BANFF, AB – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) helped to create 2,210 hours of new Canadian programming last year, through 475 productions and 325 development projects.
The organization released funding highlights from its 2008-2009 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, 2009, from the Banff Television Festival.
Its $2 million digital media pilot program launched to “extraordinary demand”, with all funds allocated within the first six weeks, supporting 20 English and 10 French productions. The $5 million production incentive pilot program, designed to support English production in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where volumes had dropped "significantly", was also entirely allocated, benefiting 11 projects from Quebec and 16 projects from Atlantic Canada.
“Over the past year, the CTF funded a greater number of productions through the disbursement of 12% more funding compared to the average of the four prior years,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the CTF, in the announcement. “Our streams of funding were expanded to support the industry’s move towards new media.”
CTF’s revenues for the year were $316 million, with an 11% increase in the contribution from BDUs and a “stable” contribution from the Department of Canadian Heritage, the announcement continued. Administrative expenses were limited to 4.3% of revenues, including costs incurred by both the CTF itself and the television business unit at Telefilm Canada, which administers the CTF’s programs.
The CTF supports the development of Canadian talent, programs and audiences through financial investment and industry research. The Canada Media Fund, an amalgamation of the CTF and the Canada New Media Fund, will launch on April 1, 2010 to support the development of content designed for television and new media platforms.
