Stream Daily recently posted Funding for Content Creation: Canada.
It lists four funding models:
- Direct public funding, such as cultural programs
- Indirect public funding, such as tax benefits
- Industry funding, such as taxation and redistribution
- Private funding, such as sponsorship, crowd-funding and personal loans
The best insight is provided by Andra Sheffer, CEO of the Independent Production Fund and the Cogeco Fund:
“Producers typically would have considered their primary target to be the end broadcaster — in effect, they were business-to-business companies. Now, with the reduction of linear broadcaster participation (which, traditionally, handled the marketing efforts), more emphasis needs to be placed on connecting with the end-audience. This means, producers need to do a better job at identifying who exactly will be consuming their content, and how best to engage with them in that pursuit. That can mean anything from more social media interaction, the ability for fans to influence storylines, or a better understanding of which platforms the intended audience is actually watching.”
My take: well said! To use a sandwich analogy, the old model was open-faced — a slice of pre-production with a generous amount of production on top. Your commissioner paid you before and while you made them this sandwich. The new model is that plus another super-slice of marketing and monefication on top. Note that it takes twice as long to make this sandwich — and you might not have any buyers lined up yet.