Canadian Comix News & Culture
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Monday, February 05, 2007
YTV to Create Anime Channel
:: Posted by Bryan @ 2/05/2007 05:53:00 AM The recent round of CRTC hearings resulted in at least one major comics-related story: a petition from children's broadcaster YTV to create a cable channel devoted to anime programming was given the go-ahead. YTV has been quite successful with the anime it has broadcast already and this application, and the creation of a separate specialty channel, are natural outgrowths of its basic business --luring young eyeballs to advertising with a thick and rich, all-syrup-squishee mix of imported cartoons, teen soap operas, and dopey low-budget comedies. They have had past success broadcasting Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, Naruto, Inuyasha, and Full Metal Alchemist, among others, and YTV also recently launched an "anime-on-demand" service through Rogers Cable.
Although fans may complain that since anime on YTV is often ghetto-ized or shown in late-night blocks of programming intended for older audiences, this newest move will only serve to further remove anime from the mainstream of Canadian viewers, it seems like the existence of a channel dedicated to Japanese animation and related media (ie, manga) seems like an ideal method for creating a wider audience. Although competing services like Chum TV's Razer and the U.S.-based G4TV exist on digital cable, this is the first licence granted to a regular cable broadcaster.
The comics angle in all this news? Not only are most anime series and movies in some way connected to manga (meaning they are either based-on or the basis for comics versions), but the 15% of non-anime material stipulated in the licence leaves room for a focus on local fandom, other media like manga, and Canadian content. In terms of the effects on manga publishing, the result of a new network devoted to this sort of product can be anticipated by looking at what is often referred to as "the Cartoon Network effect" on sales of manga that are also prime-time anime in the U.S.A.: the U.S. publishers of manga (Naruto, Bleach, etc) stand to benefit enormously from this sort of free advertising.
The full proposal:
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-41
The Anime Channel – Category 2 specialty service
In this decision, the Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
The application
1.The Commission received an application by YTV Canada, Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 21 specialty programming undertaking to be known as The Anime Channel.
2.The applicant proposed to offer a service that would consist of the animated programming genre known as "anime" and anime-related programming. The programming would be targeted exclusively to adults over the age of 18.
3.All of the programming would be drawn from the following categories set out in item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990: 2(a) Analysis and interpretation; 7(a) Ongoing drama series; 7(b) Ongoing comedy series (sitcoms); 7(c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films; 7(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV; 7(e) Animated television programs and films; 7(g) Other drama; 11 General entertainment and human interest; 12 Interstitials; 13 Public service announcements; and 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos.
4.The applicant stated that a minimum of 65% of programming broadcast during the broadcast year would be devoted to anime programs and a maximum of 35% to anime-related programs.
5.The applicant also proposed that a minimum of 85% of the programming would be drawn from categories 7(d), 7(e) and 7(g). Not more than 15% of the program schedule would be dedicated to information-based programs that explore the world of the anime fan. Labels: comics on tv, manga
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