CMF to invest $357M in the screen sector in 2024-2025
CMF to deliver more flexibility and balance; reaffirms commitment to diversity, Children & Youth and Documentary genres, and strategic collaborations with industry partners.
Toronto, March 28, 2024 – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced that we will invest $357M in the Canadian television and digital media industries during our new fiscal year starting April 1, 2024.
Watch: CMF Webcast on Changes to Programs 2024-2025
“In 2024-2025, the CMF will offer more flexibility and balance to the industry as we await a new regulatory framework following the adoption of the Online Streaming Act,” says Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF.
“Despite a lower budget and the sunsetting of the $60M Government of Canada Budget 2021 allocation for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the screen industry, the CMF remains dedicated to supporting underrepresented creators and EDI initiatives. Amidst a whirlwind of change in technology and media consumption habits, we are also furthering our transition to a content-centric, platform-agnostic funder—notably by reorganizing our program offering across three pillars: Ideation, Creation and Industry—and abandoning the funding stream-based model.”
“We are grateful for the ongoing support from our public and private funders, and thank the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, for continuing to deliver on the federal government’s commitments to support Canada’s screen-based sector.”
View the full breakdown of the CMF’s 2024-2025 budget
The CMF’s program budget is supported by revenue estimates for the coming year based on ongoing funding contributions from the Government of Canada, and contributions from Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. Tangible benefits, recoupment, and repayment revenues from funded productions also support the program budget. This year’s budget reflects a steady contribution from the Government of Canada, plus stabilization funding to help mitigate declining contributions to the CMF from broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs). Finally, the 2024-2025 program budget includes the second $20M installment that the federal government announced in March 2023 for the French-language market and underrepresented communities.
Key changes
Key changes in the newly published Program Guidelines are summarized below. Please consult the 2024-2025 Summary of Changes for the complete details on each of these items and more.
Access the detailed 2024-2025 Summary of changes
Increased flexibility
- Expanded market tests in linear programs – The CMF is expanding the existing Canadian Broadcaster market test in linear content programs and allowing Canadian-owned and controlled distribution companies to contribute financing to help unlock CMF funds.
- Development and Production Broadcaster Envelope – To provide broadcasters with more flexibility and to further simplify our programs, the CMF is combining the Development and Performance Envelopes into a single Broadcaster Envelope system.
- Flexibility for Indigenous-owned and -controlled production companies – Indigenous producers will now have expanded flexibility in some eligible genres. Indigenous producers in the North will also benefit from expanded market tests and flexibility on current rules related to Canadian key personnel, and from the removal of barriers to production across the circumpolar region.
Commitment to create a more inclusive sector
- Equity, diversity, and Inclusion – The CMF remains committed to support underrepresented creators and EDI initiatives throughout its programs. As a result of its impact and success, the Pilot Program for Racialized Communities is no longer a pilot and will be an ongoing program.
- Envelope factors – The CMF is implementing new Broadcaster Envelope Factors to incentivize licensing content with greater representation of gender and diversity.
- Diverse Languages Program – The CMF will shift this program from a selective one to an Envelope, giving Diverse Language Broadcasters more autonomy and predictability in their funding.
Commitment to Children & Youth audience and Documentary genre
In the (English and French) Broadcaster Envelopes:
- Genre allocations – The CMF is increasing the genre allocations devoted to Children & Youth and Documentary content in both English and French.
- Documentary genre calculation – The CMF is dividing the Documentary genre calculation between one-off documentaries and documentary series to ensure that broadcasters have an increased incentive to license the extra-vulnerable one-off sub-genre, which has seen a decline in support over several years.
More balance
- Increase in interactive digital media (IDM) funding – Funding devoted to IDM activities will increase as a percentage of total CMF funding.
- Better balance between broadcaster-focused and other CMF funding triggers – In addition to expanded market tests in linear programs, the CMF plans to renew our Slate Development Pilot Program and introduce additional pilot programs later in the year.
More collaboration
- Increased participation of Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) in Indigenous Program – The CMF has formalized our collaboration with the ISO in administering the Indigenous Program, with the role of the ISO planned to expand in the future.
- International participation – Introduction of an International Participation factor in the Broadcaster Envelope program.
- Partnerships – The CMF aims to continue successful relationships with partners for programs where the industry has responded positively and seek out new opportunities that will benefit the Canadian screen industry.
Updated presentation and organization
- Reorganization of CMF program offering – The CMF is moving away from the Convergent and Experimental Streams model and will instead separate programs across three pillars: Ideation, Creation, and Industry.
- Revised format for Program Guidelines – The CMF Program Guidelines will be divided into a core set of Linear and IDM Guidelines detailing the rules that apply to all programs, and separate Guidelines for each specific program.
Webcasts on changes to 2024-25 programs
Save the date: CMF staff will host webcasts to provide more information about the changes to CMF programs and guidelines.
- In English: Thursday, April 11, 2024, 2 PM Eastern
- In French: Thursday, April 11, 2024, 11 AM Eastern
Find more information about the webcasts
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 voice, 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 – Canada Media Fund
[email protected]