, no, that's just an example of one day. Obviously, between our new news apps and—
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
Oh, for sure, Evan, all of it. News is not about a newscast at 10 o'clock any more. Every night two million people watch The National, but that's not what news is any more. News is about a 24/7 commitment to giving people the information on Twitter, on blogs, on the website, on apps, everywhere that they are.
President and Chief Executive Officer, CBC/Radio-Canada
Let's take the Power & Politics show of Evan Solomon, two hours every day during the year, whether Parliament is sitting or not. It's about stories. It's about podcasting. It's about radio podcasting. It's about making sure that we see what's going on throughout the country and on the Hill. A two-hour show every day, that's a strong commitment from the public broadcaster, transforming what was a great show by an iconic figure before. When we replaced Don Newman, we had to come up with something special, and that's where Evan Solomon stepped up with his team and that's how we deliver the content.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Thank you.
The Canadian government recognizes the significance of CBC/Radio-Canada. Because of this, the 2011 budget announced that CBC/Radio-Canada would again be provided with $60 million to be used in the production of high-quality programming. Could you talk about how exactly this money will be used to help enrich the cultural and economic lives of Canadians?
President and Chief Executive Officer, CBC/Radio-Canada
Let me give you a bit of perspective on the $60-million envelope, and then I'll ask Christine and Louis to give you details of what we're doing in the markets.
The $60-million programming envelope has been given to us since 2000, so it's been something that we used for Canadian programs, trying to make sure that we can reach the regions or provide more Canadian content to the television schedules.
Louis, why don't you start with Radio-Canada and how the $60 million has been used?
Acting Vice-President, French Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
First of all, there is some money set aside for enhancing the radio programming all across the country.
This amount is very important. Even if the sums are small when we distribute them to all of the stations, they really ensure that certain topics will be discussed. As Mr. Simms was saying, these are issues that interest all of the population, as they are local issues.
As for television, there are two components. The first supports Canadian programming, drama programs especially, and the development of entertainment and cultural programs. There is also an information component. It is through that fund that we finance the presence of reporters in various parts of the country.
I'll give you an example. The team that worked on the Taser file was from the Service français in Vancouver, which is funded through the $60-million fund. This also makes it possible for them to work with their CBC colleagues.
This means that a certain number of issues can be broached, and it allows them to work over a longer term to ensure that all of the issues that touch Canadians are raised.
There are also other elements. This fund undeniably allows us to create and to launch programs that are more difficult to put together.
I'm thinking of a series like Génies en herbe which we broadcast last year. That program is shot in all the regions of the country and involves 12 youngsters who travelled throughout the country.
It is really thanks to this $60-million fund that we can implement projects like that that are completely unique.
President and Chief Executive Officer, CBC/Radio-Canada
The local news programs obviously also benefited a great deal from that fund.
Christine, what can you tell us about initiatives?
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
One of the things for which we count on the $60 million is that local news is pivotal, obviously, but reaching out to communities on non-news kinds of issues is really important too. Looking at the cultural lives or the larger lives of people in communities, one of the things it's allowed us to do is establish a series of programs that are cultural programs. They might be documentary programs; they might be about events that are going on.
I'll give you a couple of examples. We were able to cover the Newfoundland Screech Comedy Festival.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Just one second. We're having a little trouble with our translation. We'll try to sort that out.
Is it good?
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
The red light is on. Is that a good thing?
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
We were able to cover the Newfoundland Screech festival. That was great. We also covered the Nova Scotia blues festival.
It's documentaries too. For example, in Manitoba we had this great documentary called “40 Years of One Night Stands”, which I thought was at least a title that would get people tuned in, and it was about the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, so that was kind of neat.
This is one of the ways we spend the $60 million.
It's not just in the regions, we also—as Louis mentioned—use it to augment network programming and some of the signature events we've done. I might mention something like “Champions of Change”, which is a celebration of volunteerism across the country. These are the kinds of works that the $60 million allows us to do.
October 25th, 2011 / 9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Okay, thank you.
Now we're into five-minute rounds for the question and answer.
Go ahead, Mr. Benskin.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
First, I'd like to thank you all for coming and for an excellent presentation, both orally and on video.
My favourite pieces out of this whole thing are these schedules. It basically goes to show the importance of the CBC, because if CBC isn't doing the work it's doing, nobody else will be. So congratulations on that.
There are two questions I want to put forward to you. The TOU.TV initiative you have on for Radio-Canada, will there be any intention of rolling out something like that for CBC?
President and Chief Executive Officer, CBC/Radio-Canada
The answer is not right now.
This concept of TOU.TV is one that showcases not only our own programming but the programming of other public broadcasters in the world. Maybe we can talk about TOU.TV in a second.
It's a little different on the English side, frankly. The need might not be there in the same way. The relationships we have around the world with respect to content, like a Hulu-type, because that's what it is, might not be as relevant in English.
I might ask Christine to speak to that in a second.
Why don't you tell us more about TOU.TV?
Acting Vice-President, French Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
One of the advantages is that our relation with the producers and other large broadcasters allows us to offer French-language content that is far broader. This is interesting. Whenever I travel in the country people always tell me to what extent the francophones who live in another province are happy to have so much choice and that the choice they now have is much broader than it used to be. They are very happy about that.
I think that Christine could answer your question more precisely.
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
I was going to say that when you look on this chart, you can see why in English Canada it would be a different situation. We're the only broadcaster that owns any content that we could offer up, and it becomes a bit of a rights issue.
We have made absolutely sure that our content is available to Canadians online, and we'll continue to do so wherever they are. That's our commitment.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
The second question is pertaining to scripted programming, dramas. There's a lot of documentary style, comedy style, and I'm wondering if there is any intent on bringing back more scripted drama into the programming.
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
We've got a brand-new scripted drama starting in January, the one from the Arctic called Arctic Air. Is that what you mean by scripted drama?
Executive Director, Content Planning, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada
Oh, absolutely. I mean, Republic of Doyle is a scripted drama, Being Erica is a scripted drama, and Heartland. I think we have six scripted dramas on the air right now.
In January, Arctic Air will be starting. It's the story of two families who own a commercial plane business. From week to week, you'll see the weekly missions they go on. Some of them are commercial in nature and some of them are search and rescue, but mostly what you'll see is how beautiful that part of the country is.
But for sure, we are totally committed to scripted drama. We have lots of it, and we'll have more.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Okay, great.
Like my colleague, I came to Canada in 1968; I missed Expo 67, unfortunately. But in terms of children's programming and growing up with The Friendly Giant, I pronounce my name “Terone”, as opposed to “Tierone”, and everybody thought my name was Jerome. Those of you who grew up with The Friendly Giant would get that.
CBC has been a leader in children's programming, and I noticed you had something in your presentation about children's programming. I wonder if you could elaborate a bit more on that.