“There was a time when children’s television was one of the Canadian industry’s most successful exports, but the industry has collapsed. Our announcement today to support both Rocket Fund Canada and help greenlight several kids’ projects is an urgent call to action.” – Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury
OTTAWA, ON — September 23, 2026 — Today at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), Shaftesbury announced a significant funding package designed to support Canadian kids’ content. The commitment includes a $200,000 gift to Rocket Fund Canada. In addition, the $1 million – a combination of Shaftesbury cash and its CMF Distribution Envelope – will greenlight up to five projects for production.
Unveiling the initiative on stage alongside Rocket Fund Canada President & CEO Agnes Augustin, Shaftesbury Chairman and President Christina Jennings emphasized what’s at stake for kids’ content in Canada.
“With the collapse of the private broadcasters from the kid’s space, this has significantly reduced the amount of kids content being made by Canadian creators,” said Jennings. “It is up to the government to make kids’ content a priority.”
“Shaftesbury is demonstrating the kind of leadership our sector needs through its support for children’s programming through its CMF Distributor Envelope and its generous contribution to Rocket Fund’s operations,” said Agnes Augustin, President & CEO, Rocket Fund Canada. “As support for kids content continues to decline at a rapid pace, the future of Canadian children’s media will depend on new approaches, stronger partnerships and a shared recognition of how vital it is to ensure Canadian stories remain available to our children. Shaftesbury shows that it truly takes a village.”
“Canada’s history of consolidation of children’s broadcast channels and subsequent collapse of traditional subscription revenue have resulted in weakened domestic infrastructure,” continued Jennings. “In other jurisdictions, public broadcasters have had larger remits and budgets for children’s programming. If we want a vibrant domestic industry, it starts with our kids and making sure that their stories and their shows can be commissioned. Shaftesbury views today’s announcement as an urgent call to action for both public and private sectors to rebuild a sustainable kids’ content business in Canada.”
Shaftesbury’s roots are in kids’ and family programming with the Emmy-award-winning Dark Oracle, Emmy award-winning Life with Derek, and Screech Owls being among its earliest hits.
The company credits the new CMF Distributor Envelope with making this new slate of series possible. Meanwhile, Rocket Fund Canada remains an essential partner in the space, without which Shaftesbury notes much of Canada’s kids’ content simply wouldn’t get made.
The slate includes:
Whatever You Do, Don’t Laugh (CG animation, 60 x 7 min, preschool) – Co-Produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment in Canada and King Banana in the UK, Mr. B’Tom, the very serious presenter of this comedy series, sets out to teach simple lessons about basic concepts like shapes, numbers and colours. But his rather dry lessons get a much needed injection of humour when his delightfully well meaning assistants try to help but usually end up doing quite the opposite.
Hôtel Beyrouth / Season 2 (Live action, 8 x 22 min, family/youth) – Set in Ottawa in 1992, Season 2 follows a Lebanese immigrant family three years after arriving in Canada, as the story shifts toward belonging, identity and becoming Canadian. Producers are Kavalo Productions (Ontario) and Productions Ocho (Quebec). Season two will air first on TFO, and subsequently on Radio-Canada and NatyfTV.
“Sinking Ship Entertainment and King Banana are thrilled that this project has been selected by Shaftesbury as one the recipients of this funding,” said Carla de Jong, Executive Producer, Sinking Ship. “Continuing to be able to attract brilliant shows and co-production opportunities for Canada from around the world is key to the success of our industry and this funding will be instrumental in achieving that.”
