Warning! The following content is available only to Quebec residents.
Support for your production
Support the production of local, original content. maCommunauté allows local video creators to tell stories that capture the voice, personality and experiences of their communities.
Do you have a project in mind? Send us a brief description of your idea, along with your name and telephone number. We’ll respond within two to four weeks.
Submission guidelines and rules
Make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria below.
You can apply at any time during the year.
You must be able to complete your project within 12 months of application.
If you already have a show that you would like to broadcast on maCommunauté, apply in the Broadcast your Content section.
- Beauce and Quebec City region: All the municipalities served by TELUS, from Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies to the north to Saint-Robert-Bellarmin to the south, and from Saint-Omer to the east to Sainte-Thècle, to the west.
- Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspé: All the municipalities served by TELUS, from Gros-Morne to the north to Matapédia to the south and from Gaspé to the east to Saint-Simon to the west.
- North Shore: From Blanc-Sablon to the northeast to Forestville to the southwest.
All projects must meet the following criteria:
- The show must be produced by someone who:
- Is not an employee of TELUS or of any other broadcasting company
- Lives in the Quebec City region, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, in the Gaspé, in Beauce or on the North Shore
- A person from the communities where maCommunauté airs must be on the production team, either in front of the camera (e.g. lead actor, host) or behind the camera (e.g. screenwriter, director, producer).
- Producers or any other member of the community can submit no more than two applications for funding per broadcasting season (fall or winter). The fall broadcasting season runs from September to December; the winter broadcasting season begins in January and ends in May.
- You must have obtained, or be able to obtain, all the authorizations and copyrights to broadcast your show on maCommunauté (channel 511), on Video on Demand and on the new media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and mobile phones. This includes but is not limited to music, images or footage from other sources. You must also provide a release form duly completed by each project participant.
- The show must be produced within the timeframe set out in the agreement with the producer. Any delay in delivery will result in penalties.
- Documentaries that deal with topics of public interest must express varied and balanced points of view.
- Your project must comply with the broadcasting industry’s standards, set out in the code of conduct administered by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), available on the Council’s website. The maCommunauté channel will not fund shows that do not comply with these standards or that contain material that could be considered an offence under the Criminal Code, that is defamatory or that is illegal in any way.
- The show’s content must be educational, entertaining or informative but in no way commercial or violent. It should appeal to an audience of all ages.
- Your content must comply with TELUS’s spec requirements; however, TELUS can provide encoding services. We prefer high-definition video content.
N.B. Commercial programming is not eligible for broadcasting on maCommunauté. This includes programs featuring professional major league sports and programming that has appeared on or was funded by a major network.
The decision to support your project hinges on many factors. The following criteria can serve as a guide. The desire of maCommunauté to promote a diversity of voices and to broadcast interesting programs while making sure to support projects that deal with varied subjects and that showcase the characteristics of the regions where it airs all factor into the decision-making.
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Contain creative, original content and treatment;
- Promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity;
- Demonstrate innovation, imagination and authenticity;
- Deal with relevant topics that are of interest to community members;
- Demonstrate planning and rigour in the pre-production process and clear, precise budget planning;
- Provide learning opportunities for the volunteers who will be involved in the show’s production.
- Video codec (MOV)
- Apple Prores 422 (HQ) with PCM audio
- XDCAM HD or XDCAM EX
- H.264 (quality: better)
- Form factor — 16:9
- 1920 x 1080i
- Frame rate
- 29.97 fps interlaced or 23.98 progressive
- Audio codec
- Integer (Little Endian)
- 48 kHz stereo
- Sample size
- 16 bits
- Supers
- All supers must be 4:3 title safe.
- Note: Regardless of whether the source content is interlaced or progressive, it must be exported as is.
*If the 2:3 pulldown sequence is respected
- Propose the project you want, not the one you think we will like.
- Make sure your project plan is clear. If some details have not yet been finalized, tell us.
- Watch a few shows on maCommunauté to get familiar with the content before submitting your project. Click here to view our shows.
- Read our spec requirements and eligibility criteria.
Q: What do you mean by “commercial content”?
A. Our definition of commercial content is the same as the CRTC’s, that is, programs featuring professional major league sports and programming that has appeared on or was funded by a major network.
Q: If a broadcaster is already interested in my content, can I still apply to maCommunauté?
A: Your project cannot be submitted for support from maCommunauté if a broadcasting licence has already been granted for the show by a major television network, because it would be considered commercial content. However, we’re open to sharing content with other community television channels.
Q: Can I promote a partner or a product in my content?
A: Yes. We comply with the CRTC rules in this regard. These rules state that this type of partnership can include a visual presentation of no more than 15 seconds that does not provide more information than the name of the entity or person, a description of their product or service, their telephone number and their address.
Q: What are maCommunauté’s spec requirements?
A: The content must meet the channel’s spec requirements in order to be broadcast. Click here to download the spec requirements.
Q: What is the best way for me to present my project? Can I present my project in person?
A: We recommend that you submit your project in the Get Funding or Broadcast your Show section of this site. A telephone discussion and a face-to-face meeting may follow this first step.
Q: Can I submit more than one application at a time?
A: Individuals or organizations can have a maximum of two concurrent active funding applications. However, you can submit more than one broadcasting application even if you already have two pending applications for funding with maCommunauté.
Q: How will I know that you have received my application?
A: You will receive an automatic confirmation message as soon as you submit your application.
Q: Is it easier to obtain support from maCommunauté if I already have funding from another source?
A: Not necessarily. The fact of having secured funding elsewhere can demonstrate the relevance of your project for the community and its financial viability but it is not a criterion for obtaining financial support from maCommunauté.
Q: If one of my shows has already been funded and aired by maCommunauté, can I submit a funding application for a sequel?
A: Yes, we will consider your application. However, it will not be treated differently from the other applications received and will be analyzed in the same manner.
Q: Can I make changes to my application once it has been submitted to maCommunauté?
A: You can submit a new application for support or to air your show. Please inform us at macommunaute@telus.com if you plan on submitting a revised application.
Q: How can I find out why my application was refused?
A: You can ask questions in this regard by writing to macommunaute@telus.com.
Q: What can I do if another broadcaster is interested in airing my show?
A: That would be great news! In such a case, contact the person in charge of your file at TELUS to discuss the legal and contract details.
Q: Can you answer questions about legal matters or TV production tax credits?
A: TELUS cannot offer advice on legal matters or tax credits. We recommend that you look for professionals who can provide you with accurate information.
Q: Can TELUS provide contract templates for me to use for the production of my show?
A: TELUS does not offer this type of document.
To submit your application, simply provide your name, telephone number and a brief description of your project. You will receive an answer within two to four weeks. We will let you know if we need more information about your project. Before submitting your application, make sure you have read our eligibility criteria and FAQ.