PROTECT YOUR VISION HELP KEEP VISIONTV IN 10 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ON BASIC CABLE & SATELLITE For the past 25 years VisionTV has been Canada s, actually, the World s, only multi-faith and multi-cultural television service. Typically, we provide airtime and national distribution to 70-90 faithbased Producers yearly. This includes Christian programming from Canadian and U.S. based ministries, South Asian religious and cultural programming including Muslim, Hindu and Sikh groups, as well as programs from Buddhist, Jewish and other non denominational groups from time to time. Vision features programs that celebrate a variety of religious holidays and holy days. We offer Canadian documentaries and Canadian, British and American entertainment programming that deals with spiritual, moral, ethical, and social issues and values. VisionTV is the country s Exclusive Broadcaster for Interfaith Dialogue. NOW, VISIONTV NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT. VisionTV is today available on basic cable and satellite services; meaning it can be seen in 10 million households across Canada. It s made available at the amazing, extremely affordable consumer-friendly rate of 12 cents per subscriber per month; the lowest on basic cable and satellite. But here s the problem. Under new CRTC rules, cable and satellite providers can now remove VisionTV from the basic package. This means that VisionTV may suddenly become difficult for you to find and access. You will likely have to pay more and not all the programs you love may be available to you. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PROTECT YOUR VISION. Support VisionTV s application to the CRTC for continued distribution on Basic cable and satellite services. The CRTC hearing will be held in the spring of 2013, likely late April or May. How? è Call and write a letter to the CRTC, and copy us è Call and write your local MP, and copy us è Call and write your cable or satellite provider, and copy us è Get the conversation started in your own community Please do it and let us know you ve done it. Email a copy to: protectyourvision@zoomermedia.ca Thank you for your support. Visit: www.protectyourvision.ca 1
VISIONTV BACKGROUND ABOUT VISIONTV: AS TELEVISION SERVICE Established as a national specialty channel 25 years ago. In its Religious Broadcasting Policy, 1993-78, the CRTC noted, The Commission recognizes the important role played by the existing national, multifaith service (VisionTV), particularly through its ability to promote tolerance and co-operation among different religious groups in Canada. Features Christian programming from both Canadian and U.S. based ministries. Examples include: the Daily Mass, 700 Club Canada, Food for Life, Context with Lorna Dueck. South Asian religious and cultural programing, including Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh groups. Jewish, Buddhist and other non-denominational programs are also represented from time to time. Special commemoration and explanation of a variety of religious holidays and holy days, including Easter, Christmas, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Pentecost, Mardi Gras, All Saints Day/All Souls Day, Mahashivaratri, and Ramadan. AS INDUSTRY PARTNER Supports Canadian documentaries from independent producers, creating jobs for Canadians arguably, now, among the biggest buyer or commissioner of documentaries in the country. Invested close to $40 million in the past seven years, triggering close to $110 million in independent production budgets. Promotes Age and Cultural Diversity in the workplace. Offers entertainment programming that features spiritual, moral, ethical, and social issues and values. Currently available as a basic service from cable and satellite providers, and so can be seen in more than 10 million households across Canada. Currently available at the amazing, affordable consumer-friendly rate of 12 cents a month per subscriber. It is the cheapest service on basic. AUDIENCE VisionTV reaches more than 3 million unique viewers every week Gender Composition: 66% Female 33% Male Age Composition: 85% ZOOMER (45+ boomers with zip) Most VisionTV viewers are part of the older demographic that is largely overlooked in mainstream television. They also come from Canada s growing ethno-cultural communities. Many live on fixed incomes, or with economic constraints. VisionTV not only reaches this audience but speaks to and for them. In the Commissions view, this type of balanced service should be available to the largest possible number of Canadians. (Religious Broadcasting Policy, CRTC 1993-78) 2
VISIONTV BACKGROUND VISIONTV PROGRAMMING The Best of British Comedy series such as Vicar of Dibley, Jam & Jerusalem, Old Guys. Award winning British Drama series including Downton Abbey, Doc Martin, Upstairs Downstairs, Eastenders, Prisoner s Wives. Classic and Contemporary American Films such as Seven Years in Tibet, Cocoon, The Commandments, Sabah, Oh God, Bruce Almighty. Films about faith, family, the struggle to persevere, old protagonists, most things biblical, and action that revolves around the struggle between good and evil. Insightful and Engaging Canadian Documentaries including Persecuted Christians, Our Lady, The Science of Sin, Unlikely Obsession: Churchill & the Jews, The Lost Tomb of Jesus, The Temple Mount, The Naked Archeologist. The Unexplained including Apocalypse When?, I Prophesy: The Future Revealed, Supernatural Investigator. All Canadian productions. Gospel Sing-along including Gaither Gospel Hour, Time To Sing, God s Greatest Hits, Let s Sing Again. The Nation s Christmas Station featuring over 100 hours of holiday themed movies and music specials across four weeks of the Christmas season. Nostalgic Favorites such as The Waltons, Heartland, Twice In A Lifetime, Touched By An Angel. VISIONTV S MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Winner of prestigious industry awards: The network and its programs have earned recognition at competitions around the world including the Chicago International Television Awards, the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, the Columbus International Film and Video Festival, the Gemini Awards, the Genie Awards. VisionTV is the proud recipient of the Canadian Women in Communications Employer of the Year Citation, the Canadian Association of Black Journalists Media Diversity Award and the Baha i Community of Canada Certificate of Commendation. WHERE IS VISIONTV AVAILABLE? Rogers 60 (GTA) Rogers 237 (Digital) Rogers 96 Across Canada: BellTV 261 Shaw Direct 394/72 or check your local listings www.visiontv.ca 3
STRONG DEMAND FOR MULTI-FAITH PROGRAMMING VisionTV: Attitudinal Study, July 2012 Goldfarb Intelligence Marketing Canadians have expressed an extraordinary need for VisionTV, and the multi-faith and multi-cultural programming that it alone provides. 94% of Canadians say they are proud to live in a country that is home to so many different faiths and cultures, and they agree that diversity is an important part of Canadian identity. 88% of respondents say that older and less mobile Canadians should have access to their individual faiths at home. The vast majority (85%) of Canadians concur that VisionTV should continue to be included in the basic package of channels; 88% of women concurred. 86% of respondents say that the current (wholesale) charge of 12 cents per month is reasonable; in fact, a bargain. Approximately 80% of respondents say that even a monthly (wholesale) fee of 20 cents would be a good deal. The vast majority, of respondents (83%) think that a TV channel that focuses on multi-faith and multi-cultural issues should be available to all Canadians. More than 70% of Canadians who earn less than $35,000 per year, identify themselves as a member of a religion or faith. Among Canadians with income less than $35,000 per year, nearly all (94%) agreed with VisionTV s continued distribution as part of the basic tier; 80% of Canadians with income over $75,000 also agree. Faith is a source of comfort for nearly three quarters of respondents. 4
HOW TO WRITE YOUR LETTER OF SUPPORT YOUR LETTER SHOULD BE PERSONAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Your letter should state: The importance of VisionTV to you personally, your faith group, or your community. The importance of VisionTV for creating a place where religions and races can meet. The importance of VisionTV to Canada s multi-cultural and new immigrant communities. VisionTV not only reaches, but actually speaks to and for Canada s 45+ demographic. VisionTV/Zoomer Television is at the base of a new network or system targeted at the 45+ that includes Zoomer Radio and Zoomer Magazine. Taken together they constitute a new instrument for effective low cost contact with the new centre of Canada s demographic gravity, the 45+; and so should remain widely accessible to Canadians. FOR LETTERS TO THE CRTC Send your letter to us and we will forward your letter or petition to the CRTC. Send it by email to: protectyourvision@zoomermedia.ca or by regular letter to: ZoomerMedia Limited, Att: Protect Your Vision 64 Jefferson Avenue, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y4 Please address your letter to: Mr. John Traversy, Secretary-General Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Les Terrasses de la Chaudière Central Building, 1 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, Quebec, J8X 4B1 Re: 2012-0712-6: Application by ZoomerMedia Limited, to obtain a mandatory distribution order under section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act for Vision TV. FOR LETTERS TO YOUR MP Go to http://www.elections.ca/home.aspx Type your postal code (in the middle of the Elections Canada page) Click the link under Your Member of Parliament Click on the email address of your Member of Parliament Write and send your email, and send a copy to us at: protectyourvision@zoomermedia.ca or by regular letter to: ZoomerMedia Limited, Att: Protect Your Vision 64 Jefferson Avenue, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y4 Ask your MP to write to the CRTC FOR LETTER TO YOUR CABLE OR SATELLITE PROVIDER Go to http://www.visiontv.ca/get-visiontv/ Find the cable or satellite provider in your area Call the number listed or click on the website for details on how to send a letter Generally the procedure to send your email is to click Contact Us, then the Comment or Complaint link Copy us at the email address or mailing address above When you take action, we need to know about it. Send a copy of your letter by email to: protectyourvision@ zoomermedia.ca or by mail to: ZoomerMedia Limited, Attn: Protect Your Vision 64 Jefferson Avenue, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y4 5