Drama series will get a leg up this year from the Cogeco Program Development Fund, which, for the first time, will back the production of dramas in a joint initiative with the Independent Production Fund.

And, in another industry first, the coming together will make IPF cash open to dramas that are produced for CBC, such as The Border and Wild Roses. Previously the IPF only financed drama series for private broadcasters. The IPF is a private, charitable foundation that also administers the Cogeco fund and the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.

The temporary measure will make roughly $2 million to $3 million in additional funding available for dramas bound for public and private casters.

The reason for the collaboration is twofold. The IPF had to reduce its support for drama series this year because its coffers shrunk due to the struggling economy. Meanwhile, the Cogeco fund — which normally supports only MOWs and miniseries — saw significantly lower demand for financing of those genres.

‘This takes pressure off [producers], because the applications that don’t get funded by IPF will automatically be eligible at the Cogeco fund,’ explains Andra Sheffer, exec director of the IPF, Cogeco and Bell funds.

Sheffer says they’ll ‘wait and see’ how the industry trends for next year to determine whether the collaboration will be extended.

The deadline for applications is May 1. Sheffer says dramas that have commenced principal photography since March 15 are also eligible for consideration.