NZ On Air is seeking proposals for its new Digital Media Fund.

The new Digital Media Fund will support innovative projects that make the most of opportunities offered by the internet and digital media.

The Fund has two strands: DMF Kickstart, where a fund of a million dollars will be available for two or three substantial projects; DMF Ignite has $400,000 available for smaller projects.

"While our main focus is on broadcast audiences, we know that digital is a vital extension of local content production. With this Fund we hope to encourage and support the creation of new and diverse local content for targeted audiences," says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson. "This is an exciting evolution of our former Digital Content Partnership Fund."

"Digital funding will mainly focus on special interest audiences because there are fewer mainstream broadcast options for them," says Ms Wrightson.

This year the Kickstart Fund will prioritise projects with content relevant for Pacific audiences in New Zealand.

"We are developing our Pacific broadcast funding strategy," says Ms Wrightson, "We see the Kickstart Fund as a fantastic opportunity to get creative communities thinking about content for Pacific audiences."

Digital Media Fund Kickstart

DMF Kickstart is for new projects that push the envelope of creative storytelling, and explore options for new approaches, including multi-channel or transmedia.

With this fund we want to provide an interested audience with something different and/or meaningful through the opportunities afforded by digital media.

DMF Kickstart is a fund of $1,000,000 intended for two or three projects.

In 2012 we are developing a Pacific broadcast funding strategy. For the DMF Kickstart in 2012 we are especially looking for projects whose content is for Pacific audiences.

Key Dates

• 20 August 2012 - Call for proposals issued
• 26 October 2012 - Proposal deadline
• 14 December 2012 - Successful applicants notified

Digital Media Fund Ignite

The Digital Content Partnership Fund review published in January 2012 uncovered a need for a streamlined application process for projects requiring relatively small amounts of money.
In response, NZ On Air has created DMF Ignite.

DMF Ignite is aimed at smaller projects. In this first round there is $200,000 available for projects with a range of price points up to $45,000. Depending on the response at this time there may be a second round in early 2013.

Key Dates

• 20 August 2012 - Call for proposals issued.
• 21 September 2012 - Proposal deadline.
• 5 October 2012 - Successful applicants notified

Source: NZ On Air