Cogeco put almost $2 million into production and development of movies and TV shows in 2002/03, according to financial statements issued last month by the Montreal-based broadcaster.

Most of that cash, about $1.5 million, went to the production of eight MOWs and minis, many of which have since wrapped, such as Burn by Tapestry Pictures and Alberta Filmworks, and The Nightingale Company’s Chicks with Sticks, set to air on The Movie Network in May.

Another 55 shows split $360,460 to develop TV projects, and four production companies – La Fete Productions, Massey Productions, Conquering Lion Pictures and Cine Tele-Action – shared $120,000 for the development of feature films.

Cogeco does not specify how much money went to each title, but the average contribution to developing TV projects was about $6,000. A host of big and small shows are on that list, including the next Trudeau mini by Big Motion Pictures, Paul Quarrington’s MOW script Our Game for CBC, and CTV’s mini The Lives of Saints.

The next application deadline is April 1. See www.ipf.ca.