Envelope Administration
The Envelope Administration section provides broadcasters with information concerning the Performance Envelope Program and the Development Envelope Program. At the beginning of each fiscal year, Canadian broadcasters that participate in CMF’s Envelope programs receive allocations of funds known as Performance Envelopes and Development Envelopes.
Allocations
Performance Envelope Program and Development Envelope Program funds are allocated to broadcasters at the beginning of each fiscal year based on past performance in commissioning and airing convergent projects.
On April 1, 2022, 19 English and 9 French broadcasters received Performance Envelope (PE) allocations from the program budget for use in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. English broadcasters shared $152.7 million in envelope funds, while $72.6 million was shared among French broadcasters.
Alternative Access option:
- Broadcasters that have not generated a PE Allocation for 2022-2023 are eligible for Alternative Access to the Performance Envelope Program. Eligible Broadcasters may utilize this Alternative Access on a first-come, first-served basis, by providing an Eligible Licence Fee and a Broadcaster Agreement Form with a PE commitment to an Eligible Project, until the entire Alternative Access budget is spent. Eligible Broadcasters are limited to three applications using the Alternative Access portion of the PE Program or $150,000 in total PE commitments in 2022-2023, whichever is less.
Management of the 2022-2023 Performance Envelope Allocations:
- The 2022-2023 COVID-19 Flexibility Measures to CMF Programs, which continues most of the 2021-2022 Flexibility Measures, apply to PE allocations.
Genre Targets for 2022-2023 Allocations:
- Due the expansion of the POV Program for French-language projects, the Documentary genre target used to allocate 2022-2023 French Envelopes has been reduced to 17%. The genre target for French Children’s & Youth Envelope allocations is now increased 3% to 21%.
| Genre Allocation 2022-2023 (%) | English | French |
| Drama | 60 | 54 |
| Documentary | 16 | 17 |
| Children’s & Youth (C&Y) | 21 | 21 |
| Variety & Performing Arts (VAPA) | 3 | 8 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Definition of “Diverse Community” in the PE allocation factor:
- After focusing on Indigenous Peoples to Canada and Racialized Communities in year 1 of its Equity and Inclusion Strategy, the CMF will expand its definition of “Diverse Community” and include the following groups 2022-2023:
- 2SLGBTQ+; and
- Persons with disabilities
Gender Balance Requirement in the PE allocation:
- Beginning in 2022-2023, the CMF will expand its gender balance initiatives to include “individuals that identify as women”. Individuals that meet this broadened definition will now count for any CMF Program that has a gender initiative, include the Performance Envelope Gender Parity Obligation.
Details on the Performance Envelope factors can be found in the Performance Envelope Manual.
Calculations
Audience success
Audience success calculations are based on the total hours tuned that a broadcaster generated for programs previously funded in a given broadcast year. Broadcasters submit their own total hours tuned calculations for review by the CMF and inclusion in audience success calculations.
Relevant documents for 2021-2022 broadcast year submissions (for 2023-2024 Performance Envelope Calculations):
NEW Submission Templates
Below is an .XLS file template to submit the required hours tuned calculations for program coded stations, and a .ist file that may be imported into the NLogic software (Infosys+TV) to extract the AS calculation data; instructions for this can be found in the Overview document.
Download .ist and .xls Templates
Broadcaster Submissions
The CMF enables participating broadcasters to review all total hours tuned submissions. This is a password-protected section that is solely for the use of broadcasters who have submitted total hours tuned information to be reviewed by the CMF. Login information has been provided to participating broadcasters.
Historic Performance
Historic Performance
This list is a companion to the review of Development Historic Performance eligible licences and shows CMF funding eligible for Historic Performance factor credit.
Manuals
The Performance Envelope Manual explains the management and administration policies of the Performance Envelope Program for broadcasters. It outlines the methodology by which envelopes are calculated, as well as the policies which govern their management and usage. This manual is published as a companion to the Performance Envelope Program Guidelines, which include information largely geared towards project funding eligibility criteria.
The Development Manual provides broadcasters with a guide to the Development Program’s envelope system, details on the methodology by which the funding envelopes are calculated, as well as the policies which govern their management and usage. This manual is published as a companion to the Development Program Guidelines.