By completely putting an end to the internal production of its entertainment shows, and entrusting it to independent external producers, TVA Group is “completely taking a pass on the palette,” accuses the union which represents the 547 laid-off employees.
“TVA will be able to continue to do exactly the same thing, but the workers, rather than having a unionized job with a pension plan and insurance, will become freelancers with independent producers linked to TVA. It couldn’t be clearer,” thunders Steve Bargoné, union representative for the TVA Employees Union, affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
When announcing its major restructuring on Thursday, TVA Group specified that approximately 300 of the 547 layoffs targeted internal production employees. The company “will begin discussions with its partners to encourage the hiring of affected employees,” it said in a press release.
TVA management explained that it was “hopeful” to relocate some of these employees to independent producers with whom it does business, without however providing further details.
Quebecor, the parent company of TVA, notably holds a minority stake in Pixcom, one of the main external production companies in the province, which produces the fiction series Indefensible, broadcast on TVA. It also holds shares in Productions Déferlantes, which is behind The voice, Masked singers and the cultural magazine Sweety saltyall broadcast on TVA.
These independent producers benefit from tax credits, to which broadcasters (such as TVA, Radio-Canada or Noovo) are not entitled when they produce programs in-house.
Consolidation
For the union, the possible hiring of employees laid off by producers linked to TVA is a roundabout way of breaking the collective agreement while benefiting from tax credits. ” It’s frightening. [TVA] gets rid of the union, its union obligations and the employment contract, and they have both hands in the bag of candy,” says Mr. Bargoné, who intends to challenge the decision in court.
TVA Group did not grant us an interview for this article. Aside from news bulletins and current affairs content, the company only produced three shows in-house before its restructuring announcement : The goose that lays the golden eggs, The cheater And Vlogging. Independent producers other than Pixcom and Productions Déferlantes may wish to produce them.
TVA is also not the only broadcaster to hold a minority stake in production companies. Bell Media, for its part, has interests in Sphere Media, which notably produces the show One way ticket, distributed by Noovo.
Comedian and producer Louis Morissette, president of KOTV, is among those who denounce the financial participation of broadcasters in independent production companies, which he sees as a form of “consolidation under the umbrella of the broadcasters”.
Mr. Morissette says he is saddened by TVA’s announcement, which he says is “symptomatic of an industry in danger.” “It is extremely dangerous that broadcasters have financial interests in production companies. It’s a roundabout way of taking advantage of the tax advantages enjoyed by independent producers,” maintains Mr. Morissette, whose company has long been at odds with Quebecor.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Comedian and producer Louis Morissette
The nature of the agreements is nebulous. They circumvent the essence of the rule.
Louis Morissette, comedian and producer
The Cultural Enterprise Development Corporation (SODEC), a government agency which administers the refundable tax credits granted for television production, recognizes that the percentage of participation of broadcasters such as TVA and Noovo (Bell Media) among independent producers does not is not known, but adds that they are not controlled by the broadcasters however.
“The independent producer must remain king and master of what he develops and produces. In the conversations we have with producers, they assure us that this is the case, says SODEC CEO Louise Lantagne. Pixcom, they don’t just have shows on TVA. They assure us that they have free rein [même si Québecor en est actionnaire]. »
Transfer of broadcast production The cheater, The goose that lays golden eggs And Vlogging externally is anecdotal in the eyes of SODEC when we take into account the extent of the cuts announced by Groupe TVA. “It’s not like it’s 50 shows which are sent suddenly to external producers”, comments Mme Lantagne.
“What I see from Mr. Péladeau’s announcement is that the entire television model is in serious difficulty,” she said. They’re not just doing this to cut fat. It’s a major transformation, and I think what we’re seeing is very alarming,” said the CEO of SODEC.