9 Distribution

Canada’s distribution industry includes both Canadian-controlled and foreign-controlled companies that distribute film and television content through movie theatres, television broadcasters, the wholesaling of physical media and other video platforms. Leading Canadian-controlled distribution companies include Elevation Pictures and Immina Films, as well as the distribution divisions of Canadian independent production companies such as Cineflix Media. Foreign-controlled distribution companies operating in Canada include the distribution arms of major Hollywood studios.

Note: As of 2011, Statistics Canada publishes data for the audiovisual distribution industry on a biennial basis only. As a result, industry revenue data are not available for 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. The most recent year for which revenue data have been published is 2023. Data on distributor investment in Canadian film and television production are sourced from the Canadian Audio-visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and are available on an annual fiscal-year basis.

Highlights from 2023 and 2024/25

  • Total revenue for the Canadian distribution industry increased by 14.9% between 2021 and 2023, reaching $1.59 billion.
  • Revenue from the distribution of Canadian films and television programs increased by 3.2% in 2023 (compared with 2021), totalling $230 million.
  • Sales of Canadian films and television programs to foreign markets increased by 16.7% in 2023 (compared with 2021), reaching $126 million.
  • Revenue generated from the distribution of Canadian films and television programs represented 14.4% of total industry revenue in 2023, down from 16.1% in 2021.
  • Canadian distributors’ investment in Canadian films and television programs increased by 16.2% in 2024/25 (compared with 2023/24), and totalled $449 million.

9.1 Revenue

Distribution

Based on the most recently published data from Statistics Canada, total revenue of the Canadian audiovisual distribution industry increased by 14.9% between 2021 and 2023 to a total of $1.59 billion.

Exhibit 9-1 Total revenue in the Canadian distribution industry

Source:
Statistics Canada, Table 21-10-0075-01.

Note:
Beginning with 2013, Statistics Canada adopted a new methodology for measuring total revenue in the film and video distribution industry. For that reason, the figures reported before and after 2012 may not be directly comparable for the purpose of time-series analysis.
n/a: No data available. As of 2011, Statistics Canada only publishes data on a biennial basis. For that reason, no data is available for 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
* Includes revenue from the wholesaling of pre-recorded video, production of audiovisual works for outright sale, contract production of audiovisual works, and other sources.

Revenue from the distribution of Canadian films and television programs increased by 3.2% in 2023 (compared with 2021) to a total of $230 million. This revenue accounted for 14.4% of total industry revenue in that year, down from 16.1% in 2021.

Exhibit 9-2 Revenue from the distribution of Canadian film and television content, by market

Source:
Statistics Canada, Table 21-10-0074-01.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding.
n/a: No data available.
* As of 2011, Statistics Canada only publishes data on a biennial basis. For that reason, no data is available for 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.