.................................................................

ACTRA members demonstrate for more Canadian shows on TV

June 7, 2007 - Every year, Canada’s private broadcasters go shopping in L.A., spending hundreds of millions of dollars on U.S. programming. Last year Canada’s private networks spent $440 million on foreign drama programming, and only $40 million on English-Canadian dramas. After their recent L.A. spree in May, CTV and Global held big parties to show off their U.S. purchases to advertisers.

ACTRA handed out flyers outside CTV’s launch event and held a demo outside Global’s Massey Hall event. Hundreds of ACTRA members and supporters turned up to help get out the message that private broadcasters need to be airing more Canadian shows on TV.

Stars Wendy Crewson, Peter Keleghan and Colin Mochrie and MP Peggy Nash addressed the crowd along with ACTRA National President Richard Hardacre and ACTRA Toronto President Karl Pruner. Private broadcasters use our public airwaves to make huge profits airing U.S. shows. While they fill their schedules with U.S. fare, Canadian culture pays the price. Canadians deserve more Canadian drama on primetime TV. ACTRA is asking for CRTC rules to compel private broadcasters to spend 7% of ad revenue on new Canadian dramas.

June 6, 2007 – ACTRA protests skewed, All-American “Canadian TV”
May 22, 2007 - ACTRA news release on broadcasters’ U.S. programming buy

....................................


Wendy Crewson addresses the crowd of ACTRA members calling
for more Canadian programs on Canadian TV, outside
Massey Hall during Global’s launch to advertisers.


ACTRA’s rally outside Massey Hall calling on private broadcasters to “buy Canadian” TV shows.


More than 250 ACTRA members and supporters for Canadian programming jammed the sidewalks in
front of Massey Hall.

ACTRA held a demonstration on June 6, 2007, outside Global TV’s launch to protest the skewed, all-American “Canadian TV” aired by our private broadcasters.

Wendy Crewson and Gordon Pinsent doing TV interviews outside Massey Hall during ACTRA’s demo for
Canadian programming.

Peter Keleghan, Colin Mochrie, MP Peggy Nash, Wendy Crewson and Gordon Pinsent were among the celebrities attending ACTRA’s demo.

MP Peggy Nash speaking at ACTRA’s rally.


<<<BACK TO HOME PAGE