CRTC approves production funds eligible to receive payments from online streamers

The CRTC has approved several Certified Independent Production Funds (CIPFs) as eligible to receive contributions from streamers through the Online Streaming Act. In a decision released Friday, Aug. 8, the commission granted applications from the Bell Fund, the Independent Production Fund, and the TELUS fund, each of which sought to be eligible to receive the portion of base contributions aimed at supporting producers from official language minority communities (OLMCs) and diverse communities. The regulator also gave conditional approval to the Quebecor Fund, Telefilm Canada’s Talent Fund, and the Shaw Rocket Fund. The approvals stem from last year’s CRTC decision requiring online streaming services generating over $25 million in annual Canadian revenues to pay a base contribution of five per cent of those revenues to support domestic content, particularly in sectors of “immediate need.” Of the five per cent contributed by audio-visual services, eligible CIPFs supporting official language minority community producers and producers from diverse communities are to receive 0.5 per cent. To qualify, CIPFs must allocate at least 10 per cent of their budget to a dedicated “envelope,” of which half will go to OLMC producers (in either language) and half will go to producers from diverse communities. These envelopes must be established by Oct. 7 and be maintained permanently. The Shaw Rocket Fund expressed concerns about committing to a permanent envelope due to financial uncertainties, notably Rogers Communications Inc.’s plan to stop contributing to the fund by Sept. 1. As an alternative, the fund proposed a commitment of 10 per cent of annual program funding, rather than total budget, saying that it would avoid a scenario where the Shaw Rocket Fund would be legally required to fund projects without the means to do so, should Rogers cut its support. The CRTC rejected the proposal, saying it would limit support for equity-deserving groups. It added that the commission’s policy “ensures that CIPFs dedicate a meaningful portion of their overall resources.” As a condition for eligibility, the Shaw Rocket Fund must file a letter confirming its commitment to funding a permanent envelope with 10 per cent of overall fund revenues. The Quebecor Fund and Talent Fund faced scrutiny for past reporting inconsistencies, including late filings and missing financial statements. Their approval is conditional on submitting a letter confirming their commitment to filing all future reports in accordance with regulatory policies. Desmond dissents on launch date Ellen Desmond, commissioner for the Atlantic region and Nunavut, issued a dissenting opinion on the Oct. 7 deadline for the funds to establish a permanent envelope. She noted that, for most funds, the deadline is “unlikely to create any significant difficulties,” but for the Shaw Rocket Fund it could be detrimental. “In essence, insisting that the Rocket Fund launch a funding envelope immediately could result in a situation that would be untenable and contrary to good governance practices,” said Desmond, pointing to the fact that the fund is “in a position of transition” given that the money it had traditionally relied on is set to expire. “While the policy does require a permanent funding envelope to be put in place, the commission has the discretion to provide some accommodation to address these unusual circumstances,” wrote the commissioner. “In my view, the Rocket Fund could be listed as an eligible fund with the condition they launch their funding envelope once their financial situation has become more certain, something that could be monitored by the commission in the coming months. Doing so would provide the necessary flexibility to a fund that has already made efforts to achieve what the Commission is now striving to accomplish.” phalentm@thewirereport.ca

CRTC approves production funds eligible to receive payments from online streamers

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By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald
| August 11, 2025

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CRTC approves production funds eligible to receive payments from online streamers

Broadcast | By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald | August 11, 2025

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By Phalen Tynes-MacDonald
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