Tuesday, May 8, 2018 – With a view to increasing the supply of French-language programming in the digital TV market, CBC/Radio-Canada French Services, Groupe V Média (V), Bell Media (Canal Vie, Canal D, Z and VRAK), TV5 Québec Canada (TV5 and Unis TV) and the National Film of Canada (NFB) are pleased to announce agreements that will enrich the content offering of the ICI TOU.TV EXTRA platform, starting immediately.
Under the agreements, a broad range of content from these media outlets is available as of today on ICI TOU.TV EXTRA, including fiction, docu-reality, magazine and documentary programming, totalling nearly 700 additional hours of television likely to interest subscribers as well as newcomers to the video-on-demand platform. This content offering is set to grow over time, and the initiative is seen as merely the start of a partnership that could be expanded to include other members.
ICI TOU.TV, including its ICI TOU.TV EXTRA premium package, has enjoyed remarkable growth since the beginning of the year and continues to set new records, with the number of streaming views in March 2018 surging to 8.6 million.
“I firmly believe that all stakeholders involved in the production and distribution of French-language content must come together to solidify our positioning vis-à-vis the major global players in the digital media universe. In that spirit, ICI TOU.TV EXTRA is evolving to become a platform open to other Franco players,” said Michel Bissonnette, Executive Vice-President, French Services, CBC/Radio-Canada.
“Discoverability is vital to the success of all content that we develop with local creators. Groupe V Média’s partnership with ICI TOU.TV EXTRA is in keeping with our multiplatform strategy, whereby, as a content distributor, we must keep pace with changing media consumption behaviours and reach all types of audiences, wherever and whenever they want.” – Dimitri Gourdin, Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Communications, Groupe V Média
“We are pleased to be part of this initiative bringing multiple industry players together around shared interests. In today’s evolving media environment, this is an excellent opportunity for us to boost the visibility of our quality brands and content by making them available on an already well-established digital platform.” – Dany Meloul, Vice-President, Programming, French-Language TV, Bell Media
“Helping enrich the French-language content offering across the country is the very essence of TV5 Québec Canada’s mission. It was therefore only natural that we should join the ICI TOU.TV EXTRA project alongside the other broadcasters. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the TV5 and Unis TV program line-ups, which feature rich, colourful people, stories and environments.” – Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO, TV5 Québec Canada.
“Today, ICI TOU.TV EXTRA is opening up to new partners who are enriching the palette of French-language content available in the digital TV – a selection that is already original, diverse and compelling. In the opinion of the NFB, which has partnered with ICI TOU.TV and ICI TOU.TV EXTRA for a number of years now, this expansion can only benefit the many Francophone and Francophile communities across the country eager for content that reflects their realities and speaks to them.” – Claude Joli-Cœur, President, National Film Board of Canada.
About ICI TOU.TV
ICI TOU.TV, launched in 2010, is one of the leading French-language digital video-on-demand platforms in Canada, offering a vastly diverse array of content, from drama series to variety programs, digital originals, films, documentaries, public affairs shows, etc. Its premium subscription package, ICI TOU.TV EXTRA, lets Web users access an even richer and more diverse line-up of French-language programming, including many premieres. ICI TOU.TV is helping to expand CBC/Radio-Canada’s content offering and speed its digital growth.
About the NFB
The NFB is Canada’s public producer of award-winning creative documentaries, auteur animation, interactive stories and participatory experiences. NFB producers are embedded in communities across the country, from St. John’s to Vancouver, working with talented creators on innovative and socially relevant projects. The NFB is a leader in gender equity in film and digital media production, and is working to strengthen Indigenous-led production, guided by the recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. NFB productions have won over 7,000 awards, including 20 Canadian Screen Awards, 18 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 100 Genies. To access NFB works, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for mobile devices.
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National Film Board of Canada:
Lily Robert
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
l.robert@onf.ca
514-296-8261
Radio-Canada:
Julie Racine
Promotions Manager, Television and ICI TOU.TV
julie.racine@radio-canada.ca
514-597-7664
Groupe V Média:
Michael Majeau
Director, Communications and Public Relations
mmajeau@groupevmedia.ca
514-390-6100, ext. 2249
Bell Media:
Simon Céré
Manager, Communications
simon.cere@bellmedia.ca
514.529.3200 #3317 | m 514.754.3135
TV5 Québec Canada:
Mylène Racine
Communications Manager
mylene.racine@tv5.ca
514-522-5322, ext. 193