Film producer Robert Lantos is leading the charge for Starlight, an all-Canadian movie channel he believes should be carried on basic cable.

In recent weeks, 16 TV networks — including conservative outlet SunTV — have submitted bids to the federal broadcast regulator for a place on basic cable.

Lantos has the backing of some major Canadian film heavyweights — including David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan and outgoing Alliance CEO Victor Loewy — in his Starlight bid to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

In an interview with CBC’s Q cultural affairs show, Lantos argued that private sector broadcasters have abandoned Canadian movies and it’s time to give Canadian viewers a place where they can see some of the films created in their own country over the past 60 years.

Robert Lantos says Canada is unique in questioning having Canadian stories, made by Canadians, on primetime TV. (Canadian Press)

“Starlight will do two things. It will bring to Canadians who want to see Canadian films a destination where they can see them 24/7,” Lantos said.

Right now, only people living in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver can typically see Canadian films at commercial cinemas and not many more can rent them, as few video stores carry a selection of Canadian films, he noted.

Lantos also hopes a channel like Starlight will build interest in Canadian film.

“Hopefully the more access people have to Canadian film, the more interest they will have. And that will be reflected at the box office,” he said.

Cost of $5.40 a year

The movie mogul estimates it will cost about 45 cents a month, or $5.40 a year, to add a channel like Starlight to basic cable, but he acknowledged he'll have no control over what the broadcast distributors (namely cable and satellite companies) will actually charge.

Canadians should want to see their own films, he said.

“We are unique in the world in that we are probably the only country who asks that question: why would we want to see stories told by our own about ourselves? It is taken for granted everywhere else in the world that is the most interesting thing,” Lantos said.

As the producer of films such as Barney's Version, Men with Brooms and Eastern Promises, Lantos has dedicated his life to Canadian movies. He argues that it is unfair that Canadians have so few outlets to see their own films.

“You, as a taxpayer, have already contributed significantly to the entire body of work of Canadian film, because Canadian film has been subsidized for the last 50 years — as films are subsidized in every country in the world where films are made, except perhaps Hollywood. You have already co-financed these films,” Lantos said.

“You might want access to those films you have financed. Currently you have none.”

Lantos looked back on the days when, as chair of Alliance Communications, he created specialty channel Showcase, which was conceived as a TV station dedicated to Canadian content when it launched in 1995.

“It was widely opposed because people said Canadians wouldn’t pay for watching Canadian content in primetime. They were licensed as part of the basic package and they became the most successful new specialty channel in the country,” he said.

Lantos’ proposal for Starlight, along with all other proposals for changes to the makeup of basic cable, go before the CRTC at a hearing on April 23.