Overview of Canadian audiovisual export support programs
Canadian producers seeking to develop new markets have access to 25 national and regional programs
Toronto, November 17, 2016 –As a service to Canadian television and digital media producers, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) published today an overview of Canada’s audiovisual export support programs. Six national and 19 regional initiatives by the federal government, as well as national, provincial and territorial agencies and funds were identified as part of an analysis of existing export support programs. To access the report, please click here.
“The success of Canadian content at international markets—such as the recently-held MIPCOM, where Canadian producers sold hundreds of hours of content to European and Asian broadcasters—confirms that Canada’s content is well positioned to succeed internationally, reaching dozens of markets well beyond our borders,” stated Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “The programs that are presently in place and those that will be developed in the future, solidify and strengthen Canada’s position in an increasingly competitive international market.”
Existing programs offer a breadth of promotional and marketing activities for Canadian productions, including business trips, participation in trade fairs and missions, technology development, the hiring of consultants and the development of business expansion strategies.
Beyond providing logistical support abroad, certain programs have more specific intents. For example, the China Angels Mentorship Program is designed to help start-ups gain access to Chinese markets.
As the appetite for new content expands, export opportunities are multiplying. The funds spent on the production of international content will have almost doubled in five years, from $150B in 2011 to $240B in 2016. Major over-the-top (OTT) players, such as Netflix and Amazon, doubled their annual programming expenses between 2011 and 2015, which reached $7.5B in 2015. Export support programs can therefore help Canadian producers to capitalize on new business opportunities, and are indeed essential in an increasingly borderless audiovisual market.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content 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. Please visit cmf-fmc.ca.
