TV and online content Documentary projects

The Creative Europe Programme is offering lump sum grants under the call for proposals titled "TV and online content" (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE). This initiative is aimed at enhancing the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop and produce projects that have substantial potential to circulate widely across Europe and beyond, thereby facilitating both European and international co-productions in the television and online sectors.

The program's intent is to strengthen the independence of producers from broadcasters and digital platforms while promoting collaboration among various operators, including independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. The focus is on producing high-quality programming designed for broad international distribution, aiming for commercial viability in a multi-platform environment.

Applicants are invited to present projects such as drama films, animation, and documentaries that are suitable for linear and non-linear broadcasting. Proposals should demonstrate strong cooperation among operators from various participating countries and exhibit high artistic value along with significant potential for cross-border exploitation. The program particularly favors projects that introduce innovative content and financing strategies clearly linked to distribution plans.

The call was announced on September 30, 2025, with two submission deadlines: December 3, 2025, and May 7, 2026, both at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated for 2026 is €22 million, but individual grant amounts are not specified. Projects are expected to focus on development and production stages, ensuring a clear pathway for distribution across Europe and internationally.

Evaluation criteria for submissions include artistic merit, co-production partnerships, and the potential for international reach, reflecting the program's commitment to enhancing cooperation and increasing audience engagement with European content.

Applications will pass through multiple stages, including admissibility checks, eligibility evaluations, and assessments based on awarded criteria. Successful applicants from the first cut-off will be informed by June 2026, while those from the second cut-off will receive results by November 2026. Grant agreements are expected to be finalized shortly after these notifications.

The initiative emphasizes sustainable production practices, gender balance, and inclusion, making it highly relevant for projects aligned with current cultural policy priorities in Europe.

Interested applicants must utilize the Funding & Tenders Portal for submissions, and they are encouraged to review the comprehensive documentation provided for application guidelines and specific requirements related to the call. For further assistance, applicants can reach out to the Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.

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 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.

The expected results include increased production of high quality European works for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including on digital platforms, as well as an increase in the number of co-productions. The call also aims to enhance cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including between broadcasters, and to increase the 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. Projects should demonstrate strong cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including between broadcasters. They should also exhibit high creative/artistic value and wide cross-border exploitation potential, able to reach audiences at European and international level, and present 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, including the use of greening consultants to reduce the environmental impact of productions and shootings, and to ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity and representativeness.

The call was published on 30 September 2025. There are two deadlines for submitting applications: 3 December 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time) and 7 May 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). The evaluation period for the first cut-off date is December 2025 to April 2026, and for the second cut-off date is May to October 2026. Information to applicants for the first cut-off date will be available in June 2026, and for the second cut-off date in November 2026. The signature of the grant agreement for the first cut-off date is scheduled for September 2026, and for the second cut-off date in February 2027.

The total budget for the call in 2026 is EUR 22,000,000. The call includes three topics: CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-1, CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-2, and CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-3, all of which are CREA Lump Sum Grants (CREA-LS). The call utilizes a multiple cut-off deadline model.

Admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout, which are described in the call document and in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, as well as financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, are also described in the call document. The submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring and thresholds, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are all detailed in the call document. The legal and financial set-up of the grants is also described in the call document.

Applicants can find application form templates, including the Standard application form (CREA MEDIA) available in the Submission System, a Calculator (CREA MEDIA LS TVONLINE), a 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.

The Funding & Tenders Portal allows LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics, 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. 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. Additional support is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ Submission of proposals and 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 the production and distribution of drama films, animation, and documentaries. The call has a two-stage submission process with deadlines in December 2025 and May 2026, offering a total budget of EUR 22 million in lump sum grants. Applicants need to carefully review the call documents and use the provided templates to prepare their proposals, focusing on demonstrating strong partnerships, creative value, and strategies for wide distribution and environmental sustainability.

Eligible Applicant Types: Audiovisual producers, independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Funding Type: Grant, specifically CREA Lump Sum Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The action aims to enhance collaboration between operators, including independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms and sales agents, from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, suggesting that a consortium is preferred, although the possibility of a single applicant is not explicitly ruled out. Strong cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including between broadcasters, is expected.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Target Sector: Audiovisual, TV, online content, drama films, animation, documentary, culture, media.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call refers to countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Project Stage: Development and production of strong projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond. The projects should be intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic in 2026 is EUR 22,000,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified.

Application Type: Open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Money.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages, including admissibility checks, eligibility checks, evaluation based on award criteria, and grant agreement preparation. There are two cut-off dates for submission, implying at least two evaluation rounds.

Success Rates: Not specified.

Co-funding Requirement: Not specified, but applicants should present a financing structure.

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 seeks to strengthen the independence of producers, enhance collaboration between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, and promote high-quality programming aimed at wide international distribution and commercial exploitation. Projects should demonstrate strong cooperation between operators, high creative/artistic value, wide cross-border exploitation potential, and innovative aspects in content and financing. Applicants are expected to present strategies for a more sustainable and environmentally-respectful industry, as well as ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call operates on a lump-sum grant basis (CREA-LS) and has a total budget of EUR 22,000,000 for 2026. There are multiple cut-off dates for submission: December 3, 2025, and May 7, 2026. The call was published on September 30, 2025. The evaluation process takes place between December 2025 and April 2026 for the first cut-off, and between May and October 2026 for the second cut-off. Successful applicants will be informed in June 2026 and November 2026, respectively, with grant agreements 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. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The application process involves several stages, including admissibility checks, eligibility checks, evaluation based on award criteria, and grant agreement preparation.