Eligible productions may be in English, French or in an Aboriginal language. (Language programming is encouraged.) Categories for consideration are as follows:( Specify which category best describes your program when forwarding proposals.
INFORMATION
Programming primarily designed to inform or educate
- NEWS: newscasts, newsbreaks, headlines. Programs reporting on local, regional, national and international events. Such pograms would include weather reports, sportscasts, community news and other related features of segments contained within “News Programs”. (APTN will be producing a daily newscast to be broadcast from our news centre. Opportunities for Stringers will be available.)
- ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION: Serious or light programs that are about politics, economics, agriculture, business, social issues, personalities, nature, science and technology, society, arts and culture, history and biography, etc…
- REPORTING & ACTUALITIES: Programs which concentrate on the coverage of political conventions, conference, opening/closing of events, political debates and election-related partisan political telecasts, and also includes fund-raising of a non-entertainment nature.
- RELIGION: Programs dealing with religion and religious teachings, discussions of the human spiritual condition.
EDUCATION:
- Formal education programs presenting detailed information on a wide variety of topics and aimed at the acquisition of knowledge essential to all human beings on a wide variety of subjects. The programs can be related to established curricula in each of the provinces of Canada and can also be targeted at pre-schoolers.
- Informal education programs presenting information on recreational and skill development; leisure and outdoor activities in their different forms and job opportunities; instructional quizzes where the predominating element is the participants knowledge; and talk-shows of an informative nature.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- DRAMA:
- ongoing dramatic series;
- ongoing comedy series;
- specials, mini-series and made-for TV feature films;
- feature films, primarily for theatre release;
- animated television programs and films;
- programs of comedy sketches;
- other (narratives, improvisition, etc.)
- MUSIC & DANCE: Programs primarily concerned with live or pre-recorded performances of traditional and popular music including video clips and also including opera, operetta, ballet and musicals.
- VARIETY: Programs containing entertainment of mixed character consisting of a number of individual acts or performances of singing, dancing, acrobatic exhibitions, comedy sketches, monologues, etc.; talk-shows; magic.
- GAME SHOWS: Programs where the public can participate in tests of all kinds in the hope of winning prizes, In the games the element of chance is predominant, rather than knowledge and skill, and is used to determine the outcome of the tests.
- HUMAN INTEREST: Programs presenting information primarily for its entertainment value about entertainment and its people such as awards, magazine programs, interviews, profiles, fund-raising programs; coverage of community events such as carnivals, festivals, parades, etc.
As for the genre of productions, here are some gerneral guidelines for reference
Feature Length Documentary
- Documentary Short — under 30 minutes
- Made-for-TV Movie — television drama with a total running time of not less than 70 min. and not more than 120 min. (without commercials).
- Mini-Series — television drama with a total running time of more than 120 min. (without commercials) usually presented in two or more instalments that are part of a single story, with continuity of characters from episode to episode.
- Continuing Series — television drama, usually half-hour or one-hour weekly episodes, using recurring principal characters. Each episode is a complete story and comprehensible without reference to previous episodes.
- Short Drama — television drama less than 70 minutes in length that is not part of a Mini-Series or Continuing Series.
- Comedy — situation comedy, comedy special and program of satirical sketches are eligible.
- Popular Science Program — non-fiction programs that have as their primary emphasis the exploration of natural and wild-life phenomena.
- Arts & Performance Special — quality performances by exceptional artists and programs about arts and culture.
- Children’s Program — a television program, fiction or non-fiction, that is clearly intended for the entertainment of children.
- Information Program — non-fiction program or program segments that are rooted in principles of extended reportage and news analysis. Compilations, light information and “infomercials” are not eligible.
- Animation Program — animation program made for television , either as part of a series or as a one-off television special.
- Live and Special Event Program — to be determined.