Summary of the Evaluation of the funding allocated by the TV5 Program of Canadian Heritage 2017-2018 to 2023-2024

TV5MONDE:

• Traditional general-interest French-language television channel headquartered in France.
• Content mainly comes from partner governments.
• Worldwide distribution, except in Canada.
• Revenue sources:
  • 10% miscellaneous revenue.
  • 5.5% Canadia Public funding.
  • 84.5% other public funding.

TV5MONDEplus:

• French-language video on demand platform by TV5MONDE.
• Content from TV5MONDE.
• Worldwide distribution, except in Canada.

TV5 QUEBEC CANADA (TV5QC):

• Traditional general-interest French-language television channel headquartered in Canada.
• Content primarily from TV5MONDE.
• Distributed in Canada only.
• Revenue sources:
  • 10% advertising.
  • 4% Canadian Public funding.
  • 3% other public funding.
  • 83% from subscriptions.

Findings

Relevance

The audiovisual environment is rapidly changing:

• Consumer habits and advertising revenues are shifting in favour of digital platforms.
• There is an overabundance of audiovisual content.
• Traditional TV subscriptions are in decline.
• Regulatory frameworks are slow to adapt to new digital players.

Program funding has:

• Supported TV5MONDE and TV5QC operations and activities.
• Facilitated TV5MONDE's digital transition with the creation of TV5MONDEplus.
• Promoted official languages.

Challenges remain:

• TV5MONDE: diversifying its revenue sources and content offering.
• TV5MONDEplus: differentiating itself in a competitive market.
• TV5QC: declining subscriptions and aging audience.
• TV5 Program: measuring the diversity of acquired Canadian content, particularly those from equity groups and Indigenous peoples.

Effectiveness

Overall, the TV5 program achieved its expected results by:

• honouring its commitments and increasing its influence within the multilateral partnership; and
• facilitating access to Canadian French-language audiovisual content abroad, and to content from abroad within Canada.

TV5MONDE:

• 11% of the content is Canadian.
• The funding of a Canadian journalist and columnist offers a unique Canadian perspective.
• In 2023, 431 million households had access to a TV package that include a TV5MONDE general-interest channel. This number has increased because of the growth in Africa.

TV5MONDEplus:

• 28% of content is Canadian.
• 254 Canadian titles were purchased between 2020 and 2023 for the platform. However, the annual target of 50 titles per year was not always met.
• Although the number of unique visitors is increasing, the frequency of their visit remains low.

TV5QC:

• 16% of content is Canadian.
• 84% of content comes from international partners.
• TV5QC's average market share in French-speaking Quebec is 1.3%. While stable, it remains low.

Efficiency

Overall, the TV5 program was delivered efficiently, demonstrating flexibility in its funding approach. However, some challenges and gaps were noted:

• The stable leadership of senior management supported good partnerships, but staff turnover and changes in governance have posed challenges in maintaining relationships with partners.
• The performance measurement strategy does not fully support evidence-based decision-making.

Recommendations

The evaluation recommends that the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs:

1. Continue to encourage TV5QC and TV5MONDE to adapt their business models to remain relevant and viable.
2. Update the Program’s performance measurement to better measure the diversity of Canadian content, facilitate the monitoring and communication of results, and strengthen he use of performance data in decision-making.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 2025.
Cat. No. CH7-64/1-2025-1E-PDF
ISBN 978-0-660-77844-0