The Commission has reviewed its policy framework for Certified Independent Production Funds (CIPFs) to ensure that CIPFs contribute to the development of a robust Canadian production sector and that they have the flexibility necessary to operate in an increasingly multi-platform environment. A robust and forward-looking Canadian production sector will be better able to offer compelling high-quality content to Canadians and to global audiences.Â
The Commission is making the following changes to its policy framework:
- Eliminating the requirement that producers obtain a broadcast licence or development agreement to receive CIPF funding.
This will foster innovation and provide flexibility to both the CIPFs and producers to fund and create a wide variety of productions, destined for all platforms. - Redefining “new media content” to include only “non-programming digital content” and maintaining the 10% cap on funding for such content. No limits will be placed on the funding of programming regardless of the platform on which it may be broadcast.
This will ensure CIPF funding is focused on programming content that will enhance and benefit the Canadian broadcasting system. - Allowing CIPFs to fund productions achieving at least six Canadian certification points, and include the pilot projects recognized by the Commission.
A reduction in the minimum Canadian certification points requirement will allow more productions to be eligible for CIPF funding. Canadian production companies will be able to benefit from expertise from abroad. - Including co-ventures in productions eligible to receive CIPF funding.
Permitting CIPFs to fund productions that are created in collaboration with non-treaty international partners will give Canadian producers involved in co-ventures access to a new funding stream and will assist in the discoverability of these projects and of the Canadian talent involved. - Allowing and encouraging CIPFs to allocate funding for script and concept development.
This type of funding will give producers the ability to produce higher quality and “exportable” productions by allowing them to better develop their project or concept at an earlier stage of production. - Allowing and encouraging CIPFs to allocate funding for promotion and discoverability.
Funding promotion and discoverability is an important element in the success of a project. - Requiring all CIPFs to introduce a system to measure success.
Instituting evaluative measures that examine the success of the projects funded will enable the Commission and the public to understand the manner in which public funds are expended and how they have benefited the Canadian broadcasting system. - Requiring that all programming supported by CIPFs, regardless of the platform on which it is distributed, be closed captioned and provided with described video.
Making accessibility a consideration early in the creative process—not only in post-production—will help create a cultural shift that will result in accessibility becoming just another consideration in the regular course of doing business. - Requiring that at least one member of a CIPF’s project selection committee is responsible for ensuring that official language minority communities’ (OLMCs’) reflection and issues are taken into account.
This is to ensure that the needs of OLMCs are considered when projects are selected. - Amending the governance rules relative to the composition of the board as well as to the funding decision criteria.
The updates emphasize the importance of the board’s independence from all private funding entities, including broadcasting distribution undertakings, broadcasters and their affiliates, and the notion that CIPF funding should not be self-serving. - Requiring all CIPFs to report annually on their activities to ensure transparency and accountability.
This policy replaces the policy entitled Contributions to Canadian programming by broadcasting distribution undertakings. The revised policy will be effective 1 September 2016.Â
