Export
Export Assistance Program (EXAP)
Component
Summary Table
Challenges
- Content development adapted for international markets;
- Marketing of audiovisual content.
Objectives
- Promote content distribution on international markets;
- Increasing the volume of exports;
- Accelerating the implementation of projects for export (leverage effect).
General principles
- Support various business models that encourage the export of Canadian content made for television;
- Target Quebec’s audiovisual market.
Examples of eligible business models and expenses
- Creating a development fund for projects intended for export;
- Developing a portfolio of pilot programs and/or formats intended for export;
- Supporting a marketing platform for audiovisual content;
- Developing more advanced tools that facilitate marketing (such as dubbing, subtitling, rebranding or models).
Inadmissible expenses
- Expenses currently covered by government programs;
- Costs of maintaining a presence in a given market.
Criteria for eligibility
- First category, the regular funding envelope: the applicant must have a legal entity operating in Quebec, be under Quebec control and have his head office there;
- Second category, the diversity funding envelope: the applicant must have a legal entity operating in Quebec, be under Quebec control and have his head office there. The applicant must also inform us that he is part of one of the communities reflecting diversity, as recognized by the CRTC (see definition in the general rules);
- Third category, the funding envelope for OLMC: the applicant must first have a legal entity operating in Canada, be under Canadian control and have his head office there. In addition, the applicant must operate in an official language minority community (OLMC) (see definition in the general rules);
- Business models should include, eventually, broadcasting on Canadian television and encourage Canadian content production;
- Applicant profile must be: producer, distributor or broadcaster;
- The company must be more than five (5) years old and/or the applicant must have over fifteen (15) years of experience in the audiovisual sector. In all cases, the applicant must have previous experience in content marketing and exportation;
- Respect the Quebecor Fund’s requirements for financial contributions.
Financial contribution
- Reimbursable investment applicable to the business model financing package;
- The minimum contribution for each business model is $50,000. to a maximum of $300,000, representing no more than 40% of the overall financing package.
- Additional contribution of up to $80,000 by qualifying companies for female shareholding.
Recovery of the investment
- Recovery over a period of thirty-six (36) to sixty (60) months.
- Recovery of investment and return on investment to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Favourable criteria in an application
- Applicants with a business partner in development and/or marketing;
- Application with confirmation of obtaining a broadcasting licence and/or the financial participation of a broadcaster in the project’s development, at the time of application;
- Content intended for multi-platform distribution;
- Projects allowing for the consolidation of expertise in the development or marketing of audiovisual content for export;
- The creation of intellectual property rights;
- Projects demonstrating the economic benefits for Canada;
- Applicants who show entrepreneurial spirit and are willing to take risks.
Filing an application
- Applications can be filed at any time and must be submitted electronically;
- The Quebecor Fund will only accept one application per applicant per fiscal year;
- The Quebecor Fund may invest in the same applicant for a second time depending on past recovery of financial contributions.
Documentation
Documentation demonstrating eligibility criteria, specifically:
- Proof of the company headquarters and decision-making centre;
- Applicant’s description and experience in exportation;
- Description of the business model;
- Submission outlining financial projections over three to five years and a proposal for the investment plan including recovery;
- Proof of financing of the business model.