Put money back in Bell Fund

On July 16th, 2003 the CRTC released a new policy directive that will result in a cut to the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund of 40% and a major cut to the Shaw Fund for children’s programming starting immediately. This is as a result of a decision that will allow DTH contributions to be diverted away from supporting independent producers projects financed through programs like the Bell Fund and the Shaw Fund, and instead re-allocate this funding to support the programming initiatives of private Canadian broadcasters. As a representative of the independent production community, I cannot understand the logic of continually diminishing the resources available to independent producers of content in favour of funding directed towards broadcaster initiatives. No funds should be diverted out of independent production - not the Bell Fund, not the Shaw Fund and certainly not the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) as originally proposed. This recent decision is a devastating blow to the new media community to say the least. In the past five years the Bell Fund has supported 104 Canadian produced interactive projects in all genres of interactive content from documentary to dramatic series. This fund has assisted in financing every single new media project that has won an award at the Geminis in the past two years. This cut is not something that will affect interactive producers alone, however. It will touch many other stakeholders: Independent television producers: 75 television programs have benefited from Bell Fund contribution towards their tele-vision budgets. Producers who are already struggling with CTF cuts, will face Shaw Fund cuts and add to that a reduction in the Bell Fund; Cable & satellite providers: Many of the large scale independently produced Canadian-owned interactive television projects are funded by the Bell Fund. While this reduction will not affect any American studio produced iTV experiences, it will reduce Canadian production of iTV content dramatically; Television broadcasters: Over 30 broadcasters around the world have benefited from Bell funded web content which they have licensed and hosted to cross-promote and support their television broadcasts. Broadcasters such as CTV, CBC, Teletoon, Family Channel and The Comedy Network are among those who have benefitted from the creation of this content in Canada. Internationally, MTV, Nickelodeon Europe, The Cartoon Network and ABC Australia have also licensed web content supported by this fund; Wireless providers: Providers benefit from wireless content development created through the Bell Fund; The worst hit is the public: The massive decrease in funding to this area will likely mean the end of many important projects. Niche projects such as Deaf Planet provide online content for deaf children on the Internet, something that would never have been possible without the support of funds like the Bell Fund. Commercial projects that speak to wide interactive audiences for projects like the Open Mike with Mike Bullard web site and Degrassi.tv. The popular TV series Olliver’s Adventures may not have ever been produced had it not been for the Bell Fund contributing to the development of the original innovative Flash web site and television shorts. Decode’s Angela Anaconda web site - which has now been licensed in 18 countries in eight different languages - received nearly 50% of its funding from the Bell Fund. The Bell Fund receives 100% of its funding from the Bell ExpressVu contribution. By cutting this by 40% it will mean a massive change in the quality and quantity of projects we will see over the next few years. I would like to believe that this was an oversight and that there is a possibility that the CRTC will review the decision on this issue. It would be in the best interest of the Canadian community to see a replacement of funds to the Bell Fund from Bell ExpressVu or from another source - perhaps even a re-allocation of funds from Candian Heritage’s Canadian Culture Online Program. I hope that others affected by this decision to reduce funds to the Shaw Fund and reduce contributions to the Bell Fund will forward their thoughts the CRTC.

Put money back in Bell Fund

Broadcast | July 24, 2003

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