TV Programming
Development and production of audiovisual works
One of the priorities of MEDIA subprogramme is to increase the capacity of audiovisual operators to develop European audiovisual works with a potential to circulate in the EU and beyond and to facilitate European and international co-production, including with television broadcasters.
The objective of the Support to TV Programming is to increase the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop strong projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international co-productions within the television sector.
The scheme aims to strengthen the independence of television producers in relation to broadcasters, who tend to retain all rights and revenues, by providing funds to produce strong, competitive content with wide circulation potential in international markets and to encourage broadcasters to be involved in high quality programming aimed at wide international distribution and promoted to a wide audience. Particular attention will be given to projects presenting innovative aspects in the content and in the financing.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants shall be independent European audiovisual production companies.
A European company is a company owned, whether directly or by majority participation (i.e. majority of shares), by nationals of Member States of the European Union or nationals of the other European countries participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme and registered in one of these countries.
An independent company is a company which does not have majority control by a television broadcaster, either in shareholding or commercial terms. Majority control is considered to occur when more than 25% of the share capital of a production company is held by a single broadcaster (50% when several broadcasters are involved).
An audiovisual production company is a company whose main objective and activity is audiovisual production.
The applicant must be the majority producer of the work, in terms of rights. In case of a 50%-50% co-production, the applicant should be designated by the partners as delegate producer.
Eligible Activities
Only the activities for the following projects are eligible:
Drama films (one-off or series) of a total duration of minimum 90 minutes intended primarily for the purposes of television exploitation on both linear and non-linear services. Sequels or second and third seasons of an existing drama series are eligible. Fourth and further seasons of an existing drama series are not eligible.
Animation (one-off or series) of a total duration of minimum 24 minutes intended primarily for the purposes of television exploitation on both linear and non-linear services. Sequels or second, third and further seasons of an existing animation series are not eligible.
Creative documentaries (one-off or series) of a total duration of minimum 50 minutes intended primarily for the purposes of television exploitation on both linear and non-linear services. Sequels second, third and further seasons of an existing documentary series are not eligible.
Works which are designed to be a series with a joint marketing strategy have to be submitted as a series. Single episodes of a series cannot be split into separate applications.
In order to qualify for a grant of EUR 1.000.000 the project must meet the following criteria:
- the work must be the first or second season of drama series consisting of at least 6 episodes
- the total eligible production budget must be at least EUR 10.000.000
- the series must be co-produced between two production companies from different countries participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme.
The application must be submitted at the latest on the first day of principal photography (or start of animation for animation projects).
The work must be produced with the significant participation of professionals who are nationals and/or residents of countries participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme. ‘Significant participation’ is defined as having more than 50% of the points on the basis of the tables provided in the Guidelines.
The work must involve the participation of at least three broadcasting companies from three countries participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme.
The exploitation rights licensed to the broadcasting companies participating in the production have to revert to the producer after a maximum license period of:
- 7 years if the broadcaster's participation takes the form of a pre-sale;
- 10 years if the broadcaster's participation also takes the form of a co-production. In this case, the contract between the producer and the broadcaster must clearly specify the price and licence term for the pre-sale of the exploitation rights and the conditions for the co-production. A co-production between a broadcaster and a TV producer is accepted only if the broadcaster makes a financial investment higher than the average investment of the other partners and is involved in the organisation and economic handling of the production. In any case, the broadcaster cannot be the majority co-producer of the work in term of rights and its contribution cannot exceed 70% of the total financing of the production.
A minimum of 50% of the financing of the total estimated production budget must be guaranteed from third party sources (either through direct financing or by advance rights sales).
A minimum of 50% of the total estimated production budget must come from countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme.
The maximum duration of projects is 24 months (or 36 months for series of more than 2 episodes).
Budget
The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at EUR 13,5 M.
For drama and animation works the financial contribution awarded may not exceed EUR 500.000 or 12.50% of the total eligible costs, whichever is the lower.
For first and second seasons of Drama Series (co-produced by production companies from different countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme, consisting of at least 6 episodes and with a total eligible production budget of minimum EUR 10.000.000), an amount of maximum of EUR 1.000.000 or 10% of total eligible costs, whichever is the lower, can be requested.
The Agency reserves the right not to grant the full requested amount based on the budget availabilities, in particular when a EUR 1.000.000 € grant is requested for second seasons of existing drama series.
For creative documentary, the financial contribution awarded may not exceed EUR 300.000 or 20% of the total eligible costs whichever is the lower.
The indicative split of the available budget between the different genres (animation, creative documentary and drama) will be established according to the proportional share of the support requested by the eligible applications.
