Canadian tv series production activity in Ontario rose to $279.6 million in 1997, up 62% from last year’s $172 million tally.

The Ontario Film Development Corporation compiled the data and credits the growth to the Canadian Television and Cable Production Fund and the provincial tax credit introduced in ’96, which increased last May from 15% to 20%.

But the stats suggest that the policies feeding the tv boom are not serving the needs of feature filmmakers. The volume of features dropped 30% to $38 million spent on 20 films, as compared to $54.6 million on 21 projects in 1996. In 1995, $58.7 million was spent on 26 films. (The figures reflect the production expenditures in Ontario.)

The ofdc serviced 39 Canadian tv series in 1997, up from 27 programs the previous year. In 1995, only 17 series were produced in Ontario. New shows accounted for 21 of the 39 series produced in ’97. The ofdc also reports a marked increase in the number of series with per episode costs of more than $1 million.

On the mow, miniseries, specials, pilots and docudrama front, 35 projects spent $65.9 million in Ontario during ’97 compared to only 27 projects worth $50.8 million in ’96. Although the increase suggests strong growth, the dollar figures are far from the 1995 levels, which rang in at $84.9 million spent in Ontario on 35 one-offs.

With the introduction of a 35% Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit in ’97, the ofdc tracked animation production for the first time, recording 11 domestic projects contributing $30.9 million to the Ontario tally.

Overall, 105 Canadian projects spent $414.3 million in Ontario, a marked increase from the 75 productions that spent $277.4 million in ’96. In 1995, 78 Canadian projects left $338.9 million in the province.

Foreign production dollars left in Ontario dropped 15% to $220.8 million, as opposed to $252.8 million in ’96. However, the number of service productions increased to 56 over the 50 recorded the previous year.

Foreign mow, miniseries and specials totaled 42 and contributed $118.6 million, up from 37 in 1996 and worth $101.7 million in Ontario production activity.

Only one foreign tv series shot in Ontario during 1997, the same number as last year, while 13 features shot in the province.

The Toronto Film and Television Office issued 999 location permits in 1997 as compared to 848 the previous year. Total shooting days reached 8,321, from 7,207 recorded the previous year.

An estimated 1,260 shooting days were recorded outside Toronto.