Some finessing of CBC’s internal budgets means the next season of workhorse comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes could still go into production – despite failing at the 2003 Licence Fee Program sweepstakes and being ineligible for a new batch of money being handed out by Telefilm Canada’s Equity Investment Program.

The surprise June 10 announcement by the Canadian Television Fund of an additional $12.5 million in funding for the current crop of funding applicants – money taken from next year’s allotment of $75 million from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage – will apply only to programs looking for EIP. No new applications will be considered.

At press time, John Galway, Telefilm’s national sector head for television operations, says up to five English-language dramas and four English-language children’s titles could get funded after all, and successful applicants who didn’t get all they asked for will likely get top-ups. About one-third of the new money – for titles being finalized at press time – was for French-language production.

Galway says it is normal for broadcasters like the CBC to review internal budgets at the end of the CTF production funding cycle and shore up productions that need extra cash. By funding individual programs with the new EIP money, the CBC may be able to shift budgets around to create a budget for a new season of 22 Minutes.

CBC spokesperson Jason MacDonald says only that the broadcaster is looking at various options for 22 Minutes.

‘We obviously welcome any additional funds that may help currently under-funded programs make it to air,’ says MacDonald. ‘The announcement will help alleviate some of the pressures resulting from this year’s cuts to the fund. But looking into the future, the long-term viability of the current funding model needs to be re-examined.’

Galway acknowledges that the current solution may only make next year’s funding process that much more difficult with the Heritage Ministry’s contribution cut to $62.5 million.

‘There is some hope that we will get funding reestablished [for next year],’ says Galway, referring to a planned lobby. ‘However, we have to be prepared for a leaner year next year.’

The second round of funding for documentaries and aboriginal programs, meanwhile, means EIP has spent another $15.1 million from this year’s budget.

Overall, 70 English- and French-language documentaries share $12.6 million and 16 aboriginal productions will share $2.5 million from Telefilm. Together, these projects represent 220 new hours of programming to be made this year.

Documentary demand in both number of applicants and the amount requested was up this year, but the budget for documentaries was reduced, says Richard Stursberg, executive director of Telefilm.

‘The EIP’s contribution represents almost half of the total dollar amount requested by the supported projects – closely mirroring the funding patterns for the drama, variety and children’s genres,’ says Stursberg. ‘And we were able to give positive replies to many of the popular series that have connected with audiences.’

Titles include Boite Noire II (Ad Hoc Films), The Sea Hunters IV (Eco-Nova Productions) and Taking it Off III (Anaid Productions).

About 64% of the applicants to the aboriginal envelop made the cut, which is on par with last year, says Stursberg. Notable titles include the series Inuit Mittatin II (Inuit Broadcasting Corporation), Eastern Tide III (Bear Paw Productions/Grana Productions), Innu Aitun/Papakassi (Productions Maikan), Venturing Forth IV (Brenco Media) and Beyond Words IV (Wone Woman Works Productions).

The EIP has a second application period for documentaries this fall, and the LFP will accept another round of documentary and children’s and youth applications in the fall.

-www.CanadianTelevisionFund.ca