Television Production Fund Extended to 2001
TORONTO, February 13, 1998 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced funding for the Canada Television and Cable Production Fund (CTCPF) will be extended to 2001 and will remain at the current (1997-98) level."The production fund is a proven success, culturally and economically," said Minister Copps. "The Government's decision to extend the program is a recognition of that success and of the importance we attach to Canadian cultural expression. Canadians have a right to see and hear their own stories on television -- the most powerful cultural medium of our time."
The production fund, a public sector-private sector partnership, was created in September 1996, on a three-year basis. For 1996-97 and 1997-98, the federal government contributed $100 million plus $50 million from Telefilm Canada. The cable industry's Production Fund added about $50 million to the Fund, for a total of $200 million per year. In addition to the contribution from Telefilm, the federal government's share will be $100 million for each of the next three years.
"I am delighted that the Government has decided to continue the program at current levels for the next three years. This is a good investment. In the first full year of operation, the fund was decisive in generating more than 2,200 hours of Canadian programming. This supported 19,600 full and part-time jobs in all regions of the country, and leveraged a total of $625 million in TV and film production activity," said Minister Copps. "Producers and broadcasters can proceed with confidence in planning programming which reflects Canadian culture and identity."
The Fund encourages programming in the essential categories of drama, variety, children's programming, documentaries, and performing arts, in English, French and Aboriginal languages.
Any Canadian-controlled production entity may apply for financing. Fifty per cent of the Fund each year goes towards independent production made in co-operation with the CBC.
The Canada Television and Cable Production Fund is an independent, non-profit corporation, governed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from the television, cable, production and film and video distribution industries, plus representatives from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Telefilm Canada.
Information:
Jacques Lefebvre
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819)997-7788
BACKGROUNDER
THE CANADA TELEVISION AND CABLE PRODUCTION FUND (CTCPF):
Reflects Canada to Canadians.
More than 2,200 hours of high-quality prime-time programming from all regions of Canada were produced in its first year of operation.
Creates specialized, highly skilled and well-paid jobs.
Funded projects employed 19,600 Canadians in one year.
Maintains and increases a distinct Canadian presence in an expanding competitive, national and international market.
Combines public and private funding. The CTCPF is unique in the film and television industry, marrying government funds and money contributed from cable and other distributors to stimulate the broadcast presence of high-quality Canadian programming.
WHY EXTEND THE FUND?
The CTCPF supports the creation of stories and information that reflect Canada to Canadians.
The Fund also acts as a powerful economic engine, providing vital financing for Canadian producers. The direct spin-offs and the indirect economic benefits of this funding are substantial. Last year's $196.6 million contribution translated into more than $625 million in Canadian television productions across the country.
Without crucial funding from the CTCPF, many of these projects would never reach television audiences in Canada and abroad.
Film production provides excellent opportunities for people just beginning their careers. Union/Guild apprenticeship programs, the labour intensive nature of the work and the required mobility for location shooting, offer excellent opportunities for youth employment in highly skilled, well-paying jobs.
WHAT DID THE CTCPF CREATE?
A Canadian Reflection
In a single year, the CTCPF helped create 2,221 hours of programming to be shown in prime-time on Canadian television screens. That's a total of 376 new, quality Canadian programs to be aired during peak viewing hours (7-11 p.m.), or in children's prime time.
Hours by Genre
1995-96 1996-97
Children's* 284 hours 724 hours
Documentary 292 hours 543 hours
Drama 457 hours 614 hours
Performing Arts 22 hours 73 hours
Variety 100 hours 239 hours
Feature films** na 28 hours
Total 1,155 hours 2,221 hours
Children's programming experienced a veritable explosion, a 155 per cent increase in production. These viewers are the future of our country.
Represents a total of 14 new features.
HOW DOES THE CTCPF DISTRIBUTION BREAK DOWN REGIONALLY?
Regional Distribution
1995-96 1996-97
British Columbia $5.3 million $15.0 million
Prairies $17.2 million $21.4 million
Ontario $41.1 million $66.5 million
Quebec $41.2 million $76.4 million
Atlantic $4.2 million $17.5 million
Regional Production
1995-96 1996-97
Number of projects 59 109
Hours of Production 175 320
HOW DOES THE CTCPF OPERATE?
The CTCPF is one fund with a $200 million per year budget, made up of two complementary Programs whose mission is to increase the quality and quantity of Canadian programming and to enhance the broadcast system's capacity to produce and distribute domestic programming.
Each program evolved from an existing funding initiative: the Licence Fee Program (LFP) is based on the former Cable Production Fund, a private initiative of the Canadian cable industry, and the Equity Investment Program (EIP) is founded on the Canadian Broadcast Program Development Fund and is administered by Telefilm Canada.
Licence Fee Program
A market-driven funding initiative which uses objective industry-oriented criteria and a first-come, first-served process to offer audience-pleasing programming as established by the Canadian broadcasting market.
Head: Garry Toth, Executive Director, CTCPF - LFP
Equity Investment Program
Dedicated to funding culturally significant high-quality programming, the EIP selects its projects to bring out the best in every genre to audiences across Canada and abroad.
Head: François Macerola, Administrator of the CTCPF - EIP, and Executive Director, Telefilm Canada
Together, these programs support high-quality, distinctly Canadian projects, and have transformed the funding process for producers and broadcasters from all regions of the country in English, French and Aboriginal languages.
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