A 42% decline in production of one-hour English drama series in 2000 – with seven series shooting this year compared to 12 in the June-November period last year – is being blamed on changes in government tv policy, and other factors.

Following the crtc’s June ’99 overhaul of its tv policy – which largely takes effect this coming September – ctv, tva and Global have much less incentive to support expensive hour-long dramas. They need no longer meet minimum spending thresholds on Cancon. The 150% credit for 10-point ‘priority’ programming aired in primetime is disappearing for the big station groups, but the crtc added a 125% bonus for six-to nine-point priority Cancon aired in prime.

Industry observers worried broadcasters would therefore license more docs, game shows (a la Who Wants To Be A Canadian Millionaire) and variety shows. This has, in fact, come to pass: ctf chair Richard Stursberg said at the Banff fest that the fund’s English drama envelope ‘was not oversubscribed and we were able to finance all the projects that were proposed.’

Observers say other factors contributing to the drama dip include cbc’s loss of guaranteed access to the eip, cbc’s increased sports spending in an Olympics year, and distributors’ reticence to support productions lacking foreign presales. Susan Tolusso