Ontario’s French public broadcaster TFO inks international distribution deal

TORONTO — TFO, Ontario’s French public broadcaster, says it has signed its first international distribution agreement.

Group Media TFO says it has inked an 18-month deal with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to provide 14 hours of French-language, educational programing each week.

Half of the shows will come from Mini TFO, the company’s in-house production.

Other programs will include Motel Monstre, Boum C’est Canon, Devine Qui Vient Jouer and Sam Chicotte.

French, including Patois and Cajun, is among the top five languages spoken in the U.S. aside from English, according to 2014 data from the United States Census Bureau.