Last week SMPIA (the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association) released a summary of results from its SCN survey that was conducted between April 9th and 23rd. With respondents from Saskatchewan’s television industry and the general public, approximately 98% of respondents wrote in favour of maintaining SCN and described how valuable an asset the broadcaster is. For instance, in the section “What do you value about SCN” 255 responses were positive, and 3 were negative.
Among the responses from producers, the survey revealed that production companies attributed $13,350,000 of their production last year to SCN involvement. This statistic matches the general figures expressed in SCN’s annual reports: that SCN provides approximately $1.2 million in licenses fees to Saskatchewan productions, and that these productions generally have budgets 10 times the SCN contribution.
Here is a selection of responses from throughout the survey:
“As a parent I can trust SCN to provide quality programming that is both fun and educational for my kids.”
“Having a husband that is from another country, the programming SCN provides has been invaluable in getting local content and him learning more about Saskatchewan. He has really enjoyed watching the programs.”
“Valuable because they reflect my culture, not American or central Canadian for that matter. Informative because it seems that SCN had an implicit expectation to educate and challenge viewers. As a Pubcaster they did not need to ‘sell’ a product but ideas.”
“The documentaries have been first-rate. Programs dealing with Saskatchewan topics and issues are invaluable. We live in a country where Saskatchewan is neglected by the national media such as the Globe and Mail. SCN has been the “voice of Saskatchewan” and we should fight for its survival.”
“Most of all, we value the opportunity to learn more about the province and the people. We are in the north and don’t get south that often. We don’t know the province well and SCN was an opportunity for us for learning and enjoyment.”
“Gives invaluable access to education and local-focused media to the province!”
“SCN is essential to Saskatchewan’s film industry. We get to tell our own stories and it is done by people who live and work in the province. SCN programs encourage the development of Saskatchewan’s film industry and provide educational programs of value to all.”
“I grew up and also raised my children on SCN programming and documentaries. They have been a part of my family for years. Why are we fixing something that is not broken!”
“I appreciate SCN programming as a viewer, but I also like the idea that it is made available across Canada on satellite systems (we watch it on satellite in Saskatchewan). I have friends and relatives in other parts of the country who watch SCN.”
“Please restore SCN as soon as possible. The gift they have given us all should be cherished not destroyed and dismantled.”
