TORONTO – The Canada Media Fund (CMF) triggered more than $1 billion in production activity across Canada in 2010-2011, according to its first annual report released Monday.
Through contributions from the Government and the country’s largest television service providers, the CMF provides financial support to the Canadian television and digital media industries through two streams of funding. The Experimental Stream supports the creation of leading-edge, interactive, digital media content and software applications, while the Convergent Stream supports the creation of innovative, convergent television and digital media content for consumption by Canadians anytime, anywhere.
The inaugural slate of CMF programs were designed with input from the industry after the organization held 23 outreach sessions in 19 cities across the country. Open to all stakeholders and the public, more than 550 participants attended.
Highlights from the report include:
– 27 CMF-funded programs achieved audiences of over one million viewers on average;
– The top performing CMF-funded English series, Rookie Blue, garnered over 1.8 million viewers on average;
– The top performing CMF-funded French series, Lance et Compte – le grand duel, garnered over 1.5 million viewers on average;
– CMF-funded programs were sold into 45 countries and regions, spanning all continents;
– 90 CMF-funded projects won over 177 prizes in 17 Canadian competitions and 6 international competitions; and
– 42 innovative, interactive production projects were supported through the Experimental Stream, including console and on-line games, software, interactive web content such as web series, portals and social networks, as well as mobile apps. These projects are expected to hit the market starting in 2012-2013.
“While the success of our support can be measured in terms of the record number of projects produced, it is equally important to note that CMF-funded programs continue to connect with Canadian audiences and are also increasingly attracting the attention of international buyers and being aired more and more on foreign networks,” said CMF president and CEO, Valerie Creighton, in a statement. “CMF-funded projects also continue to garner industry-wide recognition at major awards ceremonies, both at home and abroad.”
Click here to access the annual report on-line.
