Newsroom

Fact Sheet

Quick facts on the Canadian production industry in 2007/2008

Data from Profile 2009. All figures are in Canadian dollars. Figures cover the period from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, except for box office data which reflect the 2008 calendar year. 

National indicators of production

• $5.2 billion in total production volume, a 4% increase over the previous period. This figure includes:

  • $2 billion in Canadian television production (down 7% over 2006/2007)

  • $273 million in Canadian theatrical production (down 7%)

  • $1.1 billion in broadcaster in-house production (up 1%)

  • $1.8 billion in foreign location and service production (up 23%)

• International treaty co-production dropped 48% to $298M. In 2008, France was Canada’s largest treaty partner, followed by the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Canadian television production

•  51,200 direct and indirect jobs (20,100 direct; 31,100 indirect)

• The volume of television series production fell by 7% to just over $1.4 billion, as the number of projects dropped from 668 to 599.

• In 2007/08, just over one-half of the decrease in Canadian television production was due to lower levels of television series production caused by a sharp pullback in the production of fiction, and children’s and youth television series in the English-language market. There was also a substantial drop of 50% in the volume of production in the Other TV category in the documentary genre.

• The top Canadian-produced TV series in English Canada was Canadian Idol, with 2,199,000 viewers. In French Canada, the top Canadian-produced series was Les Lavigueur, la vraie histoire.

Canadian theatrical production

• 6,900 direct and indirect jobs (2,700 direct; 4,200 indirect)

• The total number of theatrical films made by Canadian producers dropped from 105 to 82.

• Quebec maintained its position as the leading province for Canadian theatrical production in 2007/08, with 43% of the total national volume. Ontario-based producers accounted for 38% of the total national volume; while producers based in British Columbia accounted for 9%.

• The top Canadian-produced film in English Canada was Passchendaele, grossing $4.34M at the box office in 2008. In French Canada, it was Cruising Bar 2 with $3.46M.

Foreign location and service production

• 44,500 direct and indirect jobs (17,500 direct; 27,000 indirect).

• Total of 210 projects in Canada – an increase of 29% from 162 in 2006/07.

• BC accounted for 67% of all foreign location and service production volume in Canada.

• The overall increase in volume was largely driven by higher levels of feature film production in BC.

• U.S.-based producers accounted for 78% of all FLS projects in 2007/08.

Jobs and Export Value

• 131,600 direct and indirect jobs (51,700 direct; 79,900 indirect)

• $1.99 billion in export value (up 17%)

Contact

Susanne Vaas
Vice-President,
Business Affairs

Ext. 237