5.2 Canadian television

Financing

Exhibit 5-2 a) Financing of Canadian television production: All languages

2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25
Private broadcaster licence fees292564599443431
Public broadcaster licence fees338397399420434
Federal tax credit (1)250372399342337
Provincial tax credits (1)443705749615614
Canadian distributors (2)305404462345416
Foreign pre-sales and advances (3)309460464409340
Canada Media Fund (4)278280281290283
CIPFs (5)5052424035
Other public (6)65155195134121
Other private (7)48161200183144
Total2,3763,5503,7893,2203,155

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO, CMF, Telefilm Canada and CIPFs.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(2) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(3) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(4) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(5) Includes data from the Bell Fund, Eastlink TV Independent Production Fund Program, Independent Production Fund, Indigenous Screen Office Fund, Quebecor Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and TELUS Fund. Excludes data for Black Screen Office Fund, and Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

The decline in Canadian television production in English, bilingual format or non-official languages (–3.9%) in 2024/25 was attributable to lower levels of financing from foreign pre-sales and advances, private Canadian broadcaster licence fees, and other Canadian public and private financing. Financing from Canadian distributors and Canadian public broadcasters, however, did increase in 2024/25.

Exhibit 5-2 b) Financing of Canadian television production: English-language, bilingual format and non-official languages

2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25
Private broadcaster licence fees139259302204185
Public broadcaster licence fees155206199178185
Federal tax credit (1)173259285230225
Provincial tax credits (1)333550593468457
Canadian distributors (2)301397454331410
Foreign pre-sales and advances (3)309450463404336
Canada Media Fund (4)187189188187182
CIPFs (5)3536312826
Other public (6)177113110071
Other private (7)1610512912693
Total1,6642,5232,7752,2562,169

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO, CMF, Telefilm Canada and CIPFs.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(2) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(3) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(4) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(5) Includes data from the Bell Fund, Eastlink TV Independent Production Fund Program, Independent Production Fund, Indigenous Screen Office Fund, Quebecor Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and TELUS Fund. Excludes data for Black Screen Office Fund, and Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

Exhibit 5-2 c) Financing of Canadian television production: French-language

2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25
Private broadcaster licence fees152306297239246
Public broadcaster licence fees184192200241249
Federal tax credit (1)77113114112112
Provincial tax credits (1)109155155147157
Canadian distributors (2)479135
Foreign pre-sales and advances (3)010154
Canada Media Fund (4)919192103101
CIPFs (5)151611129
Other public (6)4883643450
Other private (7)3256715751
Total7121,0281,014964986

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO, CMF, Telefilm Canada and CIPFs.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(2) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(3) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(4) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(5) Includes data from the Bell Fund, Eastlink TV Independent Production Fund Program, Independent Production Fund, Indigenous Screen Office Fund, Quebecor Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and TELUS Fund. Excludes data for Black Screen Office Fund, and Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

Foreign pre-sales and advances, and Canadian distributors remained the largest sources of financing for Canadian TV movie production in 2024/25. Canadian broadcasters, the CMF, direct public funding and other private sources also contributed to the financing of Canadian TV movie production, but at much smaller levels than the two largest sources.

Exhibit 5-2 d) Financing of Canadian television production: TV movies (all languages)

2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25
Private broadcaster licence fees8919137
Public broadcaster licence fees02432
Federal tax credit (1)4347655044
Provincial tax credits (1)97109147113105
Canadian distributors (2)9310212911394
Foreign pre-sales and advances (3)146152209159129
Canada Media Fund (4)3815126
Other public (6)615171618
Other private (7)1123261537
Total407467631493440

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO, CMF, Telefilm Canada and CIPFs.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(2) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(3) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(4) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(5) Includes data from the Bell Fund, Eastlink TV Independent Production Fund Program, Independent Production Fund, Indigenous Screen Office Fund, Quebecor Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and TELUS Fund. Excludes data for Black Screen Office Fund, and Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

Canadian broadcasters played a significant role in the financing of lifestyle and human interest, and variety and performing arts production in 2024/25. In the fiction, and children’s and youth categories Canadian distributors played a relatively larger financing role than Canadian broadcasters. While in the documentary category, Canadian producers relied almost equally on Canadian broadcasters (25%) and Canadian distributors and foreign sources (21%).

Exhibit 5-3 a) Financing of Canadian television production, by category, 2024/25: All languages

FictionChildren's and youthDocumentaryLifestyle and human interest (1)Variety and performing artsAll categories
Private broadcaster licence fees147135718134431
Public broadcaster licence fees192493811045434
Federal tax credit (2)18243385520337
Provincial tax credits (2)36489755928614
Canadian distributors (3)22613242141416
Foreign pre-sales and advances (4)275203852340
Canada Media Fund (5)1603072021283
Other public (6)731510168121
Other private (7)120119327179
Total1,7384013794711663,155

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO and CMF.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Includes magazine programming and a small amount of programming that was previously allocated to the educational/instructional category.
(2) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(3) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(4) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(5) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

In English-language Canadian television production, Canadian broadcasters played a significant role in the financing of lifestyle and human interest, and variety and performing arts production in 2024/25. Meanwhile, in the fiction, and children’s and youth categories, Canadian broadcasters played an even smaller financing role than observed across all Canadian television production. Canadian distributors and foreign sources played a relatively larger financing role those categories. The production of English-language documentary television production also relied more heavily on financing from Canadian distributors, foreign sources and the CMF.

Exhibit 5-3 b) Financing of Canadian television production, by category, 2024/25: English-language, bilingual format and non-official languages

FictionChildren's and youthDocumentaryLifestyle and human interest (1)Variety and performing artsAll categories
Private broadcaster licence fees657366710185
Public broadcaster licence fees110920441185
Federal tax credit (2)1403227233225
Provincial tax credits (2)2956656354457
Canadian distributors (3)22213242140410
Foreign pre-sales and advances (4)275203740336
Canada Media Fund (5)109165007182
Other public (6)476511271
Other private (7)9277121119
Total1,355295281209292,169

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO and CMF.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Includes magazine programming and a small amount of programming that was previously allocated to the educational/instructional category.
(2) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(3) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(4) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(5) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.

In French-language Canadian television production, Canadian broadcasters played a significant role in financing across all categories in 2024/25, particularly in the lifestyle, and human interest and variety and performing arts categories. Meanwhile, Canadian distributors and foreign sources had a much more limited role (compared to English-language television production) in all categories.

Exhibit 5-3 c) Financing of Canadian television production, by category, 2024/25: French-language

FictionChildren's and youthDocumentaryLifestyle and human interest (1)Variety and performing artsAll categories
Private broadcaster licence fees8252211424246
Public broadcaster licence fees8240186644249
Federal tax credit (2)4211103316112
Provincial tax credits (2)6922182424157
Canadian distributors (3)400015
Foreign pre-sales and advances (4)001124
Canada Media Fund (5)511422014101
Other public (6)26955650
Other private (7)284220660
Total38310698262137986

Source:
Estimates based on data obtained from CAVCO and CMF.

Note:
Some totals may not sum due to rounding. Data includes an estimate of CRTC-certified television production.
(1) Includes magazine programming and a small amount of programming that was previously allocated to the educational/instructional category.
(2) Canadian production companies receive federal and provincial tax credits based on their eligible expenditures, and, in almost all cases, invest their tax credits directly into their television projects, in order to complete their project financing.
(3) Canadian distributors’ financing includes minimum guarantees and advances invested in television programs and theatrical feature films in exchange for rights to market, license and exhibit the audiovisual productions in Canada, unsold territories outside of Canada or on global distribution platforms.
(4) Foreign pre-sales and advances include broadcast licence fees, minimum guarantees, advances and other forms of financing from broadcasters, distributors or other organizations based outside of Canada.
(5) Only programming in the fiction, children’s and youth, documentary and variety and performing arts categories is eligible for CMF funding.
(6) ‘Other public’ includes financing from provincial governments (excluding SODEC), and other federal government departments and agencies; excludes federal and provincial tax credits, Canadian public broadcasters’ licence fees and funding from Telefilm Canada.
(7) ‘Other private’ includes financing from production companies (excluding the tax credit contribution), broadcaster equity and other Canadian private investors.