The Manitoba government has announced a $30-million commercialization support for business program, to be distributed over the next five years.

While the program is not meant solely for entertainment-related companies, the film, TV and new media industries can access pieces of the $30 million pie.

Many of the six funding streams apply for to new media development, such as concept development (up to $25,000), including product design, product engineering, rudimentary prototype development and early stage testing.

Product development (up to $40,000) is another stream with eligible activities such as prototype building and testing, product and process development, trial production, market research or analysis, and test marketing.

A market development (up to $30,000) funding stream will assist businesses in attending trade events as well as developing export-related marketing materials, and an intellectual property stream (up to $25,000) can help with legal fees associated with securing IP rights.

“From a new media perspective, it looks extremely promising,” On Screen Manitoba executive director Nicole Matiation tells Playback Daily. “Especially as more of our [traditional] producers are looking at being more involved in transmedia projects and potentially developing apps or other multiplatform products in conjunction with traditional broadcast pieces.”

“We’re hopeful this will provide some incentive and support for producers looking to move into this area,” she adds.

The program was announced by Premier Greg Selinger, with the goal of promoting entrepreneurism, commercialization and business development in the province, as well as fostering innovation and attracting foreign investment.

“One of the [Manitoba Innovation Council’s] key recommendations was to provide broader support for a full range of commercialization activities across the development lifecycle of a product, especially early stage development,” said the premier in a statement.

Meanwhile, to help potential production players understand how the new commercialization program can help them, industry association New Media Manitoba is organization an info session with the Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade (ETT).

For more information on the program, check out the guidelines.