Bell Fund Guideline Updates
The Board of Directors of the Bell Fund approved two policy changes to its Production Fund Guidelines.
1. Financing and Budgeting Policies – Pre-launch Promotion, Publicity [Marketing and Promotion Expenses] Category D, Account 14.
Approved budget is “frozen” for marketing and promotion expenses only. Effective as of May 1, 2010.
The budget for this expense item which is submitted by the producer and approved by the Board (not to exceed 15% of the total budget for categories B + C), must be used for marketing and promotion expenses only. In other words, the final audit must ensure that the approved budget for this expense category is used for appropriate marketing and promotion expenses, and may not be reduced and used for overages in other expense categories. Should the expenditures in this category be less than projected, the Bell Fund contribution to the budget will be reduced accordingly.
This policy is a result of a review of final expense reports and the consistent re-allocation of funding approved in this expense category. The Bell Fund emphasizes that this category is not a “contingency” category, as marketing and promotion are critical to the success of interactive projects.
2. Broadcaster bonus matching broadcaster cash contribution to the financing of the new media component is amended. Effective October 1, 2010.
The Board approved maintaining this incentive program. Productions will continue to be eligible for a matching broadcaster cash contribution to the financing of the new media component, to a maximum of $100,000. However, in light of the new Canada Media Fund regulations which require minimum financing from a Canadian broadcaster of 10% of the budget, the Bell Fund will only match those incremental amounts that exceed the 10% cash contribution, when the project receives CMF financing. Projects that are not financed through the CMF’s Performance Envelope Program, will continue to be eligible for the broadcaster bonus to match all cash contributions from the broadcaster (to a maximum of $100,000).
As the matching broadcaster bonus policy of the Bell Fund is intended to be an incentive program, it will continue to incent broadcaster financing of projects beyond the level of any obligatory eligibility contributions. |
