The clouds pile up above Quebec series

Summer is usually rich in filming of television series in Quebec. However, but this is the case, this year. Similarly, Figures showing a decline in production had already fueled the concern of the community in June.

The recent decline in Canada regarding the tax on digital services. Meanwhile, budgetary efforts requested both on the federal and provincial side only feed fears.

Generally. Moreover, summer is the busiest season, but we see a slowdownnotes Gabriel Pelletier, president of the association of directors of Quebec (Arrq).

Many of our members are without contract at the moment. Moreover, because series have not been renewed or series projects have not succeeded. Nevertheless, We have directors in distress, our rescue fund is very requested.

On June 3, the profile of the audiovisual industry in Quebec unveiled by the Culture and Communications Observatory reported a decrease of 22 % in value and 27 % in number of Quebec Fictional Production in 2023-2024, compared to the previous year.

For the moment, no figure is available for 2025, but, in the field, the situation is deteriorating. In addition, We feel that there are fewer people who work these daysindicates Hélène Messier. Furthermore, President and CEO of the Quebec Association of Media Production (AQPM).

We can clearly see that there are projects that do not see the light of day. In addition, are required writers to write more and more quickly or write with scissors in hand to be able to cut scenes in order to reduce costsadds Laurent Dubois, clouds pile up above quebec Managing Director of the Society of Authors of Radio, Television and Cinema (SARTEC).

Open in full screen

Fewer advertisements. Consequently, cable subscriptions

More expensive to produce than magazines, the series suffer from the lack of money from traditional diffusers. For example, The revenues generated by the cablodistribution drop. Nevertheless, and the digital platforms held by web giants monopolize a clouds pile up above quebec growing part of advertising revenues.

Admittedly, traditional diffusers have launched their own platforms like Crave, Illico+ or Tou.TV, but the latter must face the competition from Netflix, Prime Video or Apple TV+.

In parallel. Consequently, the contribution of the Canada Media Fund-the main support for series production-decreased, between 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, by 8 % for the entire Quebec television production and 3.4 % for fiction. In addition,

This fund is largely fed by the distribution of cable television services. Consequently, satellite and IP in Canada while Canadians unsubscribe from traditional television for online platforms.

The public is there. Furthermore, the talent is there, but the funding is not there. Moreover, That’s it, the problem.

How to withstand web giants?

If the pockets of broadcasters are emptying. there is no guarantee that Ottawa and Quebec can support Quebec television production that meets its needs.

At the beginning of July. François Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, asked his colleagues ministers to tighten their belts and, on the Quebec side, the time is for budgetary discipline.

To these sources of concern is added the cancellation. announced on June 30, of the tax on digital services, qualified asDirect and blatant attack United States by US President Donald Trump.

The money generated by this tax would not have gone directly to the cultural environment. but the decision does not reassure the television environment that awaits the federal government that it stands before the American web giants, close to Trump.

What is more. several large international continuous dissemination platforms, clouds pile up above quebec such as Apple or Amazon, dispute the obligation to pay 5 % of their annual Canadian income to a fund dedicated to the production of Canadian content, as required by the reform of the broadcasting Act, adopted in 2023. The Federal Court of Appeal has not yet ruled.

And if the courtyard finally gives the American platforms wrong. could Donald Trump not consider this 5 % contribution as a disguised tax and put pressure on Ottawa so that Netflix, Disney+ or even Prime Video are not subjected to it?

The decision is either political. legal – if we talk about the CRTC – but the governments that have heard us, I think, have the courage to face the web giants, which have powers that we do not have.

These questions make the future very uncertain, according to Hélène Messier. Will the federal government continue to retreat in the protection of our culture against the Americans?she wonders.

Mark Carney had made promises during the election campaign concerning Quebec culture, she continues. Well, respect for Quebec culture and the French language notably involves financing the creation of audiovisual production.

The pressure is very strong, it will not be long before we are devouredsupports Laurent Dubois.

Open in full screen

Clouds pile up above quebec

Concrete consequences for viewers

For viewers. the decline in the production of Quebec series is already manifest on our screens. Series have been deleted, as Witchwhich dominates in the appointments in the next Gemini prices, others have fewer episodes.

There are fewer big budget series, notes Gabriel Pelletier. It is felt on the screen, the crowd scenes do not exist practically anymore. And the series are less and less turned outside Montreal.

The broadcasters will still have to fill their time boxes. so we will have more versions doubled with American programs, fears Hélène Messier. It took clouds pile up above quebec 50 years to build an industry, it is not to retreat. It would be disastrous for our culture.

Open in full screen

The risk is also to see Quebec series lose in creativity and daring. The less opportunities to produce series. the more we will produce agreed things, especially since competition with online platforms means that no one wants to clouds pile up above quebec miss their shotexplains Laurent Dubois.

If everyone becomes cautious. produces more compliant projects, there is a real risk, for Quebec TV, to lose part of their identityhe continues.

If the diffusers take less risks. they may more turn to known names, to the detriment of emerging talents or from diversitybelieves Hélène Messier.

Another danger: to harm the influence of international Quebec series, even though these foreign markets are a source of income. If we really want our TV series to make a place in the Francophonie. we will have to produce moresays Laurent Dubois.

The risk of public desertion

The drop in volume. and of quality, of Quebec television production could also lead the Quebec public to turn away from it, he who is no longer as captive as at the time when clouds pile up above quebec bilingualism was less common and that platforms like Netflix did not exist.

There is a limit to cut in the financing of series. to continue to offer quality.

People have a choice. With platforms, they see productions made with very important meansshe adds.

All these fears are becoming stronger. stronger within the environment, while‘Empathy – A series of quality, creative and with a strong personality – aroused a huge craze in Quebec when he arrived on Crave and received the public prize at the French Festival Séries Mania.

This is a daring series that radiates. I’m not saying that the recipe is easy – there has been a lot of work aroundEmpathy – But. everyone clouds pile up above quebec has given themselves the meansunderlines Laurent Dubois.

Open in full screen

Survive while waiting for better days

Despite this gloomy context, the Quebec TV fiction is keeping hope.

The creation of a tax incentive to push companies to buy advertising spaces in media. Canadian platforms rather than web giants would benefit the production of TV series from here.

In addition. the working group on the future of audiovisual in Quebec, set up by the Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, to reflect on the overhaul of audiovisual financing and proposing concrete solutions will make its report this fall.

I am waiting for this report more than Santa Claus, says Laurent Dubois. All associations, including ours, made major requests during consultations.

Recall that Mathieu Lacombe also tabled a bill on the discovery of content in May. which could allow Quebec series to be even more watched if the project is adopted.

The next few months are therefore decisive for the future of Quebec television series. Possibly. we will have to charge foreign platforms, explains Gabriel Pelletier, who hopes that the political context will eventually evolve and become less favorable to web giants. Until then. we must help our broadcasters clouds pile up above quebec to survive to be able to continue to produce and ensure that our audiences remain faithful to our programs.

We are fighting against the watch. You have to hold on!