Commercial Production

Producing a TV commercial in Canada is a different animal than producing for digital. There are preclearance approvals, CRTC regulations, union talent agreements, and strict technical delivery specs — none of which apply to a social ad. Missing any of them can mean a commercial that's beautifully filmed but never makes it to air.

We've supported food and restaurant brands, toy and game companies, and technology innovators through this leap to broadcast. We treat every shoot day as a chance to capture not just the 30-second spot, but the full multi-platform content stack — short-form social cuts, vertical TikTok versions, behind-the-scenes — so one production day fuels months of campaign content. With 15+ years of broadcast experience, we anticipate the regulatory and technical hurdles before they cost you time and money.

What We Deliver

Full-service commercial production with broadcast and digital outputs from a single shoot.

• Broadcast TV spots (30s / 15s) — frame-accurate timing for broadcaster delivery — Telecaster number, Ad-ID, closed captioning, technical specs handled
• Preclearance & compliance — ThinkTV preclearance, CRTC code review, category-specific rules for food, alcohol, pharma, and children's advertising
• Multi-platform content stack — short-form social cuts, vertical Reels/TikTok versions, behind-the-scenes, product demo extras — captured the same shoot day
• FR adaptations — French-language versions adapted from the EN spot — pacing, talent, voiceover all matched
• Music & talent rights — synchronization licensing, master rights, talent residual planning so your spot can air without rights surprises
• Delivery coordination — we work with your media buying agency or directly with broadcasters to hit air dates with zero last-minute scrambling

Our Approach

A broadcast commercial is the flagship asset in a larger video marketing strategy, not a stand-alone project. We plan every shoot to maximize creative output across the whole campaign.

Plan for preclearance from day one

We submit creative concepts for preclearance at least two weeks before filming. Reviewers flag issues at the script stage — not after a $50,000 shoot. Categories like food, alcohol, pharma, and children's advertising require extra scrutiny, and we know how to navigate each.

Film for the whole funnel, not just the 30-second spot

With set, crew, and talent already assembled, the marginal cost of capturing extra content is small compared to the value of a library of assets. We plan the shoot to deliver the broadcast spot plus short-form cuts, vertical mobile versions, and product demo footage — all from one production day.

Timing is unforgiving

A 30-second spot must be exactly 30 seconds and zero frames. We monitor timing throughout production so the final cut hits every broadcaster's spec without a frame to spare. Alternate versions (15s, FR, regional) are planned upfront, not bolted on after.

Delivery and clearance, handled

Telecaster number, Ad-ID, closed captioning, broadcaster-specific tech specs, legal review — we run the full clearance process so the file lands at the broadcaster ready to air. Most advertisers cut delivery timelines too close. We don't.

What Our Clients Say

Why Black Box Productions

Producing for broadcast in Canada means knowing the rules — CRTC codes, ThinkTV preclearance, broadcaster tech specs — and knowing how to make creative work within them. With 15+ years producing commercials for global brands, we've cleared, delivered, and aired hundreds of spots without a single missed air date.

• Operations in Montreal & Toronto — with crew networks across Canada
• Broadcast experience — preclearance, CRTC compliance, Telecaster/Ad-ID, tech delivery — handled
• Multi-platform planning — broadcast spot + social cuts + vertical mobile from one shoot day
• Bilingual production — EN + FR (Quebec-French) commercials with talent, voiceover, and pacing matched per language
• 5-star Google rating — trusted by Budweiser, Air Canada, Milestones, Samsung, and more

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does broadcast commercial production take?

Plan for 8-12 weeks from concept approval to broadcast-ready delivery. Preclearance alone takes 2+ weeks, technical delivery requires 5+ business days before air date, and legal review can add another round. Rush timelines are possible but compress the safety margin on every stage.

Do I need preclearance for digital-only commercials?

No — preclearance and Telecaster numbers are required for broadcast TV only. Digital and social commercials follow different (lighter) rules. But if you anticipate moving to broadcast later, designing for compliance upfront is far cheaper than reshooting.

Can you produce in French for Quebec broadcast?

Yes. We produce fully bilingual commercials with Quebec-French talent, voiceover, and copy. FR versions are not just translated — pacing, idiom, and cultural references are adapted for the Quebec market.

What's the difference between hiring a production company vs an agency?

An agency owns brand strategy and media buying; a production company owns the craft of making the film. We work in both lanes — full-service for brands without an agency, or as the production partner inside a larger agency relationship. More on this here.