Chantale Vien is director, buying unit, with PNMD Communication in Montreal.
What’s Coming…
The French networks issued their fall schedules a few weeks ago, launching another new television season in Quebec. Aside from their various specials and galas, the three conventional broadcasters (Societe Radio-Canada, tva and Television Quatre Saisons) have introduced a total of 40 new shows, half of them in prime time.
Offerings from cultural and educational broadcaster Tele-Quebec are not included in that tally, but it’s important to note that this network has entirely revamped its schedule: 90% of Tele-Quebec’s programming is new.
Once again this season, both light and heavy tv viewers will be well served by ‘made in Quebec’ productions, which have consistently displayed the creativity and quality that appeals to audiences in this province.
SRC
Last year’s top-performing programs – among them 4 et Demi, Virginie, Un Gars, Une Fille and La Facture will once again headline the schedule. src has also added 12 new shows to its lineup this year, eight of which are in prime time.
Talk shows, comedies and game shows will all undoubtedly have their place this fall, but src’s focus will primarily be on two shows: Reseaux, a 10-hour drama series written by Rejean Tremblay, about the battle between two major television networks, and La Petite Vie, which has become an institution in Quebec; it returns this fall with 13 brand-new episodes – count on at least two million-plus viewers.
New game shows on src this fall include La Fureur and Lingo; the network is testing these properties in the summer, so advertisers will have a pretty good indication of how they are doing by the time fall rolls around.
src will also feature new faces this fall, including Stephane Bureau, who takes over as host of Le Telejournal. The ongoing battle between tva and src for first place in the news category will be interesting to follow, given that Bureau used to anchor the late-night news on tva, and was instrumental in bringing the network to the top. Will he be able to do the same thing on src?
Also new to src in the news and information category: Liza, a discussion forum hosted by well-known political figure Liza Frulla Hebert; and Change d’air, a program for teenagers, hosted by former tqs and tva personality Patricia Paquin.
New comedies on src include Caserne 24, which is set in a fire station, and Catherine, the story of two roommates who are also co-workers at the same advertising agency. Both are expected to make the top 20.
TVA
tva, well known for its diversified and partially ‘Americanized’ programming, reaches almost all demographic target groups, and is expected to dominate the top 20 this season.
The network’s fall schedule includes 10 new shows, five of them in prime time. Although it has fewer new properties than src, tva once again boasts a strong schedule, since the majority of last season’s successful programs will be returning in September. The list is pretty impressive: Piment Fort, Les Machos, Le Retour, Ent’Cadieux, j.e., Diva, La Planete en Folie, Fort Boyard and Le Poing J. Why change a winner? (It should be noted that, after 10 years, Match de la Vie was not renewed this season.)
As for new programming, Ces Enfants D’Ailleurs II will air this fall with eight episodes, and is anticipated to make the top five this season. Other new programs on tva include Fais-moi rire (a game show hosted by Rene Simard), KM/heure (a humorous car series) and Camera Choc (the u.s. series Real TV). Fans of Salle D’Urgences (er) will now also have to set their dial to tva instead of tqs.
TQS
Once again this year, tqs has revamped a fair chunk of its schedule, adding 14 new shows.
Fall will see the return of such properties as Flash, Acces Interdit, Mechant Malade, Metier Policier and La Fin du Monde (which changes time blocks this year). Viewers will be happy to find that movies and hockey are also still part of the tqs schedule.
As for new programming, tqs has opted for an equal mix of humor, sex and sensationalism. In the humor category are properties such as Y Sont Pas Plus Fou and Croisiere en Folie, while Libido and Sexe et Confidences obviously fall into the sex category. Catastrophes et accidents, Faits Divers and Coroner, meanwhile, take care of the sensationalism.
The biggest news for tqs this fall is the introduction of morning programming. Until now, the network used to sign on at 11 a.m. But starting this fall, there will be programming as of 7:30 a.m.
Tele-Quebec
As far as Tele-Quebec is concerned, practically everything will be new to discover this fall. From public affairs to fashion and design, Tele-Quebec has put a lot of energy into making its schedule more contemporary. The new lineup includes a good variety of movies and documentaries, and viewers will be happy to see that the popular Ligue d’Improvisation has returned. Youngsters will also be well-served, with the introduction of five new children’s shows.
The biggest challenge for Tele-Quebec is to make the public aware that they have changed. With luck, this will pay off in the form of a ratings and market share gain come January.
The Outcome
Having looked at both src’s and tva’s fall schedule, I would put src first in terms of quality and program originality. However, I expect that the majority of the top 10 shows will belong to tva, as a result of their programming strength and the loyalty that Quebecers have shown to their regular series in the past.
Market conditions in Quebec have changed thanks to the economic recovery, which means that more advertising dollars are being spent, particularly in television. This in turn has put pressure on inventory, resulting in higher rates for advertisers.
Quebec television offers good programming, and is still considered an efficient media vehicle, since it is the preferred medium of Quebecers, and reaches the majority of the province’s population.
With contributions from Line Contant, Erminia De Pippo, Sylvie Marton and Wendy Woodrow
Also in this report:
– New season triggers sense of deja vu: Of the slew of new shows, there’s hardly anything that’s new or original, and only two or three that will survive the year p.B3
– High-priced promos better than the shows: Steve Meraska reports from the u.s. launches of the new fall shows p.B7
– Coming attractions: A satanic bounty hunter, a womanizing opera star and a selfless agency guy — just three of the wacky characters making an appearance this fall p.B8
– Toronto market shaped by dramatic developments: Regionalization of country’s biggest market has made it too expensive for Toronto-only clients to buy conventional channels p.B13
– Vancouver’s environment is anything but usual: Choosing the right show just the first step for beleaguered buyers B.14
– Specialty services have come of age: Gains made at the expense of conventional broadcasters p.B19
– Coming soon to a cable channel near you: What’s new on the specialties p.B20
