OTTAWA – The Prime Time in Ottawa got underway Thursday with news that the CMPA will now be known as the Canadian Media Producers Association, a brand that it says more accurately reflects its membership.
The trade association for independent producers now represents more than 350 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films and digital media.
The organization also released a new report urging Canadian content creators to think strategically about partnerships, acquisitions and mergers in order to grow their businesses. Entitled Strengthening the Business: Capitalizing Canada’s Content Business, the study discusses how traditional content entrepreneurs can attract increased investor activity by learning the basic ‘rules of the road’ and reassessing the management tools used by their companies.
The report also offers a comparative analysis of the current investment climate for media deals in the U.S. and Canada. It claims that venture capital investment is more limited in Canada than the U.S. because investors are largely interested in technology-based media opportunities, even if they are content players. It highlights companies like DHX, eOne and 9 Story as recent Canadian examples of success that have made acquisitions in other production financing territories like the U.S, U.K and Europe.
“In order for Canadian content businesses to reach their maximum growth potential, they must develop and constantly refine a concerted corporate strategy,” said report author Catherine Tait of Duopoly, in the news release. “Companies need to set business objectives and execute upon them – everything from thinking about expanding into global markets, finding new revenue streams or entering into new lines of business.”
