Rates & additional benefits
The program allocates envelope funding to Canadian broadcasters based on their track record of supporting Canadian programming; the actual funding is paid directly to eligible applicants. The manual describes production contributions as licence-fee top-ups and equity investments up to guideline maximums. The official 2026-2027 materials reviewed do not state one general contribution percentage or one general per-project maximum.
Production type & commercial eligibility
Commercials not confirmed. Additional commercial conditions are not stated in the source-cited record.
Qualifying expenditure
Not stated in the cited sources. Confirm this requirement with the administering agency.
Labor & residency
The program page says broadcasters commit funds to Canadian projects and the manual requires the broadcaster to make the project available on an eligible service, with closed captioning and prime-time requirements where applicable. A specific production-labour residency rule, ATL/BTL treatment, compensation cap, loan-out rule or withholding rule is not stated in the official 2026-2027 materials reviewed.
Application timing
The CMF program page lists an opening date of 2026-04-14 and a closing date of 2026-12-08. The 2026-2027 manual identifies 2026-10-18 as the First Closing Date, says late project applications are rejected, and uses Broadcaster Agreement Forms generated and approved in Dialogue.
Caps & funding conditions
For 2026-2027 Alternative Access, the stated budgets are 1500000 CAD for English, 500000 CAD for French and 220000 CAD for Diverse Languages. The stated per-broadcaster caps are 150000 CAD for English/French and 110000 CAD for Diverse Languages, with a minimum 5000 CAD Eligible Licence Fee. Broadcasters with BE Production Allocations over 2500000 CAD must commit 75% by the First Closing Date. These are stated Alternative Access/broadcaster-envelope limits, not a general per-project cap.
Audit requirements
The manual states that CMF Broadcaster Audit rules can pause a broadcaster's activity to investigate non-compliance and that conflicting side deals incur penalties. Broadcasters must make the project available on an eligible service within 18 months of completion/delivery, with the stated captioning/prime-time conditions.
Receiving the incentive
The manual describes licence-fee top-ups and equity investments; development advances are repayable when production funding is accessed. The official materials reviewed do not state production-funding transferability, buy-back terms or haircuts.
Program dates
- Effective date
- Not stated
- Program end date
- Not stated
A program end date is not necessarily an application deadline.