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TFO

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For other uses, see TFO (disambiguation).
TFO
Programming
Language(s)French
Ownership
OwnerGroupeMédia TFO
(Government of Ontario)

Télévision française de l'Ontario (TFO) is a publicly funded, French language educational television station and media organization serving the Canadian province of Ontario. It is owned by the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority (OTÉLFO), a crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario and operating as GroupeMédia TFO. It is one of the few French-language broadcasters in Canada that is headquartered outside of Quebec. The network airs cultural programming, including blocks of French-language children's programs, along with original series, documentaries, and films.

The network was first established in 1985 as La Chaîne Française, a spin-off of the provincial English-language public broadcaster TVOntario, later re-branding as TFO in 1995. The network operated under the auspices of TVO until 2007, when it was spun off into an autonomous agency.[1]

TFO is available on cable throughout Ontario; all cable systems in the province are required to carry it on their basic tier.[2][3] TFO is also carried nationally on the Bell TV and Shaw Direct satellite television services. The network previously broadcast over-the-air in some communities in Eastern and Northern Ontario with significant Franco-Ontarian populations; these transmitters ceased operations in 2012.

History

When TVOntario launched in 1970, it aired French-language programming on Sundays from noon until sign-off.[4] By the 1980s, the provincial government concluded that a separate francophone educational network was needed to prevent the "ghettoization" of the Franco-Ontarian community.[5]

In 1985, the Ontario Ministry of Municipal and Cultural Affairs, together with Communications Canada, approved the creation of an Ontario-based French-language educational television network. At the time, the only portions of Ontario with access to a dedicated francophone educational television service were the National Capital Region and the Ottawa Valley, which were served by Radio-Québec outlet CIVO-TV in Hull. In 1986, the new network received its broadcast licence from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). On January 1, 1987, this network was officially launched by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority under the name La Chaîne Française (primarily known on-air as La Chaîne). In 1995, La Chaîne was renamed TFO (short for Télévision française de l'Ontario). The company would remain a part of TVO until 2007, when it was transferred to the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority, a separate crown corporation. It is the only French-language television broadcaster in Canada headquartered outside of Quebec.[6][7][8][9]

For the first decade of La Chaîne's operations, TVOntario's existing practice of broadcasting in French on Sundays continued, and La Chaîne aired English-language programming during the same time block. This was because La Chaîne was only available on cable at first, and the government wanted to ensure that Franco-Ontarian viewers without cable still had access to a block of French-language programming, while making English TVO programs available on La Chaîne for those who wanted them.[5] As transmitters were added in a number of French-speaking communities, the practice was discontinued in the mid-1990s.

Former logo of TFO used until 1999

In addition to being carried throughout Ontario on cable and via over-the-air transmitters in some communities, in October 1996 TFO began broadcasting in New Brunswick via select cable companies in that province.[10] New Brunswick was the first jurisdiction other than Ontario where TFO was offered.[11] TFO would later be broadcast into parts of Quebec as well.[12] In 1998, the station began broadcasting nationally via both national satellite companies, Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice, now known as Bell TV and Shaw Direct, respectively. In August 2008, Star Choice removed TFO from its lineup.[13] In 1999, TFO's parent company at the time, The Ontario Educational Communications Authority, applied to the CRTC for mandatory carriage of TFO in the province of Quebec, in addition to a carriage fee, which other over-the-air services do not receive. However, the CRTC denied its application in March 2000.[14] That year Jacques Bensimon, co-founder of the network and managing director of the network since 1986 (before it became its own channel), resigned from the position. Over his tenure he formed relationships between TFO and French-language networks in Europe, in order to share content. This included co-producing content with the BBC, France 2 and Channel 4 in the UK.[12]

TFO logo 1999-2012

As part of a restructuring of TVOntario announced by the McGuinty government on June 29, 2006,[15] TFO was taken over by a new, separate provincial Crown corporation, the Ontario French-Language Educational Communications Authority (Office des télécommunications éducatives de langue française de l’Ontario or OTÉLFO)[16] in 2007, with separate management and its own budget.[17] Although the licence transfer was not officially approved by the CRTC until June 28, 2007, TFO nonetheless announced its autonomy from TVOntario effective April 1.[18] GroupeMédia TFO is funded mainly by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Education, with an annual budget of $31 million.[19] Additional contributions have been made by the Government of Manitoba since the channel was added to cable services in that province in 2010.[20]

In 2016, TFO announced a content deal with Louisiana Public Broadcasting, which will see 14 hours per week of TFO's children's programming air on the LPB2 channel to serve Louisiana's francophone community.[21]

Television and web programming

At its launch in 1987, the channel's programming schedule included both original programming produced by the network, such as the educational comedy series 17, rue Laurier, the health series La santé contagieuse and the newsmagazine series M.E.M.O., and acquired programming from both Quebec and France, such as the children's series Passe-Partout and L'île aux enfants and the talk show Apostrophes.[22] It also aired a francophone dub of the 1970s English Canadian children's series Matt and Jenny, under the title La route de l'amitié.[22]

Main shows

GroupeMédia TFO broadcasts educational and cultural content for all of its audiences (children, youth, and adults). Programs that TFO produces include Mini TFO (for pre-school children), Mégallô (for children ages 9 to 12), RelieF (a political, social, and cultural program aired live Monday through Thursday), the sitcom Météo+, and Ruby TFO, a Web/TV magazine for women. TFO’s prime-time programming includes documentaries and dramatic series, along with unique French-language film programming, including feature-length art films and films from around the world.[23][24] CinéTFO is the network's nightly showing of French-language cinema.[25]

Music programming

BRBR is another music show, featuring reviews, interviews, and performances from French-speaking artists.[26] The concerts take place in downtown Toronto and Montreal in front of live crowds.[27][28] The show has been nominated for several Gemini Awards.[29] In October 2013 BRBR teamed with Deezer to launch an online radio station dedicated to the music of Francophone Canadians.[30] Other music programming includes the series Behind the Scenes, which shows the backstage, studio, and other parts of the music industry generally hidden from the public eye.[31] TFO also broadcasts the singing competition reality show JAM.[32]

Mini TFO

Mini TFO provides YouTube channels for young children, receiving 25 million views between its launch and October 2014 - the second most views of any children's channel in the world. TFO has also focused on mobile broadcasting, developing several apps for children's use. Other apps are developed to provide parents with a rating and research mechanism when deciding between programming and apps developed for child viewers or educational use - such as EduLulu.[33][34] In 2013 Mini TFO also opened the Mini TFO Centre for Early Childhood Education at Collège Boréal.[35] The channel also sponsors live tours of its affiliated acts, specifically in remote areas of Ontario.[36] Children's programming on TFO is integrated into its web programming, which includes mobile applications designed for child development.[37] TFO also produces reality television shows featuring kids, including the Amazing Race style series Les Jumelles where local kids compete against each other in teams of two.[38]

Other programming

Staff shuttering TVO/TFO tower in Sudbury July 12, 2012

TFO also broadcasts the news and culture show TFO 360, hosted by Linda Godin, who has also moderated debates between national party leaders in Canada. Plein les Vues serves as TFO's entertainment news show.[39][40] On the web, it runs SOS Devoirs, a series of web properties designed to help children with their homework used by 90,000 students each year. The TFO website also provides curriculum support, pedagogical guides, and 4000 different educational programs (1600 available for free). TFO itself has training programs to teach educators how to use video materials in the classroom, attended by 2000 teachers per year.[41] TFO is Canada's largest producer and distributor of French-language educational products.[42]

TFO transmitters

Main article: List of historical TFO transmitters

From 1989 to 2012, TFO operated several over-the-air transmitters in predominantly francophone areas of Eastern and Northern Ontario. These transmitters had the callsign CHLF-TV, followed by a number to denote their status as rebroadcasters. Besides Sudbury, Hawkesbury, Temiskaming Shores and Pembroke, TFO operated over-the-air transmitters in isolated portions of Northern Ontario without access to cable.

As part of the transfer of TFO to its own management in 2007, the transmitters in Sultan, Oba and Jogues were taken out of service.[43] On July 31, 2012, TFO shut down its transmitters in Sudbury, Hawkesbury, Pembroke and Lac-Sainte-Thérèse, as TVOntario, which owned the towers, was shutting down and decommissioning all its analog transmitters on that day.[44] As of December 2012, the station no longer has any over-the-air transmitters as evidenced by the disappearance from Industry Canada's TV spectrum database of TFO's over-the-air transmitters.[45]

References

  1. ^ http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_08o10_e.htm
  2. ^ http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-230.htm
  3. ^ http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-97-555/page-8.html#h-25
  4. ^ "History of Broadcasting Timeline". Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "TVO launches new French network 'It is important that we guard against the ghettoization of French Ontario, its reduction to mere folklore'". The Globe and Mail, December 31, 1986.
  6. ^ "History of Educational Broadcasting". Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "TFO to break away from TVO on April 1, Ontario government announces". Cartt. March 23, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "TFO to be stand-alone French network". CBC. March 30, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historique" (in French). Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "News Brief: TFO in N.B.". Playback, October 7, 1996.
  11. ^ "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 97-573". CRTC. October 2, 1997. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Sarah Hampson (June 22, 2000). "'Father of TFO' bids adieu". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ TFO n'est plus diffusé par Star Choice La Presse 2008-08-29 Template:Fr
  14. ^ Decision CRTC 2000-72. CRTC, March 1, 2000.
  15. ^ TVOntario restructuring
  16. ^ TFO press release, April 23, 2007 Template:Fr icon
  17. ^ "McGuinty Government Transforms TVOntario" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Education. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
  18. ^ TFO press release, March 23, 2007 Template:Fr icon
  19. ^ http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/fr/budget/paccts/2011/11vol2afr.pdf
  20. ^ "Official Launch of TFO in Manitoba". Government of Manitoba Francophone Affairs Secretariat and Bureau de l'éducation française, August 30, 2010.
  21. ^ "Groupe Media TFO Inks Distribution Deal with Louisiana Public Broadcasting". Broadcaster, April 21, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "10-day-old French network showing plenty of promise". Toronto Star, January 10, 1987.
  23. ^ Philippe Orfali (May 4, 2012). "Relief disparaît des ondes de TFO" (in French). La Presse. Retrieved May 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Guillaume St-Pierre (September 20, 2010). "TFO met la communauté en RelieF" (in French). La Presse. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "TFO diffuseur exclusif d'une classe de maître avec Anouk Aimée à Cinemania". CTVM. November 12, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  26. ^ Émilie Côté (November 20, 2012). "BRBR, une émission de TFO à découvrir" (in French). La Presse. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Catherine Chantal-Boivin (December 13, 2013). "Tweet the words in the subway". Canoe. Retrieved June 13, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Philippe Papineau (April 26, 2014). "Francos looking scenes in Toronto". Le Devoir. Retrieved June 13, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Drama series 19-2 gets 16 nominations by". Info Culture. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  30. ^ "TFO, Deezer form web-radio partnership". October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  31. ^ Emilie Cote (January 22, 2014). "Music, Money and Compromise". La Presse. Retrieved June 13, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Jenny Jelen (August 31, 2012). "Sudbury singer scores spot on TFO's Jam". Northern Life. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Ashante Infantry (April 22, 2014). "TFO embraces mobile programming". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Aude Boivin-Filion (April 22, 2014). "Edululu: trouvez les meilleures applis éducatives" (in French). Canoe. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ "First Mini TFO Centre for Early Childhood Opens at Collège Boreal". April 30, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  36. ^ Gen Thomas (June 12, 2013). "Mini TFO online touring looking". The Northern Times. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  37. ^ "New mobile application for the program "YUM!"". QFQ. December 4, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  38. ^ Nikki Cole (July 29, 2013). "Local youths compete in 'Amazing Race'-style show". Simcoe. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  39. ^ "iVote: Leaders talk about making democracy matter to youth voters". CBC. March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  40. ^ Jordan Twiss (November 16, 2012). "TFO targets French and English speakers". Media in Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "TFO: Ontario's Education Television ...En français". April 8, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  42. ^ "Groupe Media TFO Selects Signiant Software to Accelerate Distribution of Large Media Files to Cable Providers and Business Units". Computer Weekly News. June 13, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-208
  44. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-413, TFO (CHLF-TV Toronto) – Licence amendment to remove a number of analog transmitters, CRTC, July 27, 2012
  45. ^ Broadcasting Database
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