The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has launched its first-ever Genre Report to shed light on the trends and financial challenges faced by domestic producers working in the children’s/youth and documentary genres.

Released yesterday and drawing on the results of a survey that was conducted last summer with 154 kids content producers listed in the CMF database, the report offers data and insights into why the org’s participation in children’s/youth content has dropped to just 11% (despite being one of the four content genres that the CMF is mandated to support.)

When asked to theorize about potential factors driving a decline in kids content commissions, respondents pointed to things like audiences shifting to streamers and non-linear platforms (24%) and lower ROI due to advertising restrictions (18%).

And in terms of identifying where costs have increased the most in kids content production, nearly half of the group (49%) pointed to below-the-line labor, followed by production costs (14%) and above-the-line labor (12%). The CMF also tried to get a sense of typical budget ranges for a half-hour episode of kids programming. Roughly 44% of respondents pegged it under US$208,000 (CAD$300,000); 26% said it’s between US$208,000 (CAD$300,000) and US$347,000 (CAD$500,000); and 21% checked the US$347,000 (CAD$500,000) and above box.

Breaking down the survey participants by the audiences they target, the vast majority (82%) work on content aimed at the six to 12 set, with 71% producing for 13 to 17s and 59% focused on preschoolers.

It’s worth noting that after this survey report was completed in October 2024, the CMF announced the establishment of a new Distributor Program that allows the financial contribution of an eligible Canadian distributor to unlock CMF funding. This was one potential solution suggested by respondents to modernize the CMF’s financing model. Previously, funds could only be triggered by the involvement of a Canadian broadcaster.

Last April, a CMF spokesperson told Kidscreen that the org remained very committed to supporting kids content, in response to news of a slight increase in its overall allocation budget for children’s/youth content to 22% (up from 21% in 2023/2024). 

In the fall, the CMF separately surveyed 10 English-language and seven French-language broadcasters operating in Canada, who agreed that children’s content was important to help preserve Canadian culture. However, they did not support the idea of allowing the involvement of global streamers or ungated digital platforms to unlock funding.

The full Genre Report is available on the CMF website.

Image courtesy of mwangi gatheca via Unsplash