The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition Canadian programming is not as easily discovered in a globalized entertainment landscape that favours algorithms and social recommendations. The Globe's Simon Houpt writes that is why so many players in domestic broadcasting are suddenly talking about promotion.
It began in March, when the chairman of the CRTC, Jean-Pierre Blais, told an industry crowd that, rather than being a protectionist, "I'm a promotionist." To which everyone chirped, "Me too!"
Last week, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television convened a panel discussion in Toronto featuring representatives from Bell Media, Rogers Media and the CBC on how the industry could better promote domestic productions. All three have learned how to craft muscular campaigns for their Canadian shows. Bell drove more than two million viewers to Flashpoint for its finale last December, and more than 400,000 to last month's premiere of Orphan Black on Space.
All of the networks have, on occasion, seemed indifferent to Made in Canada TV. When Global cancelled Bomb Girls last month, viewers and a number of people in the industry blamed it on poor promotion and a perceived preference by Shaw Communications.
© 2026 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.