Regional Funding

By providing a number of incentives in its Convergent Stream programs, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) strives to support productions from outside Canada’s main production centres. In response to stakeholder proposals and in order to address the geographical dynamics that influence economic activity and decision-making, the definition of regional production for English-language projects reflects projects outside of Toronto, while regional production for French-language projects reflects projects outside of Montreal.

The share of English funding going outside of Toronto has dropped for the second year in a row below 40%. In 2014-2015, there were 13 regional projects with commitments over $2.0M each (Drama, Children’s & Youth, and Documentary) and by 2016-2017, there were only eight.

For the second year in a row, regional French-language funding is at a five-year high. In 2016-2017, 73 projects were funded outside of Montreal, while in 2014-2015, there were only 53.

2016-2017 regional spending accounted for more than half of English development commitments. This majority share is due in part to the role of the English regional pre-development program. More detail on this program’s results can be found in the development section of the report. French regional commitments were at 29.4% of total French development in 2016-2017.

Outside of Toronto and Montreal, the region with the largest share of funding is British Columbia, at 6.6%. Other regions do not exceed a 3.3% share.

Support to regional production by program 2016-2017 %

English
Performance Envelope	68.2
English Regional Production Bonus	18.8
Anglophone Minority Incentive	6.7
English POV	3.7
Convergent Digital Media Incentive	1.4
Aboriginal Program	0.8
Northern Incentive	0.4
Total	100.0
French
Francophone Minority	55.1
Performance Envelope	30.8
Quebec French Regional Production Incentive	11.3
Convergent Digital Media Incentive	2.5
Northern Incentive	0.3
Total	100.0

 

ENGLISH REGIONAL BONUS

The English Regional Production Bonus (ERPB) provides additional funding support to producers in areas of Canada outside of Toronto. The program provides 15% of television project budgets to a maximum of $1.0M. This program is part of the CMF’s Convergent Stream; thus, projects funded through this stream must include content to be produced for distribution on at least two platforms, one of which must be television and the other, digital media. Funding from this program is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

ERPB funding of $12.8M (a $1.3M increase from last year) contributed to 41 projects. Dramas received the largest portion of 2016-2017 program funding at 56.1%. Seven provinces received funding through the incentive with the largest amount going to British Columbia at 34.1%.

 

QUEBEC FRENCH REGIONAL PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

The Quebec French Regional Production Incentive gives additional funding to French projects originating in Quebec outside of Montreal. $2.2M went to 33 projects in 2016-2017. The budget was increased from $2.0M. 

 

NORTHERN INCENTIVE - PRODUCTION

The Northern Incentive was doubled to $1.0M and $0.2M of development support was added (details can be found in the development section) in 2016-2017. The incentive provided $0.8M in production support to eight projects in Nunavut, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

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