On October 24, the CRTC will conduct a public hearing into whether a new, English language pay television service, dedicated to the exhibition of Canadian films, should be brought into service in this country.
The authors of the Channel's promotional material say The Canadian Film Channel will be the first and only pay television service entirely dedicated to presenting Canadian films, unedited and commercial free, 365 days a year. Their broad focus will be the creation, promotion, and exhibition of Canadian films.
They are particularly interested in creating a larger domestic audience for Canadian films, and to helping build what they describe as a 'much needed' Canadian star system. Further, they state that they want to fund and promote films that 'tell stories celebrating our diversity, our histories and our regions', and state that The Canadian Film Channel will 'take risks and support new talent, organizations and diverse voices from across Canada.'
Filmmakers take note! Of particular interest to you will be the following promise made to the feds in the event the proposal is supported:
"$100 million [will be spent] on Canadian programme acquisition and production
during the first seven year licence term."
If you would like to read the Executive Summary for the Canadian Film Channel's application, visit their website at:
www.thecanadianfilmchannel.com
To read the Canadian Film Channel's complete application to the CRTC, visit this page of the CRTCs website:
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2005/n2005-6.htm#n2
According to documents, the Canadian Film Channel, over the course of the next seven years, plans to: