The Canadian Television Fund Review Task Force on Co-productions has approved new guidelines that eliminate the distinctive co-pro envelope, capped this year at about US$6.7 million. Besides scrapping the cap, the rule changes will see content from the foreign co-producing side qualify as Canadian content, as well as require the Canadian broadcaster to meet the minimum license fee threshold based on the entire budget. This year, the license fee threshold was against the Canadian portion of the budget. Funding calculations will also be held against the whole budget.

The changes effectively treat co-pros like any other program applying for CTF money, but in a sense raise the bar for broadcasters, says Deborah Drisdell, director of international relations at Telefilm Canada and chair of the CTF’s co-pro committee. There are likely to be fewer co-pros lining up for next year’s CTF funds and those that do will need extra support or commitment from the broadcaster.