CMF provides preview of 2026–2027 changes to programs, with full launch scheduled for April 1, 2026
Toronto, March 2, 2026 — The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today provided a preview of a number of changes to the upcoming 2026–2027 Content Program Guidelines. While the full list of 2026–2027 changes and budget allocations will be published on April 1, 2026, the CMF wants to provide advance notice for some new policies for which industry stakeholders will benefit from more lead time.
Please note: The CMF and the CMF’s Program Administrator (CMFPA) at Telefilm will answer questions relating to the policies below when they take effect on April 1, 2026.
Distributor Program
The Distributor Program will become an Envelope program.
To determine Envelope Allocations for the 2026–2027 year, the CMF will employ a formula that measures a distributor’s historic access to funds from our Linear programs, including the Distributor Program. Eligible Canadian Distributors that do not earn an Envelope Allocation for the 2026–2027 year will have the opportunity to use Envelope funds from an “Alternative Access” pool to support projects. Funding will be available to Eligible Canadian Distributors on a first come, first served basis.
While an updated version of the CMF’s Appendix A reference document will be published on April 1, 2026, distributors are encouraged to review the CMF’s definition of Eligible Canadian Distributor found in Section 7 of the current version and ensure their status has been confirmed by the CMF’s Program Administrator at Telefilm.
Like the CMF’s Broadcaster Envelope system, the Distributor Envelope Program will evaluate an Eligible Canadian Distributor’s performance (relative to other Distributors) across a number of categories (called “Factors”) within designated Program budget carve-outs allocated to the CMF’s four genres.
To determine the 2027-2028 Envelope Allocations,
- The Distributor Envelope Program budget will be divided according to the percentages noted in the table directly below.
| Genre | English (%) | French (%) |
| Children and Youth | 40 | 40 |
| Documentary | 30 | 30 |
| Drama and Variety and Performing Arts | 30 | 30 |
Despite this budget breakdown, Eligible Canadian Distributors will have a 100 per cent flexibility to use their Envelope Allocations to support projects in any of the CMF’s four genres, regardless of the genre where they earned their Envelope Allocation.
- The CMF will evaluate Eligible Canadian Distributor performance during the 2026–2027 year according to the Envelope Factors noted in the tables below.
English
| Factors used for 2027–2028 Envelope Allocations | Weight (%) |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded projects | 20 |
| Historic access to all CMF Linear Production programs (past three years) | 10 |
| Gross sales revenues for all CMF-funded projects (past three years) | 25 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded independent production projects | 15 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Gender Balance (Ownership) projects | 10 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Diverse Community (Ownership) projects | 10 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Regional projects | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
French
| Factors used for 2027–2028 Envelope Allocations | Weight (%) |
| Distributor advances for 2026-2027 CMF-funded projects | 15 |
| Historic access to all CMF Linear Production programs (past three years) | 15 |
| Gross sales revenues for all CMF-funded projects (past three years) | 25 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded independent production projects | 15 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Gender Balance (Ownership) projects | 10 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Diverse Community (Ownership) projects | 10 |
| Distributor advances for 2026–2027 CMF-funded Regional projects | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Broadcaster Envelope Program – English and French
The Broadcaster Envelope Program – English and French Factor weights will change according to the percentages in the table below.
| English | French | |||
| Factors used for 2026–2027 Envelope Allocations (%) | Factors used for 2027–2028 Envelope Allocations (%) | Factors used for 2026–2027 Envelope Allocations (%) | Factors used for 2027–2028 Envelope Allocations (%) | |
| Audience success – total hours tuned | 35 | 35 | 40 | 40 |
| Production historic performance | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 |
| Regional production licences | 25 | 25 | 15 | 15 |
| Diverse Community (Ownership) production licences | 15 | 20 | 10 | 15 |
| Diverse Community (Key Personnel) production licences | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Gender Balance (Ownership) production licences | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Development historic performance | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| International participation | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Broadcaster Envelope Program – Diverse Languages
The Broadcaster Envelope Program – Diverse Languages Factor weights will change according to the percentages in the table below.
| Factors used for 2026-2027 Allocations (%) | Factors used for 2027-2028 Allocations (%) | |
| Historic performance | 80 | 80 |
| Diverse Community (Key Personnel) production licences | 10 | 0 |
| Gender Balance (Key Personnel) production licences | 10 | 0 |
| Diverse Community (Ownership) production licences | 0 | 10 |
| Gender Balance (Ownership) production licences | 0 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 100 |
Linear Program Model
In addition to needing a minimum licence fee from a Canadian Broadcaster and/or a minimum distribution advance from an Eligible Canadian Distributor, in 2026–2027, applicants will also need a minimum Envelope Allocation from a Canadian Broadcaster and/or Eligible Canadian Distributor to be eligible for funding from the following programs:
- English Regional Production Bonus
- Quebec French Regional Production Incentive
- Francophone Minority Program
- Anglophone Minority Incentive
- POV Program
- Program for Black and Racialized Communities
The Envelope Allocation will be required at application for the following first come, first served programs:
- English Regional Production Bonus
- Quebec French Regional Production Incentive
- Francophone Minority Program
- Anglophone Minority Incentive
Lastly, the Envelope Allocation will be required before the signing of the CMF Financing Agreement for the following selective Programs:
- POV Program
- Program for Black and Racialized Communities
Additional changes, including to the Interactive Digital Media programs (and further details on the above-noted changes) will be released on April 1, 2026, followed by webcasts scheduled for mid-April 2026.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Visit our website for more information.
Media Contact
Maxime Ruel
Senior Manager, Communications
[email protected]
