Alex Nino Gheciu of The Canadian Press reports that TV seasons are getting shorter. Canadians who rely on the industry are nervous.

In summary: the Canadian television industry is experiencing a significant downturn, with domestic TV production falling 13% and foreign production dropping 36% between April 2023 and April 2024. The industry faces multiple challenges, including shorter season orders and smaller writing teams. This transformation is affecting employment opportunities for Canadian creative professionals and raising concerns about the future of Canadian storytelling.

He quotes ‘Murder in a Small Town‘ series creator Ian Weir as saying:

“Most Canadian shows used to have at least five writers on staff, now the norm is the showrunner plus one other full-time writer.”

He also quotes ‘The Sticky‘ co-creator Brian Donovan as saying:

“Everybody in this environment is looking for less and less risk. Money is tight and people don’t want to throw out huge orders because it’s really expensive.”

My take: The challenges facing Canadian television mirror trends in the United States, where average season lengths have also decreased. However, Canada faces unique pressures due to our regulatory environment and smaller market size. And yet the situation in the UK offers an interesting contrast, as British television has historically operated with shorter season orders (often 6 to 8 episodes) but has maintained strong creative output through robust public funding and clear content quotas. (See Understanding the UK’s TV Production Sector.) Canada’s attempt to implement similar protective measures through the Online Streaming Act faces resistance from major streaming platforms, leaving our industry in a more precarious position. Stay tuned!