TV and online content Fiction projects

The EU Funding Opportunity CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE aims to enhance the capacity of European producers to develop and produce high-quality television and online content. This initiative is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), focusing specifically on TV and online content projects. The funding mechanism is through CREA Lump Sum Grants, which provide predetermined amounts rather than reimbursement-based funding.

Eligible applicants include audiovisual producers, independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. The program encourages strong collaboration among operators from different countries, making consortium partnerships a significant aspect of the application process.

The geographic beneficiary scope includes EU member states, EEA countries, and potential candidate countries involved in the MEDIA Strand. The program emphasizes the audiovisual sector, supporting various formats including drama films, animation, documentaries, and projects aimed at both linear and non-linear broadcasting.

The total budget for this call is €22 million for 2026, with no specific grant amounts disclosed for individual projects. The application process is structured around multiple cut-off dates, allowing submissions on December 3, 2025, and May 7, 2026, with the call officially opening on September 30, 2025.

The project should demonstrate strong artistic value and have potential for cross-border distribution. Innovation in content and financing is encouraged, alongside initiatives promoting sustainability, gender balance, and diversity. The program aims to boost international co-productions, increase audience reach for European works, and enhance cooperation across the MEDIA Strand.

Evaluation of applications will go through several stages, including admissibility and eligibility checks. The call document provides detailed guidance on application requirements, including necessary documentation and strategic considerations for projects.

Overall, the CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE opportunity represents a strategic investment in the European audiovisual sector, promoting high-quality productions, international collaboration, and cultural diversity in the digital and traditional media landscape.

The EU Funding Opportunity CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE aims to bolster the audiovisual industry by increasing the capacity of European producers to develop and produce high-quality TV and online content. This initiative falls under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and specifically targets TV and online content through the CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE call. The funding mechanism is based on CREA Lump Sum Grants (CREA-LS), utilizing the CREA Lump Sum Grant [CREA-AG-LS] model grant agreement.

The core objective is to facilitate European and international co-productions within the television and online sector, fostering collaboration among independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from various countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. The call emphasizes projects with significant potential for circulation throughout Europe and beyond, promoting high-quality programming intended for wide international distribution and commercial exploitation across multiple platforms.

A key focus is on strengthening the independence of producers in relation to broadcasters and digital platforms. The call encourages projects that demonstrate innovative aspects in both content and financing, with a clear link to the planned distribution strategies.

The expected results of this action include: Increased production of high-quality European works for both linear and non-linear broadcasting, including digital platforms. A rise in the number of co-productions. Enhanced cooperation among operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including broadcasters. Increased audience reach for European works through linear and non-linear broadcasting, including digital platforms.

The activities to be funded encompass works intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including drama films, animation, and documentaries. These works should exhibit: Strong cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, including broadcasters. High creative and artistic value with wide cross-border exploitation potential, capable of reaching audiences at the European and international levels. Innovative approaches in terms of content and financing that are clearly linked to the envisaged distribution strategies.

Applicants are required to present strategies that promote a more sustainable and environmentally respectful industry, potentially through the use of greening consultants to reduce the environmental impact of productions and shootings. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call has a budget of EUR 22,000,000 for the year 2026 and employs a multiple cut-off deadline model. The opening date for submissions 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, respectively. Information to applicants will be provided in June 2026 and November 2026. The signature of the grant agreements is scheduled for September 2026 and February 2027.

The admissibility conditions, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and the legal and financial setup of the grants are all detailed in the call document.

Applicants must adhere to the proposal page limits and layout as described in Part B of the Application Form, which is available in the Submission System.

The call document and annexes include: The call document itself. Application form templates: A standard application form (CREA MEDIA) available in the Submission System. A calculator (CREA MEDIA LS TVONLINE). A financing structure template (CREA MEDIA TVONLINE). Information on independence and ownership (CREA MEDIA). Information on the language of submission documents (CREA MEDIA). Model Grant Agreements (MGA): CREA MGA and Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents: 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. Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants, who can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. Any user with an active public Person profile can also publish partner requests.

To start the submission process, applicants should access the Electronic Submission Service by clicking the submission button next to the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement. After confirming the choice, which cannot be changed, applicants will be directed to the correct entry point. Existing draft proposals can be accessed by logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal and selecting the My Proposals page in the My Area section.

For general information about the programme and the call, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-TV@ec.europa.eu. Additional support is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk for technical issues, and the Online Manual for step-by-step guidance.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to stimulate the European audiovisual sector by supporting the production and co-production of high-quality TV and online content. It encourages innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, with a focus on projects that can reach wide audiences and contribute to the cultural diversity and competitiveness of the European media landscape. The call seeks to empower independent producers, foster cooperation among industry stakeholders, and promote environmentally responsible production practices, while ensuring gender balance and inclusivity in the projects it supports.

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, but this is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

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

Target Sector: Culture, specifically TV and online content, drama films, animation, and documentary.

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

Project Stage: Development and production of projects with significant potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is 22,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The funding is distributed across multiple grants.

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

Nature of Support: Money, specifically lump sum grants.

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 in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Not explicitly mentioned, but applicants should present adequate financing structure.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), specifically targeting TV and online content. The call, 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 funding is provided as CREA Lump Sum Grants.

The call supports works intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including drama films, animation, and documentaries. Projects should demonstrate strong cooperation between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand, high creative/artistic value, wide cross-border exploitation potential, and innovative aspects in terms of content and financing. Applicants are expected to present strategies for a sustainable and environmentally-respectful industry, as well as ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call has multiple cut-off dates, with deadlines for submitting applications on 3 December 2025 and 7 May 2026. The total budget for the call is 22,000,000 EUR for 2026. The call is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Applicants need to 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. Applicants are advised to consult the call document and annexes for detailed information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation criteria.

The call aims to achieve increased production of high-quality European works, enhanced cooperation between operators from different countries, and increased audience reach for European works. It encourages projects that strengthen the independence of producers, enhance collaboration between operators, and promote high-quality programming aimed at wide international distribution and commercial exploitation in the multi-platform environment.