21 thoughts on “A modest proposal: How to get Canadians to watch Canadian television”
How about not cancelling good Canadian content, like Flashpoint!
CTV didn’t exactly cancel it – the showrunners wanted to end on their own terms. And CTV was smart to replace it with a similar show in Motive, and (eventually) put it in the same timeslot.
Lol. There’s been commentary like this for years. I, for one, think that Canadian scripted television is currently the best quality that it’s been in years. The other day, on a different forum, people were giving their top 10 currently-airing tv shows list and I was SHOCKED that 5 of my top 10 favourite currently airing shows (Continuum, Vikings, Orphan Black, Arctic Air and Blackstone) were Canadian. I don’t think that’s ever happened because in past years I’ve watched Canadian tv shows more out of loyalty than anything else. Oh, and what shocked me even more was that OTHER PEOPLE actually had Canadian shows in their top 10. That floored me. It makes me wonder if the quality of American network television has just gone down in general. I know that there’s quality cable shows made south of the border but I’ve heard from a lot of people that though these shows are viewed as top-knotch they aren’t thought of as must-see. In Canada, cable shows are getting sharper (particularly the sci-fi genre) and there are less network and cable shows trying to be generic in their settings so that’s a step in the right direction. Maybe I’m just optimistic but when I think back to ten or even five years ago, the Canadian television landscape seems better.
This is Television 101, Diane. Self-evident to people like you who care about Canadian TV and most of the creatives in the industry. Hopefully, your network readers will take it to heart. Thanks for posting.
That’s exactly it, Ally – Canadians *do* watch Canadian television. Whatever the networks think the problem is, it’s not audience receptiveness.
Thanks Jim – yeah, I’m not saying anything that isn’t just common sense. Which is why it’s so frustrating that networks don’t do it, and then wring their hands in public about “the audience.”
I am not Canadian (American) but I do watch a LOT of Canadian TV and the real issue really comes down to getting good shows out. The two biggest shows that I thought would work well in the US and Canada were Intelligence and Endgame. Good shows that could have both run for years.
I think there’s a major sea change happening right now on the Canadian television landscape. Specialty channels like Showcase and Space are really stepping it up a knotch by producing good-quality shows that appeal to an international audience but without trying to copy American shows. CBC is doing it too–maybe that’s because they have to but they deserve kudos for putting a focus on telling Canadian-set stories (Republic of Doyle in Newfoundland, Arctic Air in Northwest Territories and Heartland in Alberta). CTV and Global (sigh) on the other hand look at Canadian scripted fare as second-tier–CTV goes the generic procedural route via shows like Motive, Saving Hope and Flashpoint and Global does absolutely as little as possible–I can only think of one Canadian drama, Bomb Girls, on their docket–how is that even allowed?
In my opinion, Canada’s history with televised science fiction is more distinguished than with other types of scripted drama/comedy. If I remember correctly, Canadian sci-fi isn’t expected to hew to “is this set in Canada” guidelines as stringently as other subgenres of scripted drama/comedy, due to the speculative nature of the subgenre.
SPACE has the format protection on science fiction, while Showcase’s science fiction shows enjoy a better ROI than shows like Cra$h & Burn, King, Endgame etc. I think the successes of the Stargate franchise and Sanctuary built a foundation for the better-quality SF coming out of Canada.
Part of the problem with CTV and Global’s lack of CanCon is that Bell Media and Shaw Media look at their scripted dramas/comedies through group-based spending terms. A specialty show can get a second window on “conventional” television, and vice versa. For Bell Media, Canadian scripted dramas/comedies are mostly tagged for CTV, SPACE, Bravo, The Comedy Network, and maybe MuchMusic. Shaw Media’s scripted CanCon mainly goes to Showcase, Global, and History. Rogers Media only has City, OMNI and FX Canada to place scripted dramas/comedies in, but that didn’t (still doesn’t?) stop Murdoch Mysteries reruns on FX Canada.
Basic promotion? Sometimes, broadcasters don’t even practice basic programming, like when a show is tagged for second and/or third windows on channels the broadcaster owns – Sanctuary and Degrassi reruns on CTV2, for instance. I understand the broadcasters need to recoup the costs for these shows, but it’s obvious when broadcasters are patching holes in their schedules with Canadian content. It risks burning out the audiences for these shows. Bean counters aren’t usually the best entertainers.
I agree, but you forgot Rookie Blue for Global: the only real success in the US now.
Oh yes. I did forget about Rookie Blue, another generic procedural. Speaking of Rookie though, it has gotten a fair bit of buzz in the past year–there are a lot of people who really like it for its love stories. I don’t watch it myself, seeing as there’s nothing really original about it but that’s Global and CTV of late. I guess they think they have to go that route because unlike specialty channels, they are ratings-focussed, and really, it is a business. Look at CBS–they are way on top of the ratings and most of their dramas are all procedurals so appeal to a wider audience. I guess my gripe with TV in general is that seldom am I part of that wider audience. My favourite shows either get cancelled quickly or remain on the bubble for their entirety.
um. WRITE BETTER SHOWS.
That’s helpful, thanks. Also addressed by the first two points though.
I’d like to re-phrase your comment by saying “Let the creatives produce better shows”.
Over the years, I’ve read any number of comments from creatives which leave me with the impression that broadcasters interfere far too much in the creative process. Let the writers write, directors direct, producers produce & stay out of the way!
Non-simultaneous substitution could help. Right now Canadian broadcasters programme and shift shows to match US schedule in order to maximize ad revenues via simultaneous substitution. Non-SS would allow broadcasters to still protect rights and associated ad revenues but keep Canadian shows in a fixed slot on the schedule
The NSS comment above was posted by Michael Hennessy. Forgot to sign in
Agree completely – I think the CRTC should get rid of simsub. Canadian networks’ primary business model should be making money off Canadian shows. Right now there’s little incentive.
Does simsub even work? I, for one, rarely watch shows live, but even when I do, I don’t always watch them on my local affiliate. I arrange my TV schedule using the various channels from various timezones.
Thanks for starting this discussion. It’s incredibly frustrating to want to watch a Canadian show and find that the broadcaster doesn’t have it on their site. Case in point, the pilot for Orphan Black. This is a serialized show folks – no fun to start at ep 2. Don’t take it off the site unless you provide an alternative place to view it – like itunes.
Please Bell !!!! Give The LA Complex another chance!!!
How about not cancelling good Canadian content, like Flashpoint!
CTV didn’t exactly cancel it – the showrunners wanted to end on their own terms. And CTV was smart to replace it with a similar show in Motive, and (eventually) put it in the same timeslot.
Lol. There’s been commentary like this for years. I, for one, think that Canadian scripted television is currently the best quality that it’s been in years. The other day, on a different forum, people were giving their top 10 currently-airing tv shows list and I was SHOCKED that 5 of my top 10 favourite currently airing shows (Continuum, Vikings, Orphan Black, Arctic Air and Blackstone) were Canadian. I don’t think that’s ever happened because in past years I’ve watched Canadian tv shows more out of loyalty than anything else. Oh, and what shocked me even more was that OTHER PEOPLE actually had Canadian shows in their top 10. That floored me. It makes me wonder if the quality of American network television has just gone down in general. I know that there’s quality cable shows made south of the border but I’ve heard from a lot of people that though these shows are viewed as top-knotch they aren’t thought of as must-see. In Canada, cable shows are getting sharper (particularly the sci-fi genre) and there are less network and cable shows trying to be generic in their settings so that’s a step in the right direction. Maybe I’m just optimistic but when I think back to ten or even five years ago, the Canadian television landscape seems better.
This is Television 101, Diane. Self-evident to people like you who care about Canadian TV and most of the creatives in the industry. Hopefully, your network readers will take it to heart. Thanks for posting.
That’s exactly it, Ally – Canadians *do* watch Canadian television. Whatever the networks think the problem is, it’s not audience receptiveness.
Thanks Jim – yeah, I’m not saying anything that isn’t just common sense. Which is why it’s so frustrating that networks don’t do it, and then wring their hands in public about “the audience.”
I am not Canadian (American) but I do watch a LOT of Canadian TV and the real issue really comes down to getting good shows out. The two biggest shows that I thought would work well in the US and Canada were Intelligence and Endgame. Good shows that could have both run for years.
I think there’s a major sea change happening right now on the Canadian television landscape. Specialty channels like Showcase and Space are really stepping it up a knotch by producing good-quality shows that appeal to an international audience but without trying to copy American shows. CBC is doing it too–maybe that’s because they have to but they deserve kudos for putting a focus on telling Canadian-set stories (Republic of Doyle in Newfoundland, Arctic Air in Northwest Territories and Heartland in Alberta). CTV and Global (sigh) on the other hand look at Canadian scripted fare as second-tier–CTV goes the generic procedural route via shows like Motive, Saving Hope and Flashpoint and Global does absolutely as little as possible–I can only think of one Canadian drama, Bomb Girls, on their docket–how is that even allowed?
In my opinion, Canada’s history with televised science fiction is more distinguished than with other types of scripted drama/comedy. If I remember correctly, Canadian sci-fi isn’t expected to hew to “is this set in Canada” guidelines as stringently as other subgenres of scripted drama/comedy, due to the speculative nature of the subgenre.
SPACE has the format protection on science fiction, while Showcase’s science fiction shows enjoy a better ROI than shows like Cra$h & Burn, King, Endgame etc. I think the successes of the Stargate franchise and Sanctuary built a foundation for the better-quality SF coming out of Canada.
Part of the problem with CTV and Global’s lack of CanCon is that Bell Media and Shaw Media look at their scripted dramas/comedies through group-based spending terms. A specialty show can get a second window on “conventional” television, and vice versa. For Bell Media, Canadian scripted dramas/comedies are mostly tagged for CTV, SPACE, Bravo, The Comedy Network, and maybe MuchMusic. Shaw Media’s scripted CanCon mainly goes to Showcase, Global, and History. Rogers Media only has City, OMNI and FX Canada to place scripted dramas/comedies in, but that didn’t (still doesn’t?) stop Murdoch Mysteries reruns on FX Canada.
Basic promotion? Sometimes, broadcasters don’t even practice basic programming, like when a show is tagged for second and/or third windows on channels the broadcaster owns – Sanctuary and Degrassi reruns on CTV2, for instance. I understand the broadcasters need to recoup the costs for these shows, but it’s obvious when broadcasters are patching holes in their schedules with Canadian content. It risks burning out the audiences for these shows. Bean counters aren’t usually the best entertainers.
I agree, but you forgot Rookie Blue for Global: the only real success in the US now.
Oh yes. I did forget about Rookie Blue, another generic procedural. Speaking of Rookie though, it has gotten a fair bit of buzz in the past year–there are a lot of people who really like it for its love stories. I don’t watch it myself, seeing as there’s nothing really original about it but that’s Global and CTV of late. I guess they think they have to go that route because unlike specialty channels, they are ratings-focussed, and really, it is a business. Look at CBS–they are way on top of the ratings and most of their dramas are all procedurals so appeal to a wider audience. I guess my gripe with TV in general is that seldom am I part of that wider audience. My favourite shows either get cancelled quickly or remain on the bubble for their entirety.
um. WRITE BETTER SHOWS.
That’s helpful, thanks. Also addressed by the first two points though.
I’d like to re-phrase your comment by saying “Let the creatives produce better shows”.
Over the years, I’ve read any number of comments from creatives which leave me with the impression that broadcasters interfere far too much in the creative process. Let the writers write, directors direct, producers produce & stay out of the way!
Non-simultaneous substitution could help. Right now Canadian broadcasters programme and shift shows to match US schedule in order to maximize ad revenues via simultaneous substitution. Non-SS would allow broadcasters to still protect rights and associated ad revenues but keep Canadian shows in a fixed slot on the schedule
The NSS comment above was posted by Michael Hennessy. Forgot to sign in
Agree completely – I think the CRTC should get rid of simsub. Canadian networks’ primary business model should be making money off Canadian shows. Right now there’s little incentive.
Does simsub even work? I, for one, rarely watch shows live, but even when I do, I don’t always watch them on my local affiliate. I arrange my TV schedule using the various channels from various timezones.
Thanks for starting this discussion. It’s incredibly frustrating to want to watch a Canadian show and find that the broadcaster doesn’t have it on their site. Case in point, the pilot for Orphan Black. This is a serialized show folks – no fun to start at ep 2. Don’t take it off the site unless you provide an alternative place to view it – like itunes.
Please Bell !!!! Give The LA Complex another chance!!!