AnnUAL REPORT 2011-2012 - Knowledge Network

Accountability
Statement
The 2011/12 Knowledge
Network Corporation
Annual Report was prepared
under the Board’s direction
in accordance with the
Budget Transparency and
Accountability Act and the
B.C. Reporting Principles.
The Board is accountable for
the contents of the report,
including what has been
included in the report and
how it has been reported.
The information presented
reflects the actual
performance of Knowledge
Network Corporation for the
twelve months ended March
31, 2012 in relation to the
Service Plan published in
February 2011.
The Board is responsible for
ensuring internal controls
are in place to ensure
information is measured and
reported accurately and in a
timely fashion.
All significant assumptions,
policy decisions, events
and identified risks, as of
March 31 2011, have been
considered in preparing the
report. The report contains
estimates and interpretive
information that represent
the best judgment of
management. Any changes
in mandate direction, goals,
strategies, measures or
targets made since the
2011/12-2013/14 Service
plan was released and any
significant limitations in
the reliability of data are
identified in the report.
The Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid,
Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services
and Open Government
The Corporation made significant progress this
past year, improving public broadcasting for British
Columbians and supporting plans for sustainable
growth. We have grown our trusted, commercialfree
analogue service to a media network with
multiple channels and web offerings to further
serve audiences across the province.
We are very pleased that our entrepreneurial partnership
with BBC Worldwide has produced a new revenue stream
to fund a Knowledge Network High Definition (HD)
Nini Baird, Chair
channel set to launch in fall 2013. The Board recognizes that a
timely transition to HD is vital to remaining competitive and relevant with viewers
in British Columbia.
Contributions from our loyal Knowledge Partners continued to increase and once
again exceeded expectations. Knowledge Partners donations now fund 100% of
arts and drama programming, 85% of documentary programming and 60% of the
children’s programming in our broadcast schedule.
We appreciate their ongoing support of public broadcasting in B.C. and have
been heartened by their enthusiastic attendance at Knowledge Partner events in
Victoria and other B.C. communities.
In just five years, the Knowledge Endowment has exceeded the $1 million
milestone thanks to generous donations and estate gifts. The Endowment was
established in 2007 with a long-term view to support original programming,
including the creation of new B.C. stories.
To engage audiences anytime, anywhere, Knowledge Network increased content
on multiple digital platforms. Knowledge.ca experienced substantial growth in web
traffic for viewing of full-length programs online. KnowledgeKids.ca also witnessed
significant growth in web traffic for viewing of full-length programs as well as new
interactive games for kids. Our commitment to offering B.C.’s children and families
a safe and trusted environment to learn together extends to all our children’s
digital platforms.
Once again, our investment in original content gave B.C. filmmakers the opportunity to
share their stories with the province. Documentary highlights included Family Matters,
One Big Hapa Family and Family Portrait in Black and White. In partnership with the
Labour Heritage Centre, we commissioned a series of historical documentaries telling
the stories of ordinary people who played extraordinary roles in the evolution of our
province, to be broadcast in 2013. As a result of our investment in B.C. productions,
federal funding from the Canada Media Fund increased to $1.4 million this year.
Knowledge Network Corporation ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012
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