In our view, your headline on coverage of the recent Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ convention, ‘cab seeks access to gov’t funds’ (Nov. 6, 1995, p. 1), misrepresents recent initiatives proposed by private broadcasters. In this otherwise excellent article, the title line leaves the impression that cab members are looking for government handouts, which is just not the case.

Canada’s private broadcasters are staking their future on the production of more high-quality Canadian programming. We know it will be the only thing which will make us unique in the 500-channel/Information Highway environment.

We’ve drawn up a map to get us there. It is called the Canadian Programming Initiative. This four-part strategy is based on access to audiences; more resources for Canadian programming, including a contribution from distribution services; full recognition of our program and signal rights; and fair competition and regulation.

One element of this strategy is to allow broadcasters access to existing government production funds such as Telefilm Canada. Given the maturity of the independent Canadian production industry, there is no need anymore for broadcasters to be unfairly denied access.

We’re not looking for any extra government money – we know there’s none there. What we are looking for is a government commitment to establish a new set of rules for all the players, which will marshal all of Canada’s production resources to ensure there are enough high-quality Canadian stories on the Information Highway.

Today when Canadian viewers are watching Canadian programming, more than half the time they are tuned to private stations. We have a plan to build on that success, to make more and better Canadian programming. It won’t cost the government more money, but it does require political will to make it happen.

michael mccabe,

president & ceo,

cab