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Degrassi: The Next Generation
Genre	Teen drama

This article is about the Degrassi television series. For other uses, see Degrassi: The Next Generation

Degrassi: The Next Generation - Canadian entertainment media product

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a very significant Canadian drama television show. This television programming is from the Degrassi franchise –branching from The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979 to Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High in 1987, leading up to Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to the present. Degrassi: The Next Generation focuses on the lives of the children from Degrassi High’s main characters. It is seen as a phenomenon for continuing on the series for almost three decades and as a result, there is an all-encompassing age range for their target audience. By demographic, teenagers are the majority of the consumers while pre-existing fans of Degrassi High may still continue to watch the current series of Degrassi. This show is centralized on Torontonian high school students who experience the rollercoaster life of a teenager. Since 1979, this series has tackled many topics integrating: adolescent and puberty, relationships, heartbreak, self-esteem, teen pregnancy, alcohol, drugs, and sexuality. It is evident that Degrassi’s objective was not just produced to entertain their viewers, but to also educate them. This notion of embedding education in television programming refers back to CBC’s mandate; “The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains”.

National recognition

This television series is owned and produced by a Canadian firm and established by a Canadian crew. The characters are played by Canadian actors and actresses. Degrassi: The Next Generation has jump started many successful careers for very current celebrities today. Some names include: Nina Dobrev from The Vampire Diaries, Shenae Grimes-Beech from 90210, as well as Aubrey Graham, best known as the rapper Drake. The early original series of Degrassi were made a small production company named Play With Time Incorporation. This small company were owned by Canadian TV writers/producers/television directors –Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. Presently in the current series, Degrassi: The Next Generation was produced by Epitome Pictures, who previously produced The L.A. Complex, Instant Star, and Riverdale. Degrassi High was first broadcasted in 1979 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), while Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 to 2009 was aired by CTV which is owned by Bell Media that is a firm from Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE). Bell Canada Enterprise is Canada's greatest telecommunications firm which had bought out CTV, passing on the authorization over TV stations and channels, as well as radio stations and web programs.

Although Epitome Pictures have produced the journeys of Torontonian teens since the 1980s, it was now bought as part of deal that includes $19.5 million Canadian ($17.6 million U.S.) in cash and the rest in DHX Media stock. DHX is not based in Toronto, but is in fact headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The founding producer of Degrassi, Linda Schuyler and her partner Stephen Stohn, which are the CEOs of Epitome Pictures still remain as the executive producers of the existing programs and productions. These co-CEOs stated, “We are delighted that Degrassi had found a home with a Canadian firm of this pedigree, and we look forward to working with them as Degrassi continues its journey”. Schuyler and Stohn mention that they are proud and excited to be working within a Canadian-based media company which holds on to the “Canadian-ness” that Degrassi began with. The objective of keeping it within Canadian media firms was to reserve what they have as a nation and not to be dominated by the United States, even though American culture is prevalent in the movies, music and other TV shows Canadians consume. This correlates to the notion of cultural imperialism which is referred to as a process of social influence by which a nation imposes on other countries its set beliefs, values, knowledge and behavioral norms as well as it overall style of life. There is a concern in creating division when being exposed to glorifying ideal American lifestyles being projected through media content and not reflecting realistic and relatable lifestyles. DHX Media’s CEO, Michael Donovan had stated, “The Degrassi franchise has become a perennial favourite with teens around the world since its inception in 1980. Degrassi’s enduring international appeal and suitability for digital broadcast, this iconic Canadian show represents a highly complementary addition to our library and is a compelling and logical expansion for DHX Media from kids into the global teen market.”

Realism within content

The long-running TV series depicting high school hardships has been popular not only in Canada, but it is also a substantial hit internationally. Like mentioned previously, it has made a mark on American grounds. American viewers are enticed also into the Degrassi drama. The notion of cultural imperialism can be applied. Where American content is usually consumed to Canadians, TV shows like Degrassi are bringing Canadian entertainment into the realm of American media and culture. Many viewers and critics are constantly examining the show’s specific characteristics that lead to its overall appeal and try to measure its popularity to see what makes it specifically “Degrassi”. Degrassi is known to incorporate realism within their content. Realism is the act of representing either a person, situation or specific aspect of life in a way that is true to life, and by Degrassi adopting and incorporating this idea into their episodes, it creates a more personal connection with the show and the viewer and in Morris’ article, Robert Fothergill validates this point by noting: "Canadian [media] has been artistically most successful when it has sailed close to the winds of realism". Degrassi instills realism in their episodes with middle-class families whereas American TV shows usually consist of lavish, glamorous lifestyles that are not relatable to the majority of the North American population. This show manages to deal with all of issues in a realistic way. The producers of this show made a bridge between drama and documentary and they made this show educational, teaching the audiences to pursue the help of parents. The other reason why Degrassi became one of a successful Canadian show and reached abroad because it has remained genuine and relatable to the issues the actors are challenged with that show as it illustrates the issues of today’s teenagers.

When incorporating Canadian lifestyle into the mainstream media like Degrassi: The Next Generation, the characters make references to streets located in Toronto, they show a brief clip of a Canadian flag, and a scene with the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) bus in the background. There are many other scenes in the TV series that display some kind of Canadian symbol and identifiable Canadian content. Some other viewers outside of Canada, may pick up on the Canadian symbols and references it can be compared to as another American teen soap opera. Otherwise, it implants a sense of patriotism and pride for this television show to be recognized as Canadian because it embraces national identity –a group’s sense of belonging to a particular collectivity with shared attributes (of place, language, culture) and a sense of exclusivity. This Canadian entertainment media product still generate their business within the country as it reserved the “Canadian-ness” as it lines parallel to the objective of injecting textual nationalism, and to entertain and educate their viewers.