What’s good for the goose is good for le jars, at least according to the CRTC.

On June 8, the federal regulator released its latest thoughts about French-language drama, proposing a series of incentives that, it is hoped, will help to sustain the genre’s popularity in Quebec. The plan closely resembles the ideas recently put forth by the feds to boost domestic English-language drama.

Under the plan, broadcasters would earn extra advertising time by airing homemade French-language shows. The peak-time broadcast of an original, 10-point, Canadian Television Fund-backed hour with a budget of at least $800,000 would bring three extra minutes of ads, for example. Under the English plan, a similar broadcast earns 2.5 minutes.

That time could add up to between $380,000 and $525,000 in yearly revenue per caster, according to the commission’s interpretation of CTF data.

Lower-budget hours earn two minutes, while shows not supported by the CTF would trigger rewards totaling six to seven minutes. Producers of non-CTF shows are expected to get a cut of the extra ad revenue, again mirroring the English plan.

‘Maintaining a proper balance of peak-time drama programming on French-language television would have a direct and positive impact on the independent production sector and the employment of Canadian creative talent,’ the 33-page document goes on to say.

Unlike in English Canada, domestic drama is a major draw in Quebec, but the commission fears that could change with the arrival of low-cost reality programming, and last year asked for suggestions from the public and stakeholders.

The feds are again seeking comments on the plan, outlined in CRTC public notice 2004-38, due by July 23.

-www.crtc.gc.ca