The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, has reaffirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to increasing funding to TV5Monde and TV5 Quebec Canada.
“It has been my pleasure to represent Canada as chair of the 21st Conference of Ministers Responsible for TV5,” said Minister Moore. “This meeting gave the TV5 partners an overview of the significant progress made during our two years as chair, notably the adoption of the new TV5 Charter and the commitment to increased financial support by Canada and its partners. As a result, Canadian viewers will continue to enjoy the best of what the international Francophonie has to offer, while Francophones and Francophiles around the world will continue to discover Canada’s talented artists.”
Signed by all the partner governments and the two operators, the new TV5 Charter recognizes the independence of TV5Monde as a multilateral network and allows for increased and more equitable funding from the partner governments. It also provides for a gradual increase over the next few years in the number and range of TV5Monde broadcasts from the Francophonie and strengthens the links between TV5Monde and TV5 Quebec Canada, the TV5 network’s two operators.
“Canada wanted to show the way by being the first partner government to announce an additional contribution of $25 million over five years to TV5Monde and TV5 Quebec Canada,” added Minister Moore. “This investment addresses Prime Minister Harper’s announcement at the 2008 Francophonie Summit in Quebec City and demonstrates Canada’s commitment to TV5 and to increasing the visibility of Francophone culture around the world.”
Thanks to this investment, the network’s two operators will be better equipped to keep abreast of new and emerging technologies, hone their competitive edge, and reach a wider audience. In the last year, TV5Monde has posted some important achievements, including launching its Web-based children’s television, while TV5 Quebec Canada launched its high-definition network in June 2009.
TV5, the world’s first French-language international television network, is the product of a partnership forged more than 20 years ago by five governments from the Francophonie: Canada, Quebec, France, Switzerland, and the French Community of Belgium.
Canada chaired the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for TV5. Its term as chair expires in January 2010.
(Source: Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage)
