Total TV and film production volume was down by 18.5% in Canada compared to last year, according to data released by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).
Profile 2024: An Economic Report on the Screen-based Media Production Industry in Canada indicates that between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, the media production sector in Canada created 179,130 jobs, and generated $9.58 billion in production volume, contributing $11.04 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2023/24.
Despite pandemic growth in 2021/22 and 2022/23, total production volume declined by 18.5% in 2023/24, which the CMPA says reflects a significant downturn in economic activity across domestic and foreign production in Canada, driven in part by two lengthy U.S. labour strikes, and a slowdown in commissioning of Canadian content – most notably in English-language television – from broadcasters.
“The numbers released in today’s report starkly confirm the significant economic slowdown that Canadian producers and creators have faced over the past 18 months,” said CMPA President and CEO Reynolds Mastin, in a release. “While this downturn affects the entire industry, small production companies and those working in the kids and animation sector have been hit particularly hard.”
The CMPA says while the CRTC is requiring base contribution requirements for foreign streamers to support Canadian programming, starting in August 2025, the positive impacts of that decision won’t be felt for some time. Foreign streamers – including Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Paramount – have been granted a hearing challenging the requirement in the Federal Court of Appeal.
The CMPA’s next update, Profile 2025, which will cover the period from April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025, will be released in fall 2025.
A summary of the key findings, along with the full report, can be found on the CMPA’s website.
