Sweeping changes to Bell fund see new focus away from innovation, more cash

Technological or other innovations will no longer be the key requirement to trigger Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund assistance under a series of sweeping changes undertaken by the fund’s executive. New guidelines will see "excellence" replace innovation while successful projects will receive more cash with more advantageous payment terms. In a July 7 release, the fund announced new administration and evaluation procedures, marketing and promotional opportunities, an increase in funding caps, a new funding bonus, a dropped previous requirement for a 10% third-party cash requirement, and the extension of full funding into the second and later seasons of projects. Bell Fund executive director Andra Sheffer says the changes were made to reflect a new reality in new media, one in which innovations have already been made and for which producers would like the freedom to find ways to capitalize on. "The feedback we got from the industry has been that innovation has been a great motivating factor to date because it’s allowed them to push the envelope on trying new things, experimenting," she tells Canadian NEW MEDIA. "They, in their heart of hearts, really liked being tested. But the reality is, now, they felt they innovated a lot of terrific things and they wanted to use those things again…The reality is we can’t keep pushing innovation forever, and now we’re looking for really excellent use…We’re still looking for something that makes us go wow, but now it doesn’t have to be, necessarily, innovative. It can just be excellent." Toward that end, Sheffer says productions such as Degrassi: The Next Generation will now qualify for funding in their third seasons, for example. Sheffer says that in the fund’s early days, it was expected that new media properties would be able to support themselves after two seasons, but the environment is such that further assistance is required. "Why do you demand more from the new media producer than you do from the TV producer? We expect TV producers to be subsidized no matter how many seasons they have. We have to expect that that’s the reality for new media as well. But, having said that, we do want to see them find other financial sources by the second or third season of the production." Another major change will be a new 75% cap on funding, up to $250,000. The cap was previously 50%. While some funds, notably the Canada New Media Fund, struggle with few resources and over-subscription, Sheffer says increasing funds from satellite TV operator Bell ExpressVu LP mean the funding caps on new media projects can be raised without reducing the number of projects. She says the change is partly a response to the struggle companies face to raise funds outside the Bell Fund. "For a little while there was the Canada New Media Fund. But the reality of that is that they are not funding all of the projects that we are funding, and we don’t know what its future holds, and there aren’t really any other good solid sources of funding for 50% of the projects." The Bell Fund will also now provide a new funding bonus to match broadcaster cash contributions up to $50,000, which means the fund could theoretically provide a maximum of $300,000 to new media projects. Sheffer holds in reserve a discussion about a recently completed report, Beyond Rating - New Metrics for New Media, that will serve as a base for further industry research activities. The only information available comes from a media release, which notes: "It will design and support professional development programs to provide training in areas identified by the industry as requiring development." Sheffer promises further details soon. Other activities being contemplated by the fund would include a greater role internationally - Sheffer mentions internationally produced CyberPitches, for example - though no details are yet hammered out. "We’re going to go really slowly and gently here and figure out what’s really going to pay off for the industry." The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund announced the winners of its May 1 round of applications. Full details are available here.

Sweeping changes to Bell fund see new focus away from innovation, more cash

News | 07/11/2003 4:00 am EDT

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