A new three-year (1997 to 2000) mission statement by educational network Tele-Quebec calls for the service to adapt a heightened specialty channel vocation with programming focused on education, culture, the regions of Quebec and minority communities.

Director-general Robert Normand says the network will not compete with conventional broadcasters in the news and drama program categories but cultural programming will be increased from the current 11% of the schedule to 22% effective this fall.

Smaller and midsize producers in Montreal and the regions will be among preferred program suppliers. An important segment of the network’s on-air time, 35% to 40%, will be devoted to training and formal educational programming this year.

Normand says the plan includes an expansion of Tele-Quebec’s role as a multimedia publisher and distributor, particularly in the educational and cultural fields.

Between 1995 and 1997, Tele-Quebec, then called Radio-Quebec, reduced full-time staff by nearly half to 330, reducing its salary mass by 45% and assigning much of its production to the private sector.

The restructuring cost of $35 million is being amortized at a cost of $5 million a year. Tele-Quebec’s triennial plan is based on a guaranteed three-year financing commitment by the Quebec government, which has allocated $53.5 million annually to the network.

The network intends to maintain its sale of limited commercial airtime and sponsorships, a maximum of six minutes per hour, typically aired prior to the start of programming. The goal is to hold on to its 3-share of the Quebec francophone viewing audience while increasing its reach from the current 23% to 40% by the fall of 1999, as well as increase commercial revenues to 20% of the budget by the year 2000.

This year’s budget is $64 million and includes $11 million in commercial revenues, including the sale of advertising time and programs, and the rental of equipment and facilities including retooled editing suites and a large-deployment soundstage, Studio Jean Fortier, inaugurated this spring.