CONTEXT

The YMA invites the children and youth media community for a Canada-wide town hall to be presented virtually in English and in French, to discuss the realities and challenges we are facing.  With multiple consultations happening in Canada over the next few months, the YMA believes we should contribute to the conversation.  As an organization, we represent the interests of our young audience as well as every member of the creative community.  We invite our members and people from the industry to share the issues you are facing during this virtual gathering.  The YMA is here to represent the need for high-quality, age appropriate, children’s content created, produced and presented by Canadians.  As the industry contracts and the regulatory environment undergoes enormous change, it is time we remind everyone of the unique needs and interests of children and children’s media. 

The YMA Adhoc Committee on the Future of our industry (Children’s Content Media) would like to hear your ideas, concerns and concrete solutions on the future of our industry.

We invite individuals or organizations wishing to contribute to come prepared to not only hear from others but also put forward their own thoughts. 

Objectives:

• Gather information from the broader youth media community and compile thoughts on key issues and concerns. 

• Refer to the information as the basis of the YMA’s action plan to support the industry, including in the ongoing CRTC hearings and other consultations

Our goals:

• Share our realities
• Gather ideas on the following topics:
  • Industry Contraction
  • Creative Financing Ideas
  • CRTC Consultations
  • Discoverability

INVITATION

The Children and Youth Content Media industry Challenges!
The YMA would like to hear your ideas, concerns and concrete solutions on the future of our  industry.

The YMA invites you to attend a virtual
Town Hall Meeting
December 12 2024
2 – 4 p.m.
Online

Special guest, CEO Shaw Rocket Fund
Agnes Augustin

The YMA wishes to gather the youth media community for a town hall to discuss the realities we are facing.  With multiple consultations happening in Canada over the next few months, the YMA would like to officially contribute to the conversation. 

As an organization, we represent the interests of our audience as well as every member of the creative community.  We invite our members and people from the industry to share the issues they face, during this virtual gathering. 

The YMA is here to represent the need for high-quality, age appropriate, children’s content created, produced and presented by Canadians.  When this content is underfunded, undermined and dismissed in the regulatory environment, it is time we remind everyone just how important it is. 

Individuals or organizations wishing to contribute to the work are invited to do so by:

• Attending the virtual Town Hall Meeting on Dec 12 2024, and/or

• Submitting your contribution in a document before Dec. 10 2024 by registrating below. 

 

PROGRAM

• An conversation with Agnes Augustin, CEO – Shaw Rocket Fund: Putting Children Last - Three ways the industry can fight for kids programming and be responsive to the needs or both the market and future generations. (https://kidscreen.com/2024/09/13/opinion-putting-children-last/) – in English

 

• Breakout groups for a discussion based on questions on funding, discoverability and quality content – in English and/or French

We will make our best effort to conduct the town hall as a bilingual discussion while the breakouts will be assigned by prefered language as you will have indicated on your registration form

 

Register

Deadline Dec 12 at noon - ET

 

ONLINE SUBMISSION

We want to hear your thoughts, opinions, questions and ideas on our industry. What is happening now? What needs to be done? Submit your comments or upload your thoughts so you can be heard!
 
Please note: All submissions will be reviewed. Name and email fields are optional; you may leave these blank if you wish for your response to remain anonymous. If you provide your contact information, the YMA may reach out to you for follow-up.

Your contribution should take the form of a written brief based on the questionnaire hereafter. Clarity and conciseness are essential.

Please ensure that your positions and recommendations are clearly expressed by answering the questions of your choice.

Document length: maximum 5 pages

Submissions should be sent in PDF format to the following address: ed-dg@ymamj.org or uploaded here:

Submit a document

Deadline : December 10 2024 at 11:30pm ET

 

QUESTIONS

1.       Industry Contraction

The Canadian Children Content (CCC) industry has experienced tremendous difficulties in the past few years, not unlike other territories. We have seen significant contraction in all areas of our business and fewer original Canadian concepts being greenlit year over year.

a.)     What impact has the industry slowdown had on your business?
b.)    How do we ensure that Canadian children are offered appropriate content that reflects Canadian values (Quality content)?

2.       Creative Financing Ideas - Production Financing in a rapidly changing environment
As the production industry contracts and fewer broadcasters in Canada are commissioning children’s content, some producers are struggling to finance their productions and creators are struggling to find employment.

a.)     How can we rebuild the Canadian Children Content (CCC) financing model?
b.)    What role might the YMA play in supporting how you secure production funding or partners?

3.       CRTC Consultations
As part of the CRTC process to modernize the Broadcasting Act, the CRTC is updating the definition of Canadian content for TV and online streaming services. It will also examine the types of expenditures that broadcasters and online streamers are required to make toward the creation of Canadian content. Changes to these regulations will impact both broadcasters and producers of Canadian content programming.

In its Notice of Consultation, the CRTC asks broadcasters and producers to comment on a number of questions, which are outlined here: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-288.htm

a.)     Are you following the CRTC process and do you plan to submit comments?
b.)    Do you have any suggestions for how the YMA might advocate for children’s content and children's producers in these consultations?

4. Discoverability
Canadian content was once readily discoverable on the small number of broadcasters operating in Canada. With streaming services and digital platforms beginning to eclipse broadcast channels, how can we ensure that Canadian content is discovered and promoted? How can parents find age-appropriate high-quality content for their children amidst the overwhelming digital content offering available to them?

 

a.)     What innovative strategies could be implemented to enhance the discoverability of Canadian children’s content on online platforms, streaming services and broadcasters’ digital offerings?