arts channels

be reviewed

A 16-member arts coalition that includes the Directors Guild of Canada, the B.C. Motion Picture Association and actra is asking the federal cabinet to review the recent crtc licensing of Bravo! and Arts et Divertissement and, if necessary, to suspend or delay one or both licences in the interest of supporting ‘alternative’ Canadian drama and performing arts programming. There is also a petition underway to delay the crtc’s 1995 call for new specialty applications until new, ‘appropriate’ cultural services are licensed.

The bottom line for the coalition is money and it is looking to cabinet for assurances that funding for performing arts programming is neither threatened by Bravo! and a&d nor ignored by the crtc.

The coalition argues that national performing arts and cultural channels, in French and English, are needed and says Bravo! and a&d could get in the way when it comes to funding.

Paul Audley, policy consultant to the dgc, says, ‘There is concern that Bravo! will have two cents less than the Weather Channel and less than a&e (a&e gets a subscriber rate of 31 cents per month; Bravo! will get 28 cents) and that means that Bravo! is not going to have a lot of money for Canadian original programming.

‘Our message to the government is: understand that this is not the service we need, but send it back if and only if it stands in the way of getting what we need.’

Government funding and cable subscriber rates are the potential barriers, says Audley. ‘If public funding came straight to the rescue and allowed a lower per-subscriber rate, then it would be arguable that Bravo! would not be in the way at all. But Bravo’s existence could be a problem with a high cable rate.’

According to Cancon stipulations laid out by the crtc for a&d, 30% overall and 30% primetime Canadian programming is required.

A spokesperson for the new service says 60% of the actual budget will go to Canadian production. Of the $4.8 million earmarked for Canadian acquisitions, 50% will be invested in new production in the first year. In subsequent years, a&d’s Canadian program expenditures have been set at no less than 40% of the previous year’s gross revenues. a&d says it will spend $3.9 million on foreign programming, including performing arts programming from the u.s.

Bravo! will deliver its original primetime Cancon slate of 40% in the first two years, which will increase to 50% by year six.

Jay Switzer, vice-president of programming at City-tv, says Bravo! will spend about 34% of its actual budget on Canadian production. Close to $24 million is slated for Canadian production (including $10 million for ongoing series and $5.6 million for ArtsFacts, the channel’s video performance piece show) over the near-seven-year licence period.

Audley dismisses any shadow cast by the collapse of C Channel several years ago: ‘It was never a viable channel anyway. The whole notion (of the Canadian cultural channel) was crazy to begin with. We were going to do something that the States, with 10 times the market, couldn’t do successfully.’

Behind successful arts programming, he says, is the money ‘to look at each individual (performing arts) production and figure out what would be appropriate for tv.’ Audley says the audiences for this type of programming are the same people who watch Canadian primetime programs.

Regional reflection through local production and drawing from Canadian literature for material are part of the overall parcel the coalition wants showcased.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Conference of the Arts, which was involved in the appeal from the outset, has withdrawn its participation in the coalition.

Keith Kelly of the cca says his organization withdrew on the grounds that the coalition could delay the launch of Bravo! and a&d if deemed necessary, and the cca feels opportunities for Canadian artists, ‘no matter how restricted, should be seized by the Canadian cultural sector. Our view is that we are not in the business of impeding opportunities for Canadian artists.’

Kelly says the cca is 99% behind the coalition and agrees there is a need for ‘Canadians to have access to a dedicated Canadian arts service, in the same measure as they have access to foreign culture and arts services through a&e and (Canada’s) Bravo!’

The review falls under the Power of Direction clause of the Broadcasting Act, which allows cabinet to direct the crtc’s actions. As of July 22, the cabinet has 45 days to respond.

Paul Gratton, station manager for Bravo!, was not available for comment.