New Brunswick filmmakers take scrappy, innovative approach to cable changes

Pick-and-pay, basic cable packages may be great for cable subscribers, who get to choose which channels they pay for, but they are also changing the game for smaller, independent media production companies.

Greg Hemming, the Saint John filmmaker and chief executive officer of Hemmings House and FYA.tv, said the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's decision to unbundle cable packages means small broadcasters have to rethink how they get their work out there.

"All the little digital channels are really going to struggle to compete in a pick-and-play environment," said Hemmings.

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He added many channels that work with smaller companies, such as radX and its American counterpart Rush HD, might be "channels you've seen on your channel guide, but would you specifically pick that one if you've never really heard of it?"

As of Dec. 1, 2016, cable and satellite channels will be offered both individually, and in packages of up to 10 channels. 

This comes in addition to the March 2016 order that companies offer the consumer's choice of either.

Changes to Canadian content

Hemmings said consumers gravitate toward channels with "big, American shows" and that could mean challenges in getting local documentaries and shows in front of viewers.

"It means that as producers we're going to have fewer customers to work with," said Hemmings.  

The CRTC has also recently changed the criteria on what shows qualify as Canadian content.

While previously there was a "pretty robust checklist," including a requirement that 90 per cent of a crew was Canadian, Hemmings said "that's been loosened."

While it's exciting to work with talent south of the border, he said, that's also "bad news for the Canadian writer."

Hemmings said producing shows for Netflix and other digital platforms, as well as brand-supported content, will be a way forward for smaller independent producers.

"I'd like to see a push for more digital platforms and digital companies coming out of Canada," said Hemmings.

"The internet world hasn't figured out the monetization of this yet, but the change is happening and we can't slow down. Do we just stop and complain about it, and wait to be destroyed, or do we adjust to it?"

Scrappy, innovative filmmaking

Hemmings said companies like his will simply ride the wave.

"It's going to make us hustle, which I don't think is a bad thing," said Hemmings. 

"Canadian producers are already punching above their weight in a lot of cases."

That being said, having to compete in terms of quality and relevance with U.S. producers, said Hemmings, could have ramifications for Canadian culture.

"If we're competing against American-themed documentaries and shows, is that going to decrease our ability to tell Canadian, and New Brunswick, and Saint John stories?" he asked.

Hemmings said he hopes to give consumers compelling reasons to seek out locally-made shows and movies.

"We're being scrappy and finding ways to produce high-level content on reasonable budgets," he said.