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Cbc
CBC is actively commissioning across drama, docuseries, and comedy with a clear appetite for culturally resonant Canadian stories and international co-production partnerships.
Current mandate
CBC is currently in production on a feature-length special about the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey tournament, made with Blink49 Studios in cooperation with the NHL and the NHLPA. The broadcaster has positioned the project as sitting "at the intersection of hockey, culture, politics, and Canadian national identity," with the special set to premiere on CBC and streaming service CBC Gem ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. The commission reflects CBC's broader interest in content that carries cultural weight beyond its primary subject matter.
Over the past 12 months, CBC has logged 30 tracked records and 13 unique deals within the most recent 30-day window alone, signaling a sustained and accelerating commissioning pace. The current slate spans drama (Blessed Sacrament, Cold Country, Junior), comedy (Committed, The Ambassador, The Posse), and a notably heavy docuseries slate (Barnburners, Burger Month, Doula: A True Crime, Power Play, Running Smoke, Snow King: From Olympian to Narco). The pattern points to a broadcaster investing broadly across genres while maintaining a consistent throughline of character-driven, location-rooted, and mystery-inflected storytelling. International distribution is active, with the U.S. rights to Heated Rivalry acquired by HBO, where the series has reportedly sat in the top ten of HBO Max since launching in late November.
CBC's primary commissioning territory is Canada, with international distribution extending worldwide. Projects with strong Canadian identity, co-production potential, and crossover appeal to international partners represent the clearest pathway into the slate. The 48 tracked decision makers on file suggest a broad internal network, and engagement through established production partners with Canadian credentials remains the most documented route to a commission.
Signature peaks
- 6 titles Docuseries — Heaviest genre on current slate
- 3 titles Drama — Character-driven, location-rooted focus
- 3 titles Comedy — Broad-audience Canadian voice
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Established Canadian production partners with co-production experience represent the primary documented access route. CBC's recent commissions consistently involve named prodcos. The 48 tracked decision makers suggest multiple internal entry points, but projects without a qualified Canadian producer attached have limited precedent in the current slate.
- Deal structure
- All 12 recently tracked commissions list budget as not disclosed. Deal structures appear to follow standard Canadian public broadcaster models, combining CBC licence fees with co-production financing and Canadian tax credits. International distribution rights are handled separately, as evidenced by HBO acquiring U.S. rights to Heated Rivalry independently of CBC's domestic commission.
Recent acquisitions
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Barnburners
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Blessed Sacrament
10×60', Sphere Media, Debut Content
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Burger Month
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Cold Country
6×60', Sphere Media
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Committed
Canada/UK copro, Cameron Pictures, Fabel Productions
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Doula: A True Crime
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Junior
8×60', Conquering Lion Pictures, Heavy Lifting Productions, Lionsgate Canada
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Power Play
Market context
"The 4 Nations Face-Off became a cultural flashpoint as much as a sporting event, and we knew there was a bigger story to tell."
CBC is currently in production on a feature-length special about the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey tournament, made with Blink49 Studios in cooperation with the NHL and the NHLPA. The broadcaster has positioned the project as sitting "at the intersection of hockey, culture, politics, and Canadian national identity," with the special set to premiere on CBC and streaming service CBC Gem ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. The commission reflects CBC's broader interest in content that carries cultural weight beyond its primary subject matter.
Common questions about Cbc
Does CBC accept unsolicited scripts?
CBC does not have a publicly documented open-submission policy for unsolicited scripts. The broadcaster's commissioning pattern, based on recent activity, runs through established production partners with Canadian credentials. Projects developed with a recognized Canadian prodco and structured around co-production frameworks represent the most documented route. Writers without existing industry relationships are advised to attach a qualified producer before approaching CBC's development team.
What budget ranges does CBC commission at?
Budget figures are not disclosed across CBC's current slate of commissions, including all 12 recently tracked titles such as Blessed Sacrament, Cold Country, and the 4 Nations Face-Off special. CBC is Canada's public broadcaster, and project budgets typically involve a combination of CBC licence fees, Canadian tax credits, and co-production financing. Specific per-project amounts have not been made public in available coverage.
Does CBC acquire projects from film festivals?
CBC's recent acquisition activity, including the Heated Rivalry series whose U.S. rights were picked up by HBO, suggests the broadcaster engages with projects at various stages, including post-festival. The current commissioning slate is predominantly original commissions rather than festival pickups. However, CBC Gem's streaming mandate broadens the window for acquisitions of completed or near-completed projects with strong Canadian relevance or co-production ties.
How do I reach CBC's commissioning team?
CBC tracks 48 decision makers according to available data, indicating a sizeable internal commissioning and development structure. The most documented access pathway runs through established Canadian production partners, as recent commissions including Barnburners, Power Play, and the Blink49-produced 4 Nations Face-Off special all involve named prodcos. Direct outreach to CBC's programming and development departments via official channels is the standard starting point for new relationships.
What genres is CBC prioritizing right now?
CBC's current slate reflects strong activity across three genres. Docuseries lead the volume with six commissioned titles, including true crime (Doula: A True Crime), sports (Power Play, Snow King: From Olympian to Narco), and factual storytelling (Running Smoke, Barnburners, Burger Month). Drama commissions, including Cold Country and Blessed Sacrament, skew toward character-driven, location-based narratives. Comedy rounds out the slate with three titles. Culturally resonant Canadian identity is a consistent thread across genres.
Is CBC actively commissioning right now?
Yes. CBC recorded 13 unique deals within the most recent 30-day window, matching its 90-day unique deal count, which points to a concentrated burst of commissioning activity. The latest tracked signal is dated May 26, 2026. Current productions include the feature-length 4 Nations Face-Off special, currently in production with Blink49 Studios and the NHL, set to premiere on CBC and CBC Gem ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
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