Film, Video and Audio-visual Production Survey

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1952

Reference period of change - 2017

With the 2017 reference year, a new methodology has been implemented to produce estimates for the film, television and video production industry. This approach makes more intensive use of administrative data in addition to the data collected to reduce under-coverage. In addition, it ensures that estimates by province better reflect where filming activity is taking place. To preserve the continuity of the data series, estimates for 2013, 2015 and 2017 have all been produced using this new method.

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2017, the industry classification is based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017.

Reference period of change - 2013

The Film, Television and Video Production Survey is now conducted in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage. As a result of a change in frequency of the survey, the publication Film, Television and Video Production, was not published in 2014 for the reference year 2012.

Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents. The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses. These changes took effect when data for the reference year 2013 were released.

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2013, the data are classified by industry based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2012).

Reference period of change - 2011

After the 2011 reference year, the frequency of this survey was changed from annual to biennial. It will not be conducted for the 2012 reference year.

Reference period of change - 2007

Target population - Target population -- As of reference year 2007, the classification of this industry is based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2007.

Reference period of change - 2005

Commencing with reference year 2005, this new survey is administered by the Service Industries Program, in collaboration with the Culture Statistics Program. Historical time series data from the previous Culture Statistics Program are available in The Guide to Culture Statistics (online, free of charge, at catalogue number 87-008-GIE). It should be noted that data from this historical time series should not be compared with data from this new survey due to significant differences in coverage and methodology.

This new 2006 survey covers a somewhat different set of businesses than in previous years so that data generally cannot be expected to be comparable. The list of names and addresses of businesses is now drawn from a central Statistics Canada database. In addition, a much more rigorous delineation of those companies that are considered part of the culture sector has been applied through the implementation of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). This industry-based classification is a departure from the activity-based classification that was used previously. In addition to these changes in coverage, commencing with 2005, the data are based on a sample of businesses.

Due to quality constraints, data for the 2005 reference period are not being disseminated.

Reference period of change - 2004

This survey was not conducted for the 2002 and 2003 reference periods.

Reference period of change - 2000

Data sources - Data release was delayed because the data capture system was changed and two years of data (2000 and 2001) were collected at the same time.

Error detection - The number of edits in the data capture program was expanded in 2000 and 2001. This included historical checks on country of control, legal status of the producer, total revenue and total operating revenue.

Reference period of change - 1999

Collection instrument - The section on Production Activities was changed significantly. A spreadsheet was created to compress 7.5 pages of the section into 3.5 pages. Budget information was collected for each television and feature film production prior to 1999, but was collected for total television and feature productions in 1999 and after.

Specific questions on whether the production was animated or a children's program were dropped, and these choices were added to the list of options under Category of programming. The question on whether the production was an official co-production was dropped. Prior to 1999 a question asked how many television productions and theatrical feature films were completed during the reporting period. In 1999 this was dropped so the number of productions now has to be calculated by adding up the number of individual entries.

A detailed question on international service receipts was added in 1997.