Year two for the Broadcaster Envelopes initiative at the Canadian Television Fund shows, in a final tally, $129.5 million has been allocated to independent producers by Canada’s French- and English-language broadcasters in 2005 – the lion’s share going to the French market, where 21 broadcasters divvied up $68.9 million, or 53%, among children’s, documentaries, drama and variety programs.

Radio-Canada claimed $23.2 million for shows including the kids series Comme en apart ($1.4 million to Vivaclic), the drama Cover Girl ($2.1 million to Sphere Media), a second season of Les Bougon ($4.3 million to Aetios Productions) and the new drama La vie rêvée de Mario Jean ($1.8 million to Yatsav/Cirrus Communications).

Groupe TVA claimed $15.2 million for new titles including its Nos étés ($3.4 million to Duo Productions/Cirrus), Vice caché ($2.6 million to Sphere) and La promesse ($1.2 million to Les Productions Point de Mire).

Télé-Québec took $8.9 million for productions including its new drama Pure laine ($2 million to Vendome Television), a fourth season of kids series Ramdam ($1.9 million to Vivavision) and the documentary series Dieu et nous ($695,000 to Ad Hoc Films).

In English Canada, 35 broadcasters shared $60.7 million, while another $96.1 million was spent on English drama through a non-envelope, discretionary fund.

CBC claimed more than 16% of the English envelope, or $9.9 million, for productions including its returning kids series Poko ($1.6 million to The Halifax Film Company), a second season of 72 Hours: True Crime ($1.2 million to Kensington Communications, et al) and the teen program Rock Your World ($604,000 to Omni Film Productions).

YTV divided $9.1 million among programs such as Zixx: Level Two ($2.1 million to Thunderbird Films, et al), a second season of 15/Love ($1.4 million to Galafilm) and Captain Flamingo ($1.2 million to Atomic Cartoons, et al).

Teletoon will spend $7.9 million on animated titles including Class of the Titans ($1.2 million to Studio B Productions), Delilah & Julius ($1.2 million to Collideascope Digital/Decode Entertainment) and 6teen ($1.1 million to Corus Entertainment).

According to the CTF, about $2 million was left unused in the envelopes, which will shift into the broadcaster envelopes for next year. A portion of this under-spent funding came from a number of Broadcaster Envelopes that have now been closed due to inactivity.

-www.canadiantelevisionfund.ca