The CRTC suggests fixing the Canadian Television Fund by splitting it in half, an idea that has already cut the industry itself in two. On the other hand, the Gatineau gatekeepers are all for keeping the 10/10 CAVCO requirement and want to make special allowances for VisionTV, TV5 and APTN. And so we ask:

The CRTC’s plan for CTF – smart move or formula for disaster?

It is ironic that [splitting the CTF] would give advantage to those least committed to Canadian programming at the expense of those whose raison d’être is Canadian shows. We estimate that the immediate effect would be a $150-million reduction over five years of funding to public-sector television programming. The recommendations should be rejected by the Heritage minister.
Richard Stursberg,
EVP, CBC English Services

I am strongly in favor of the concept of splitting the CTF into two streams…It would be far more conducive to building a stronger, self-supporting industry if producers and broadcasters could be weaned from total dependence on the fund.
Kirk Shaw, CEO,
Insight Film Studios

My inclination would be to opt for the ‘public’ stream…I think this is the first time in CRTC history that not-for-profit services such as VisionTV and TV5 have been so recognized for their key contributions to our television system.
Bill Roberts, president and CEO,
S-VOX/VisionTV

To have a private side puts the fox in charge of the henhouse…On the positive side, ACTRA is quite pleased that we were heard on affirming Canadian content, that public funds from both streams will only go to fully Canadian, 10/10 productions.
Richard Hardacre, national president,
ACTRA

The regulator has acted very wisely in recognizing the dual mandate of the network and has proposed to the government a course of action that supports that duality.
Jean LaRose, CEO,
APTN