Harper Government Announces Support for Digital Media Industry

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - July 23, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced an investment to benefit the conventional linear and interactive digital media in Western Canada.

Federal funding of $3,893,765 to On Screen Manitoba, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP), will support trade and investment initiatives for Manitoba's conventional linear, television and film, and interactive digital media, gaming and apps, industries. In addition, the investment will enable multi-regional co-ordination to support trade and market access of prairie small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to international markets. On Screen Manitoba will also establish an industry-driven Transmedia Lab, which will support testing, research and development, and the commercialization of transmedia products.

This project includes a pan-western francophone initiative to build market access for SMEs in niche francophone markets and is funded in part by the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities.

Quick Facts

• On Screen Manitoba is a non-profit professional organization that leads the development of a dynamic media production industry that is recognized for its world-class creative and technical talent.
• The Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities is the Government of Canada commitment to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities, and promote the importance and benefits of our two official languages to our national identity.

Quotes

"Our Government support for this initiative will result in greater trade access for prairie SMEs in international markets. In addition, the creation of this industry-driven lab will support the development and commercialization of new products while creating jobs, growth, and economic prosperity."

- Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre

"This industry project, led by On Screen Manitoba and enriched through a partnership with New Media Manitoba, will facilitate emerging business opportunities nationally and internationally for Manitoba's linear and interactive digital media production companies, as well as provide business development support for companies based in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (French language production only). This project, with the support of the Government of Canada, will place Manitoba and Western Canada on the world map as a region that is actively engaged in enhancing innovation, digital technology and the cultural industries as key drivers of the knowledge economy."

- Nicole Matiation, Executive Director, On Screen Manitoba

"We partnered with On Screen Manitoba on the Media Exchange Project because we both recognized the market opportunity for two very strong industries to collaborate in Western Canada. This project actively helps film/TV and interactive digital media producers to work on business models and create new products to take to international markets. Our forthcoming Transmedia Lab will help with the design sprints and prototyping of these products so we can test the viability of concepts before going to market."

- Kevin Hnatiuk, Executive Director, New Media Manitoba

Additional Links

- On Screen Manitoba

- New Media Manitoba

- Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association

- Alberta Media Production Industries Association

- Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association

- Front des réalisateurs indépendants du Canada

- Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities

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