The Canadian Television Fund is looking at an immediate $29-million reduction in revenues for the new fiscal year starting April 1. The reduction includes $25 million less in government contributions as announced in the Feb. 18 federal budget and $4 million less from small cable systems operators, who recently received CRTC authorization to redirect the funds to local TV production.

The lack of available reserve funds in the new year will make the actual impact of reduced resources even greater. Close to $37 million in reserves, funding transferred forward, were allocated in fiscal 2002/03.

The CTF board convened to sort out the funding issue at a meeting held in Toronto March 24.

At press time, management said it’s ‘running the numbers’ and expects to make the information available shortly. Licence Fee Program decisions for drama, children’s and variety program applications filed for Feb. 12 will follow as early as this week.

The CRTC has not yet ruled on a Bell ExpressVu/Canadian Association of Broadcasters application to redirect half of ExpressVu’s current contribution to the CTF to a new local/regional station programming fund. The projected impact of a successful application bid on the CTF ranges from $12 million to $16 millon in the first year.

The CTF’s budget in 2002/03 was approximately $257 million, including a $110-million contribution from cable and satellite companies.

-www.canadiantelevisionfund.ca