Streaming Diversité: Exploring representations within French-language scripted series on Canadian SVOD services.

Area of Science:

• Media Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Sociology of Media

Background:

• Canadian subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) services commission French-language original content to engage local audiences.
• Research predominantly focuses on US streaming giants, neglecting Canadian SVODs and their unique storytelling affordances.
• Existing studies overlook French-language original content, creating a significant research gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive study on original French-language series produced for Canadian SVOD platforms.
• To analyze narrative trends and character representation within these Canadian-produced series.
• To assess the level of diversity and intersectionality in Canadian SVOD original content.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of all original French-language scripted and unscripted content on Canadian SVOD services.
• Textual analysis of over 40 scripted series, examining narrative trends and character roles.
• Evaluation of representation, focusing on sexual, gender, racial, and intersectional diversity.

Main Results:

• Significant inclusion of sexual, gender, and racial diversity observed in Canadian SVOD original content.
• A noticeable trend towards intersectional representation among characters.
• Persistent issue of qualitative marginalization: non-normative characters (queer, BIPOC, disabled) are often relegated to supporting roles.

Conclusions:

• Canadian SVODs demonstrate progress in diverse representation, particularly in sexual, gender, and racial identities.
• Intersectional representation is emerging, reflecting a more complex social reality.
• Despite increased quantity, qualitative marginalization of underrepresented groups persists, necessitating a critical assessment of 'progress' in streaming representation.