MONTREAL – The Cogeco Program Development Fund took its final bow after 25 years of supporting the development and production of Canadian series, TV movies, pilots, and web series.
As Cartt.ca reported, the Fund, now known simply as the Cogeco Fund, transferred its program funding to its long standing partner the Independent Production Fund (IPF) effective January 1, 2018.
According to the 2017 Annual Report, which covers the 16-month period from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017, the Fund supported the development of eight web series in French and 11 web series in English, as well as the production of eight television programs in French and 14 television programs in English, for a total financial commitment of $3.01 million.
Since its inception in 1991, the Fund has supported 627 projects at the development stage and 304 projects at the production stage, for a total financial commitment of $54.6 million. In addition to the initial $5 million capital endowment fund, Cogeco has contributed over $44.7 million to the Fund through its licensed cable television systems.
“The Cogeco Fund, as it is now renamed, will remain as a Canadian non-profit corporation with the mission of supporting the Canadian program production sector solely through grants for the sponsorship of events or prizes, using proceeds from its restricted capital endowment funds”, wrote president Yves Mayrand in the report.
