VANCOUVER, B.C. – Telus announced today it is launching a new fund to help finance the creation of digital and TV productions focused on promoting health and well-being.
The Telus Fund, which will be an independently governed not-for-profit, plans to support 10 to 20 projects a year with up to $250,000 per project. Its mandate is to encourage the development and production of Canadian content showcasing social and technological innovation in the field of health and wellness.
“The Telus Fund reflects another step in our continuing commitment to realize social and technological innovation in this critically important sector. We are proud that the incredible success of Optik TV is enabling us, through the creation of the Telus Fund, to further contribute to the health and well-being of all Canadians,” said Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle in a release.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Canadians to interact with health and wellness content supported by the Telus Fund on their televisions, smartphones, tablets and laptops, at home and on the move,” said Nini Baird, chair of the Telus Fund.
To apply to the fund, Canadian production companies must have a successful track record in delivering professional multi-platform projects, and also have sufficient financing and the necessary copyright permissions to create the content.
The health and wellness content must have obtained a licence fee from a Canadian programming service, meet certification requirements of the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office and be produced for multiple platforms.
Funding decisions will be made by the fund’s board of directors, which is comprised of experts in the media and health and wellness fields.
The first application deadline is 5 p.m. PST October 18, 2013. For application forms and information visit www.telusfund.ca.
