Television   |   Digital

• The Shaw Rocket Fund supports the production of high quality programming for kids. Proposals with strong creative, based on the evaluation and sole discretion of the Shaw Rocket Fund, will be considered for investment.
• The Shaw Rocket Fund holds 3 application deadlines per fiscal year (fiscal year runs September 1 through August 31).
• Applications will be accepted starting 4 weeks prior to the deadline date, up to 5:00 pm MT on the deadline date. Applications cannot be accepted on email at this time.
• For industry standard investment proposals, the Shaw Rocket Fund's historical investment averages: $250,000 for 13 x 1/2 hour episode series, up to $500,000 in 26 x 1/2 hour episode series and $250,000 for made-for-television movies or feature films.
• For low budget productions, Rocket Fund investment is based on the reasonable needs of the production.
• International treaty co-productions qualify.
• On occasion, a higher investment will be considered if the producer is able to provide an investment proposal that demonstrates the following:

• guaranteed audience reach through domestic and international broadcast commitments;
• above average creative, based on the evaluation of the Shaw Rocket Fund;
• high recoupment potential for the Shaw Rocket Fund;
• strong complimentary online/digital component(s);
• Parent company is in a financial position to negotiate and support the financing and recoupment proposal.

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» Guidelines

» Broadcast Rights Principles

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Content Requirements:

• Must be targeted at a children's, youth or family audience. Shaw Rocket Fund investment is intended to support programs that are primarily targeted for children.
• Fiction and non-fiction, including series, pilots, one-offs, documentaries, variety, animation and made-for television movies and feature films are eligible. Programming in the categories of News, Reporting and Actualities or Sports are not eligible.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must have a binding commitment with an appropriate license fee from an eligible Canadian broadcaster(s) that confirms the production will be broadcast within two years of completion. Two or more broadcasters may license a program, and their combined licenses may be considered a single appropriate fee.
• Additional broadcaster rights, if any, must comply with the Rocket Fund's Broadcast Rights Principles.
• Must qualify as a Canadian program in accordance with the CRTC or CAVCO guidelines and meet a minimum of eight out of ten Canadian content certification points.
• The production must, at a minimum, conform to the guidelines set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming, Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children and Code on Sex-Role Portrayal for Television Programming. In addition, projects must demonstrate compliance with CRTC Public Notice 1997-80, Classification System for Violence in Television Programming and any other regulations and policies regarding programming set out by the CRTC.
• Official Treaty co-productions are eligible.
• Commencement of principal photography or voice recording cannot occur before the application deadline date.

Eligible Applicants

• Applicant must be a Canadian independent producer that derives its primary source of income from production and has an arm's length relationship to broadcasters.

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The Shaw Rocket Fund Board of Directors holds three meetings each fiscal year to consider applications.

Eligible applications will be evaluated on the basis of creative quality, financial strength and the values and benefits that it provides to the intended target audience.

Preference will be given to projects that:

• have high quality creative;
• promote positive role-modeling;
• have innovative digital media components (i.e. website, mobisodes, webisodes, games etc);
• are original and have the potential for a long shelf life;
• demonstrate favourable recoupment potential for the Fund;
• provide cross-cultural representation; and
• provide closed captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired or audio description for the visually impaired.

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» Guidelines

» Broadcast Rights Principles

• In order to be considered an eligible application, the most current Application Form must be completed and documentation on the Applicant Checklist must be received by the Shaw Rocket Fund before 5:00 PM MST on the posted deadline date.
• All documents listed on the Applicant Checklist must be included.
• Applicants will be notified of the final decision of their application within eight to ten weeks of the application deadline.

WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS DO YOU FUND?

Shaw Rocket funding supports programs that are targeted to children, youth and families. We fund fiction and non-fiction programs including series, pilots, specials, documentaries, variety, animation, made-for-television movies and feature films in any length that is appropriate.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE "TARGETED TO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES"?

Stories for youth programming should be told from a youth's point of view in order to qualify and must be relevant to the target audience. Family programs such as documentary programs must demonstrate relevance to children either through the topic or in its presentation and must be suitable for the entire family. General audience programs will not qualify.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL APPLICATION CRITERIA?

a. The program must have a binding Canadian broadcast licence.
b. It must meet at least 8 out 10 Canadian content points.
c. Principal photography or voice recording cannot commence before the deadline date unless otherwise approved by the Fund.

WHEN CAN I SEND IN MY APPLICATIONS?

Applications are accepted 4 weeks prior to the deadline date up to 5:00 PM MST on the actual deadline date.

HOW MUCH DOES THE FUND INVEST?

Historically, the Shaw Rocket Fund invests an average of $250,000 in 13 x 1/2 hour episode series, made-for-television movies or feature films. An investment higher than historical averages will be considered if the business plan and recoupment proposal support the request. For low budget productions, Rocket Fund investment is based on the reasonable needs of the production.

ARE DEVELOPMENT ADVANCES AVAILABLE?

No. At this time the Shaw Rocket Fund only provides production equity financing.

HOW ARE FUNDING DECISIONS MADE?

The Shaw Rocket Fund's independent Board of Directors meets at least 3 times annually to review applications for funding. Applications are evaluated on the basis of creative quality, financial strength of the proposal and the values and benefits that it provides to the intended target audience.

DOES THE ROCKET FUND TEND TO INVEST AT THE LEVEL REQUESTED?

The Rocket Fund considers the full investment request by the Producer and if the investment is approved, it often tends to be at the level requested. If the funding request is higher than historical averages, the strength of the proposal including Shaw Rocket Fund recoupment and the demand on the Fund will help determine the level of funding. On occasion the Fund invests below the requested amount.

HOW QUICKLY ARE FUNDING DECISIONS MADE AFTER THE DEADLINE?

Applicants will be notified of the final decision of their application within eight to ten weeks of the application deadline.

IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AND FUNDING THAT A PRODUCTION COMPANY CAN RECEIVE?

No. Each application is judged on its own merit. Rocket Fund will expect reasonable preferred recoupment from companies that receive multiple investments in one fiscal year.

IF THE PROJECT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT A DEADLINE, CAN WE RE-APPLY?

Funding decisions by the Shaw Rocket Fund Board are final. On occasion the Board agrees to accept a re-submission of a declined project at a later date. This is an exception.

WHAT DOES AN APPROPRIATE LICENCE FEE MEAN?

The Rocket Fund does not have a minimum licence fee requirement. The Rocket Fund will consider the financing plan, the business proposal and the requirements for the production to determine if the licence fee offered is appropriate.

IF THE BROADCASTER LICENCES ADDITIONAL RIGHTS, DO THESE RIGHTS HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THE OTHER RIGHTS PRINCIPLES?

Yes. The Rocket Fund will consider variations to the principles should such variation increase the potential for viewership or increase the Fund's recoupment potential.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?

Shaw Rocket Fund is a CRTC regulated independent fund and is proudly supported by Shaw Communications, Shaw Pay-Per View a division of Shaw Cablesystems G.P., and Shaw Direct.