TV and online content Animation projects

The Creative Europe Programme is launching a grant opportunity titled TV and online content under the identifier CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE. This program is focused on supporting audiovisual producers in developing and producing high-quality animation projects intended for both linear and non-linear broadcasting across Europe and beyond. The primary goal is to enhance the capacity of producers while fostering international co-productions in the television and online sectors.

Eligible applicants include independent producers, production companies, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, which generally encompasses EU member states and associated countries. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant, with a total budget allocation of €22 million for the year 2026.

The program operates on a multiple cut-off basis with submission deadlines set for December 3, 2025, and May 7, 2026. The evaluation periods will occur between December 2025 to April 2026 for the first round and May to October 2026 for the second. Grant agreements are expected to be signed in September 2026 and February 2027.

Key project requirements include demonstrating significant cross-border collaboration between operators from different countries, thereby promoting European integration in the creative industries. Projects should exhibit innovative aspects in content and financing while presenting clear distribution strategies that enhance the potential for international audience reach.

While individual funding amounts for projects are not specified, typical grants in similar programs may range between €200,000 to €1 million. The program anticipates supporting projects at the development and production stages, emphasizing works with high creative value and commercial viability.

The program specifically targets the audiovisual and media production sector, aiming to strengthen not only production capabilities but also cooperation between various media operators. It highlights the importance of environmentally sustainable practices and inclusivity in the production process, advocating for gender balance and diversity.

Overall, this grant opportunity represents a strategic investment in the European audiovisual landscape, providing critical support to foster the development of high-quality animation content for wide circulation and commercial exploitation in an increasingly digital media environment. Applications must follow the standard forms available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and comply with the guidelines laid out in the call documents.

The Creative Europe Programme (CREA) is offering lump sum grants under the call TV and online content (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE). The call aims to increase the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop and produce strong projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international co-productions within the television and online sector. The call falls under the MEDIA Strand.

The action seeks to strengthen the independence of producers in relation to broadcasters and digital platforms and to enhance collaboration between operators, including independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents, from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. The goal is to produce high-quality programming aimed at wide international distribution and promoted to a wide audience, including commercial exploitation in the multi-platform environment. Projects presenting innovative aspects in the content and in the financing that show a clear link with the envisaged distribution strategies will receive particular attention.

Expected results include increased production of high-quality European works for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including on digital platforms, an increase in the number of co-productions, enhanced cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including between broadcasters, and an increased audience for European works through linear and non-linear broadcasting, including on digital platforms.

The TV and online content action supports works such as drama films, animation, and documentaries intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting. These works should demonstrate strong cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including between broadcasters, high creative/artistic value and wide cross-border exploitation potential able to reach audiences at European and international level, and innovative aspects in terms of the content and the financing that show a clear link with the envisaged distribution strategies.

Applicants should present adequate strategies to ensure a more sustainable and more environmentally-respectful industry, in particular through the use of greening consultants allowing to reduce the environmental impact of productions and shootings, and to ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call has multiple cut-off dates. The publication date is 30 September 2025. The deadlines for submitting applications are 3 December 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time) and 7 May 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). The evaluation periods are December 2025 to April 2026 and May to October 2026. Information to applicants will be available in June 2026 and November 2026. The signature of the grant agreement is scheduled for September 2026 and February 2027.

The budget for the call in 2026 is EUR 22,000,000. The call includes topics CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-1, CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-2, and CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-3, all of which are CREA-LS CREA Lump Sum Grants.

Conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, submission, evaluation, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and the legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in the call document. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself. Application form templates include the Standard application form (CREA MEDIA), which is available in the Submission System, the Calculator (CREA MEDIA LS TVONLINE), the Financing structure (CREA MEDIA TVONLINE), Information on independence and ownership (CREA MEDIA), and Information on language of submission documents (CREA MEDIA). Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include CREA MGA and Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents include CREA Annual Work Programmes, CREA Regulation 2021/818, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile.

To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants should click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. After confirming the choice, applicants will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals for this topic, applicants can log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

For general information on the programme and the Call, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency: EACEA-MEDIA-TV@ec.europa.eu. Applicants can also consult the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for submission of proposals or contact the IT Helpdesk for technical questions. The Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this Creative Europe Programme call supports TV and online content creation, aiming to boost the European audiovisual industry by funding high-quality, internationally appealing projects. It encourages collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices in content production and distribution. The call uses a lump sum grant system and has two cut-off dates for submissions. Applicants should carefully review the call documents and templates provided on the Funding & Tenders Portal to ensure their proposals meet all requirements.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are audiovisual producers, independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CREA Lump Sum Grant.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity encourages collaboration between operators, including independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms and sales agents, from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, suggesting a consortium approach is favored, although not explicitly stated as mandatory.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. This implies a focus on European countries and potentially some international co-production partners.

Target Sector: The target sector is culture, specifically TV and online content, including drama films, animation, and documentary.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity targets countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, implying a focus on European countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is development and production, as the call aims to support projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 22,000,000. The funding is distributed across multiple topics (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-1, -2, and -3), but the specific amount per grant is not detailed in the provided text.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: Based on the indicative timeline, there are at least three stages: submission of application, evaluation period, and signature of grant agreement.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is not specified, so the success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), specifically targeting TV and online content. The call, titled "TV and online content (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE)," aims to increase the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop and produce strong projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international co-productions within the television and online sector. The call supports works intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including drama films, animation, and documentaries.

The program emphasizes strengthening the independence of producers, enhancing collaboration between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, and promoting high-quality programming aimed at wide international distribution and commercial exploitation. Projects should present innovative aspects in content and financing, with clear links to distribution strategies. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strategies for a more sustainable and environmentally-respectful industry, as well as ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call has a budget of EUR 22,000,000 and is structured as a lump sum grant. The call has multiple cut-off dates for submission: December 3, 2025, and May 7, 2026. The evaluation periods are December 2025 to April 2026 and May to October 2026, respectively. The grant agreements are expected to be signed in September 2026 and February 2027.

Eligible applicants include audiovisual producers, independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. The application process involves submitting a standard application form available in the Submission System, along with a calculator and financing structure template. The evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in the call document. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency for general information and the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and IT Helpdesk for technical assistance.