The CRTC has issued a follow-up decision, approving a number of Certified Independent Production Funds (CIPFs) to receive contributions from online streaming services.
The approvals – which include applications from the Bell Fund, the Independent Production Fund, and the Telus Fund – follows the commission’s 2024 decision on base contributions under the Online Streaming Act, requiring certain audio-visual online undertakings to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues as a base contribution to support the Canadian broadcasting system.
That decision outlined that the new funding stream be directed to areas of immediate need, including producers from official language minority communities (OLMCs) and those from diverse communities.
Eligible funds will have to establish a permanent envelope by Oct. 7, allocating at least 10% of the total budget (consisting of contributions from audio-visual online undertakings to CIPFs supporting producers from OLMCs and diverse communities) to the envelope, of which 50% is dedicated to OLMC producers (in either language) and 50% to producers from diverse communities.
The commission said in a release that the funding stream will enhance financial support to CIPFs that serve those communities, supporting “a more inclusive broadcasting system while enhancing diversity and storytelling across Canada.”
The CRTC conditionally approved applications from the Quebecor Fund, the Telefilm Talent Fund, and the Shaw Rocket Fund, subject to fulfilling certain requirements.
