CMF backs company growth with two new programs and new research
Toronto, September 23, 2026 — The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today opened two programs, informed by industry research and built around a single idea: strong Canadian and Indigenous content needs strong companies. We are proud to announce the first ever CMF Business Development Program along with the second iteration of the Indigenous Company Impact Support program, both investing in businesses, not individual projects.
The CMF also released Beyond Project Funding: Highlights from the CMF's research on business development funding, a report that informed the CMF’s overall strategic approach to business development.
"In-house research and industry consultations showed us that more investments are needed if we want Canadian and Indigenous companies to scale up and compete on the international stage," said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. "Aligned with our three-year strategy, Indigenous Action Plan, and EDIA strategy, these programs invest in the stability and sustainability companies need to keep telling the stories our country is known for, across all platforms."
Business Development Program
The new Business Development Program is a $5M pilot for small and mid-sized Canadian companies with a track record of making linear or interactive digital media (IDM) content. The program invests in the work that grows a business: entering new markets, expanding internationally, building partnerships, finding new revenue in existing IP and catalogues, acquiring new high-potential IP, developing audiences.
Applicants apply to one of two tracks, based on their total consolidated revenues (as defined in the program guidelines) over the past five years.
| Track | Company revenues | Maximum CMF contribution | Nature of contribution |
| Growth | $250,000 to $999,999 | $100,000 | Non-repayable contribution |
| Accelerate | $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 | $300,000 | Recoupable investment |
In both tracks, the contribution is the lesser of 75 per cent of eligible costs or the maximum dollar amount above. The budget is split evenly between the two tracks, and one-third of the funding in each track goes to French-language applicants.
To be eligible, a company must be a for-profit, Canadian-controlled corporation incorporated for at least five years, with its head office in Canada and a primary business of producing linear and/or interactive digital media content. Companies do not need to have received CMF funding before. Each applicant submits a business plan covering 12 to 24 months, with clear targets for revenue, growth, and market access. Applications are assessed competitively within each track by an evaluation grid that includes points for Indigenous-owned, Equity-Deserving-owned, and regional companies.
Read the full program guidelines
Applications will open in Dialogue on November 10, 2026.
Indigenous Company Impact Support
The Indigenous Company Impact Support program provides one-time funding of up to $50,000 to Indigenous-owned and controlled companies with a history of creating interactive, digital, and emergent media content. It answers an urgent need to stabilize and grow Indigenous companies by investing in their operations and teams, supporting a range of activities, from business planning to market access, community engagement to audience development, and more.
The program aligns with the principles of Indigenous narrative sovereignty and is a direct action outlined in the CMF’s recently launched 2026-2029 Indigenous Action Plan.
Companies that received funding between 2021 and 2026 through eligible CMF or Indigenous Screen Office programs will be invited to apply. The Indigenous Company Impact Support program application requirements will be made available to eligible applicants September 29, 2026 and applications are due by October 29, 2026 at midnight EDT. Funding is awarded on a selective basis and juried by CMF staff and external readers, including members of Indigenous and Equity-Deserving Communities.
Read the full program guidelines
Beyond Project Funding report
Our Analytics and Strategic Insights department surveyed Canadian TV and IDM companies about their financial profiles and their views on how to grow revenue. The result is a snapshot of the industry's growth priorities:
- Strong interest in recoupment financing. 92 per cent of respondents said they would apply to a recoupment-based business development program or were unsure but open to it. Sixty-six per cent said yes outright.
- A revealing financial snapshot. 60 per cent reported under $1 million in consolidated net revenues over the last five years.
- Low international revenues across the board. 68 per cent said less than 25 per cent of their gross revenue came from international sources.
- International growth is the top priority. 57 per cent chose developing international opportunities as their top business development strategy.
Matched with an analysis of CMF data and a review of business development programs in Canada and internationally, this research responds to a changing industry and a shift in government priorities toward economic outcomes. And by directly supporting the development of the Business Development Program and the Indigenous Company Impact Support program, the report aligns with the CMF's 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, which includes Modernization and Monetization among its pillars.
About the Canada Media Fund
Supported by the Government of Canada and Canada's cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) is a not-for-profit organization that invests in Canadian creators and companies to tell stories that reflect and connect us all. We fund audiovisual and interactive digital media content, across all platforms, that builds a stronger cultural identity at home and on the world stage. The CMF puts stories front and centre, opening pathways to domestic and global markets and promoting a screen-based sector that is more resilient, more inclusive, and fuelled for growth. Visit our website to learn more about what we do.
Media contact
Jared Morrow
Director, Communications
[email protected]
