Production Program

The Bell Fund provides grants to Canadian independent producers who develop and produce digital media content that complements and enhances an associated television program. These digital media projects are an opportunity to increase audience engagement and help television producers and broadcasters to capitalize on the value-added benefits of digital extensions.

Eligible projects must have both a broadcast component with a guaranteed broadcast licence from a Canadian broadcaster as well as a digital media component. There must be an association between the two components. Funding for the digital media component is available in the form of grants which may be awarded as follows:

• A grant of up to 75% of the cost of production of the digital media component, to a maximum of $250,000 per project; in addition to
• A bonus grant matching any broadcaster(s) cash contribution (licence and equity) to the financing of the digital media component, to a maximum of $100,000.

Funding for the television component is available in the form of grants which may be awarded as follows:

• A grant of up to 75% of the total Canadian broadcast licence fees (paid directly by the broadcaster) for the program, to a maximum of $75,000 per project (including television series).

Required Application Documents:

1. Complete Application Form, in *.DOC format
2. Complete Bell Fund Digital Media Production Budget template, in *.XLS format 
3. Broadcaster Support Form completed and signed by the eligible broadcaster(s)

Digital Media Component –Required Documents (Hard Copy – deliver to Bell Fund Office and email electronic versions where available)

1. Signed and completed Application Form
2. Design document (including: description of the project user experience, functional design, flow chart, storyboard, technical requirements and specifications, script)
3. Signed and completed Bell Fund Production Budget Template and applicable notes describing expenses.
4. Complete, detailed production schedule and timeline (e.g. gantt chart)
5. Proof of financing already committed
6. Co-production agreement, or, services agreement, between the television producer and the Digital Media producer (if applicable)
7. Proof of eligible broadcaster(s) commitment to licence the television component (full length broadcaster licence agreement, or detailed deal memo, or letter of commitment detailing the actual licence amount and the format in which the program will be shot and broadcast)
8. Broadcaster Support Form completed and signed by the eligible broadcaster(s)
9. Credits of the applicant company (including links/URL to other relevant projects).
10. Key Personnel list, CVs of key personnel
11. Proof of ownership rights, chain of title (NM and TV components)
12. Certificate of incorporation for the Digital Media production company
13. Most recent financial statements from the Digital Media production company

Digital Media Component – Optional Support Material (Hard Copy – deliver to Bell Fund Office and email electronic versions where available)

1. Prototype or Electronic samples of the proposed project
2. Research data, focus group results
3. Further letters of support for the project

Television Component –Required Documents (Hard Copy – deliver to Bell Fund Office and email electronic versions where available)

1. Script(s) or other related creative material
2. Complete detailed production budget for the television project
3. Proof of confirmed financing
4. Tax Credit Calculations
5. Detailed production schedule
6. Key Personnel list, CVs of key personnel
7. Credits of the applicant company (if different from Digital Media applicant)
8. Certificate of incorporation for the television production company (if different from Digital Media applicant)
9. Most recent financial statements from the television production company (if different from Digital Media applicant)

Guidelines

Guidelines – Production (rev. April 2013)   Principles For Licensing and Distribution of Rights to Digital/Interactive Cross Platform Content (rev. July 2012)

Policies

Financing and Budgeting Policies – Production Program (rev. April 2013)   The Errors and Omissions Insurance or posting of Waiver (rev. September, 2008)   Framework for International Co-Production (rev. June, 2005)

Application Forms and Templates

Application Form – Production (rev. April 2013)**NEW**   Broadcaster Support Form (rev. February 2012)**NEW**   Bell Fund Budget Template – Production (rev. March 2013)

Reporting Forms and Templates

Cost Report Template – Production OLD BUDGET TEMPLATE (rev. January, 2006)   Cost Report Template – Production NEW BUDGET TEMPLATE (rev. May 2012)   Broadcaster Final Report Card (rev. January 2012)   Producer Final Report Guidelines (rev. August, 2009)   DM Producer's Exploitation Report Guidelines (new. April 2012)   Audit Guidelines (rev. October, 2008)