Astral Invested C$150 Million in Local Content in ’08

MONTREAL: Astral Media says it invested close to C$150 million in Canadian content development in fiscal ’08 through its pay and speciality TV networks across French- and English-language programming.

"Since we started in this business in 1983, we have invested more than $1.3 billion in the film and television industry," said André Bureau, the chairman of the board of Astral Media. "Many know Astral Media for the quality of its media properties and the strength of its financial performance, but we are also very proud of the support we offer to the English- and French-language production industries in Canada. Not only do we invest heavily in Canadian productions, we also showcase these productions on our networks, offering meaningful visibility for Canadian talent. Every year we are validated in our commitment with the critical acclaim that these investments garner."

Astral Media counts itself as one of Canada’s largest private investors in English- and French-language content, financing all stages of film and television production from script development to equity investment and promotion. It works almost exclusively with independent producers in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

Astral Media isupported 18 of the films nominated for Genie Award consideration this year, including Ce qu’il faut pour vivre, Fugitive Pieces, Emotional Arithmetic and Amal and Maman est chez le coiffeur. In 2008, the Astral Media supported series Durham County was the top Gemini Award winner. And several popular youth series and documentaries from its specialty networks were recognized this past year with seven Gémeaux awards. Highlights of the fiscal ’08 slate include series for The Movie Network such as The Line, ReGenesis and Sanctuary, and Family Channel far like Connor Undercover, Overruled! and Franny’s Feet.