UK MEDIA Team

VOD / DCD

Call for proposals 02/2009   (expired)

 

Deadline:

15 July 2009  (expired)

 

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Previous UK beneficiaries

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Scheme Overview

Funding is available to support the digital distribution of European audiovisual works to a wider, international audience and/or to cinema exhibitors.  This scheme funds advanced distribution services, integrating where necessary digital security systems in order to protect online content. 


Eligible projects
Two types of services are eligible:
·     Video on Demand (VoD): Service enabling individuals to select audiovisual works from a central server for viewing on a remote screen by streaming and/or downloading.
·     Digital Cinema Distribution (DCD): Digital delivery (to an acceptable commercial standard) of content to cinemas for theatrical exploitation (via hard disc, satellite, online).


Eligible Content
Proposed projects will have to offer a European dimension, which means that the offered content must include audiovisual works from at least five eligible countries representing at least five different official languages of the European Union.


No more than 40% of the content (in programme hours) may come from a single territory.


There are two types of eligible content:

* Core Content, i.e. fiction, animation and creative documentary (according to the MEDIA Programme's objectives), including feature films (i.e. feature length films), TV films or series and short films

* Alternative Content (making ofs, operas, concerts, performances)

 

Potential beneficiaries should have an adequate balance between the two types of content in any VOD proposal. In order for a VOD proposal to be eligible, the content of the VOD catalogue MUST consist of at least 60% of Core Content.


In DCD proposals only Core Content will be considered as eligible.

 

Eligible companies
European organisations registered in an eligible country, who have as their main activity audiovisual production, distribution, exhibition and aggregation. These organisations must be owned directly or by majority participation, by nationals from eligible countries, and continue to be owned, whether directly or by majority participation, by nationals from these countries.


Broadcasters and telecommunication companies (i.e. companies having as one of their main activities broadcasting and/or telecommunication activities) are not eligible, neither as an applicant, nor as a co-beneficiary for the purposes of this Call for Proposals.


Any applicant or group of applicants must not have majority control (either in shareholding or commercial terms) by a broadcaster and/or a telecommunications company. Majority control is considered to occur when more than 25% of the company's share capital is held by a single broadcaster or telecommunications company (50% when several broadcasters or telecommunications companies are involved) or when, over a three-year period, more than 90% of the company's revenue is generated in co-operation with a single broadcaster or telecommunications company.


Selection
Projects that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be given scores according to the award criteria. Award criteria will be evaluated by means of an Evaluation Committee advised by external independent experts.


Award Criteria
Catalogue and Editorial line 10%

European dimension of the catalogue 30%

Quality and cost-effectiveness of the Business Model submitted 30%
Innovative aspects of the action 10%
Grouping and Networking Dimension 10%
Target audience and Potential impact 10%

 

Nature and level of support
The amount of co-financing may not exceed 50% of the total eligible costs of the submitted project.  The support is offered as subsidy.


Available budget for 2009
€8 million.