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 past three years has seen the share of English regional production funding remain above 40%.

French regional production funding (outside Montreal) has stabilized to 16% of French-language funding, as seen in 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2014-2015.

2014-2015 regional spending accounted for almost 60% of English development commitments. This majority share is due in part to the increase of the English regional pre-development program to $1.5M. More detail on this program’s results can be found in the development section of the report. French regional commitments were at 28.6% of total French development in 2014-2015.

Outside of Ontario and Quebec, the province with the largest share of funding is British Columbia, at 13.0%.

Support to Regional Production by Program 2014-2015

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 10% 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 $10.9M contributed to 53 projects. Dramas received the largest portion of 2014-2015 program funding at 61.4%. Seven provinces received funding through the incentive with the largest amount going to British Columbia.

QUEBEC FRENCH REGIONAL PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

The Quebec French Regional Production Incentive gives additional funding to French projects originating in Quebec outside of Montreal. $1.8M went to 26 projects.

NORTHERN PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

The Northern Production Incentive was increased for 2014-2015. The incentive provided $0.7M to 9 projects in Nunavut and the Yukon.