Fostering
Innovation
The global film and television industry embraces new advances in technology – both in how we tell stories and how we reach audiences. From special effects to 3D and 4D theaters to shooting at 48 frames-per-second, innovations in filmmaking transport audiences to new worlds.
Foreign investment in the Canadian audiovisual ecosystem carries benefits similar to those of other types of foreign direct investment.
The spin-off effects spurred by foreign investment have contributed to the significant evolution in the sophistication of the entire Canadian audiovisual industry and television industry, including the domestic production sector which has benefitted from the knowledge transfer of best practices, technology, and techniques employed on global productions.
Driving Technological Transformation and Opportunities for Canadian Creative Workers
Global studios and streamers have driven technological transformation, including advancements in VFX and virtual production facilities to position Canada for the future of the industry. Having been built to serve global studios and streamers, these state-of-the-art facilities are now also being used by Canadian-owned productions, increasing their quality and sophistication.
Over the past few years, we have worked alongside CBS in securing the funding to invest in the buildout of a 260,000 square foot production studio, alongside a substantial investment in Canada’s largest virtual production wall. This virtual production technology has been at the forefront of elevating the creative possibilities for the Star Trek franchise. There is no doubt that ongoing investments by foreign studios have contributed to the continued growth of the film and television industry in Canada. - John Weber, Take 5 Productions
Content Everywhere
Motion picture and television content has been delivered over the Internet for more than 15 years. Advanced set-top boxes and high-speed data connections helped open the gateway for the digital delivery of content and expand the user base. Today, a multitude of services offer digital video on demand in a variety of ways, allowing consumers to choose between subscription, electronic sell-through, and both ad-supported and rental VOD.
MPA studios offer a wide range of subscriber, free-to-consumer, and hybrid streaming services for Canadian consumers that includes the global originals of Netflix; the much-loved brands of Disney+; the mountain of entertainment on Paramount+; the leading FAST choice of PLUTO TV; the best of reality television on NBCUniversal’s HAYU; and the world’s largest Japanese anime collection on SONY’s Crunchyroll.