Fund whose criteria confused new media producers supporting Canadian Idol

The fund that had new media producers last year griping about its seemingly conflicting criteria is being used to fund CTV Inc.’s Canadian Idol. As much as $5.6 million of the $8-million program could be coming from the Groundbreaker Fund, much to the dismay of new media producers who say that financing a rip-off of an American show is uninspired and fails to push the boundaries of interactivity. "How much - and how (the funding) is spent - is not something we will disclose," said a CTV spokesman in an email. "Besides being the most ambitious interactive series CTV has ever put forward, it allows CTV to take the first step toward more innovation and interactivity with Canadian viewers." The spokesman would not confirm nor deny the $8-million budget figure. The Groundbreaker Fund is a $23-million, six-year source of funding for convergence projects provided as part of the massive public benefits package associated with BCE Inc.’s acquisition of CTV in 2000. The Groundbreaker Fund sat untapped for an extended period as new media producers struggled to understand its criteria. At the International New Media Festival last October in Prince Edward Island, consultant to the CTV fund Andrew Cochran told producers that the programming had to offer something that currently didn’t exist on television and was innovative. Many producers are now questioning whether a copycat of a well-branded U.S. reality show should be considered innovative or new. While Canadian Idol’s web site is a virtual copy of its American parent’s, CTV officials tout the fact that it has been able to reach an agreement with Canada’s four wireless phone carriers to text message votes and play show-related games. Back in October, festival delegates wondered aloud whether the fund aimed at generating quality interactive television content would meet industry needs (CCR, Oct. 24/02). In backroom corridors of the festival, producers asked how a program could be cutting-edge but also meant for mainstream prime time, and how the interactive elements could be integral to the production yet the show also be able to stand alone. As well, producers criticized the regional requirement when most of the limited number of Canadian multimedia companies of repute are located in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. Canadian Idol is produced by CTV in association with Insight Productions, along with Atlantic Canada-based Rink Rat Productions and Alberta-based Aquila Productions, apparently meeting the letter of the Groundbreaker Fund’s guidelines. The fund can be used to support up to 70% of a project’s budget, Cochran said at the festival. Only one other project is known to have received support from the Groundbreaker Fund - Corner Gas. Cochran, who has finished his consulting contract with CTV on the fund, is working in an unknown capacity on that project. For reaction from the new media community, see the July 11, 2003 issue of CCR affiliate publication Canadian NEW MEDIA.

Fund whose criteria confused new media producers supporting Canadian Idol

Broadcast | July 17, 2003

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Fund whose criteria confused new media producers supporting Canadian Idol

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