TFO everywhere in Canada?

Through the CRTC new rules, TFO offers its television service for free to cable operators for inclusion in their entry-level basic service

TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Groupe Média TFO offers cable operators an innovative approach to extending educational French language service to Canadians. As part of its on-going commitment, TFO seeks to broaden the reach of its French-language educational and cultural content.

Ontario and Quebec already benefit from educational services in French, but other provinces do not. Groupe Média TFO therefore offers cable operators elsewhere in the country to add TFO for free to their entry-level basic service for a period of 6 months. Starting March 1st, 2016, the CRTC will require all cable and satellite operators to offer all their subscribers an affordable entry-level basic service. For terrestrial operators, the CRTC has paved the way for the inclusion, into this basic service, of educational services such as TFO's channel in provinces where educational services in French do not exist.

"Groupe Média TFO is proud to take the initiative of increasing accessibility for television services in French to benefit Francophones in minority communities and to encourage the growth of those communities. We want this attractive offer to be welcomed by cable operators across the country," said Groupe Média TFO's President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn O'Farrell.

According to a survey conducted by IPSOS for TFO in 2015, 88% of Canadians living in provinces where access to TV shows in French is very limited are largely in favour of broadcasting more TV shows targeted to Francophones and Francophiles.

"Broadening the reach of TFO's educational TV channel is an important way of preserving our official languages and giving Francophone and Francophiles the learning tools they need to do so. That is our way of truly contributing to the exposure and growth of the Canadian Francophonie," added Glenn O'Farrell.

About Groupe Média TFO

Groupe Média TFO is an essential destination for audiences seeking innovative educational and cultural content in French. It offers stimulating experiences and acclaimed content at the vanguard of digital learning, which have received recognition and awards in Austin and in Amsterdam.

Aside from the TFO educational TV channel, Groupe Média TFO currently manages 10 YouTube channels, 14 social network platforms, over 200 websites and some 30 apps and games for mobile.

SOURCE Ontario French Language Educational Communications Authority (TFO)

For more information and to request interviews: Touria Karim / 416.968.8225 / Cell: 416.453.4388, [email protected]