Envelope Administration
The Envelope Administration section provides broadcasters with information concerning the Broadcaster Envelope Program. At the beginning of each fiscal year, Canadian broadcasters that participate in CMF’s Envelope Program receive allocations of funds known as Broadcaster Envelope Allocations. Allocations are distributed by language to English-language and French-language broadcasters. Broadcasters of programming in languages other than English, French and Indigenous receive Diverse Languages allocations.
Allocations
Broadcaster Envelope Program funds are allocated to broadcasters at the beginning of each fiscal year based on past performance in commissioning and airing linear content projects.
On May 1, 2025, 23 English, 11 French, and 5 Diverse Languages broadcasters received Broadcaster Envelope (BE) Allocations from the program budget for use in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. English broadcasters shared $130.0 million in envelope funds, $67.7 million was shared among French broadcasters and $3.6 million was shared by Diverse Languages broadcasters.
Alternative Access option:
Broadcasters that have not generated a BE Allocation for 2025-2026 are eligible for Alternative Access to the Broadcaster 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 BE commitment to an Eligible Project, until the entire Alternative Access budget is spent. Eligible English and French Broadcasters are limited to $150,000 in total BE commitments in 2025-2026. Eligible Diverse Language Broadcasters are limited to $110,000 in total BE commitments in 2025-2026. $1,500,000 has been allocated to English broadcasters through Alternative Access, $500,000 has been allocated to French broadcasters, and $220,000 for Diverse Languages broadcasters.
| Genre Shares of 2025-2026 BE Budget | English Envelopes | French Envelopes |
| Drama | 56% | 51% |
| Documentary Series | 13% | 13% |
| Documentary One-offs | 6% | 7% |
| Children and Youth | 22% | 22% |
| Variety & Performing Arts | 3% | 7% |
Some Broadcasters saw 2025-2026 BE Allocations that were significantly below their 2024-2025 BE Allocations. In order to provide as much stability to the system as possible, on a one-time only basis the CMF has offered broadcasters with year-over-year losses over $4.5 million an advance against future BE Allocations. BE Allocation Advances that are accepted will be repaid from these broadcasters’ future BE Allocations over a 3-year period. The list of broadcasters receiving BE Allocation Advances is included in the downloadable BE Allocation list shown above.
Change for the 2026-2027 BE Allocation Calculations:
- The Weights for the Audience Success – Total Hours Tuned, Regional Production Licences (English only), and Diverse Community (Ownership) Production Licences (French only) Performance Factors have changed for the 2026-2027 calculation of Broadcaster Envelope Allocations (see section 4.4.1 of the Broadcaster Envelope Manual).
| 2026-2027 Factors and Weights |
English | French | Diverse Languages |
| AUDIENCE SUCCESS – TOTAL HOURS TUNED | 35% | 40% | 0% |
| PRODUCTION HISTORIC PERFORMANCE | 0% | 10% | 80% |
| REGIONAL PRODUCTION LICENCES | 25% | 15% | 0% |
| DIVERSE COMMUNITY (OWNERSHIP) PRODUCTION LICENCES | 15% | 10% | 0% |
| DIVERSE COMMUNITY (KEY PERSONNEL) PRODUCTION LICENCES | 5% | 5% | 10% |
| GENDER BALANCE (OWNERSHIP) PRODUCTION LICENCES | 5% | 5% | 0% |
| GENDER BALANCE (KEY PERSONNEL) PRODUCTION LICENCES | 0% | 0% | 10% |
| DEVELOPMENT HISTORIC PERFORMANCE | 10% | 10% | 0% |
| INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION | 5% | 5% | 0% |
| TOTAL | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Change for the use of 2025-2026 BE Allocations:
- Use of the Alternative Access Allocation requires an accompanying minimum Eligible Licence Fee of $5,000 in the application (see section 3.2 of the Broadcaster Envelope Manual).
Details on the Broadcaster Envelope allocations can be found in the Broadcaster Envelope Manual.
Manual
The Broadcaster Envelope Manual explains the management and administration policies of the Broadcaster 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 Broadcaster Envelope Program Guidelines, which include information largely geared towards project funding eligibility criteria.