CBC'S OLYMPIC COVERAGE this month is a good starting point for a wider discussion about Canadian broadcasting in our multicultural country.
If we want to be consumer-centric in our approach to regulating the broadcast system, and multiculturalism is one priority pillar of the system, then it stands to reason that all Canadians would be better served if program rights holders were prohibited from squatting on unexploited multilingual rights – especially in the case of major global events.
This past month, Canada missed a great opportunity to use this global unifying event to assist in the never ending effort to…
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“When the colour of the night
And all the smoke for one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
A forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
Let's get friendship right
Get life day-to-day”
“IT’S A GOOD LIFE If You Don’t Weaken” may be one of the few wonderful Tragically Hip songs the band left tucked under Gord Downie’s magic hat on Saturday night. But the transcendent nature of the show from Kingston was rife with other epiphanies, not the least of which concerns a late-breaking story on our CBC.
We spend so much time today –…
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Chair, Minister, respond, too
GATINEAU – After former Ontario CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan filed a new judicial review application last week which alleges institutional bigotry and many other workplace issues within the Commission as part of the reasons why his firing should be reversed, those directly affected by his statements have responded.
In his legal documents filed with the Federal Court last week, which we reported on here, Shoan filed a copy of a letter he sent to Heritage Minister Melanie Joly on June 14th (before his appointment was rescinded). That letter detailed a number of offensive statements which Shoan…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has named Andrew Addison as its VP of communications and marketing.
Prior to this appointment, Addison (pictured) worked closely with the CMPA as a consultant at communications firm FleishmanHillard. He also held the role manger of media relations at the Canadian Bankers Association.
Based in Toronto, Addison will report to president and CEO Reynolds Mastin and provide strategic direction, leading the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies.
“With his breadth of experience, Andrew brings a deep understanding of what it takes to align marketing and communications functions to drive broad strategic…
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BANFF – Canada has a long history of playing catch-up when it comes to setting policy for electronic media, starting with radio in the early part of last century and then with conventional television and cable TV through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. We can’t afford that any more.
The U.S. generally pushed the envelope in launching new media, Canadians adopted the technology and governments here played regulatory catch-up, often preferring early monopolies in radio or TV over competition in the marketplace.
“By first delaying the introduction of television, and then delaying the introduction of competing services, government policy almost guaranteed…
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DEMORESTVILLE, ON – Broadcast industry veteran, former CRTC director-general, and community advocate Peter Fleming passed away June 15 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 66.
Fleming spent close to 25 years at the CRTC between 1973-1997, holding a variety of positions including director-general of radio and television broadcast policy. He went on to become a consultant to the broadcasting industry, helping various television and radio companies in Canada in preparing applications, policy positions and presentations to the broadcast regulator. Early on his consulting career, he helped the Government of South Africa to develop its post-apartheid broadcast legislation.
Fleming also served on the…
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SAINT JOHN – After more than 180 nominations and some 28,000 votes cast across the country, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has announced the winners of the 2016 Tuned-in Canada: The CCSA Awards.
The annual contest bills itself as a national celebration of excellence in communications service delivery, community-mindedness, and community channel content development.
This year’s winners in each category were determined by the most votes received, and, by the most votes received per capita subscribers. With CCSA made up of various sized members, the organization said that this system levels the playing field for all. In the event that an entry won…
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BANFF – Okay, how do you know you've got a great tax accountant? Well, it's obvious – she's got a loophole named after her!
Yup, the title "Digital Content Taxation: Levelling the Playing Field with Foreign Competition" didn't announce well as a barn-burning session. However, I wasn't expecting jokes about tax lawyers deducting ExLax as a moving expense either.
There was a principle involved.
Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (and former Premier of New Brunswick), has a bee in his bonnet: Foreign digital content providers are not required to register and collect Canadian GST/HST, and thus…
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Joly says 6,000 have responded to early culture consultation
TORONTO – Businesses should invest in the cultural sector – including hiring artists – in order to help the economy grow and open new markets, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly told a business audience Thursday in Toronto.
“Does that mean you need artists, writers and musicians in your business? Well, at the very least you need some people who think like artists, writers and musicians,” Joly told the Economic Club of Canada. Joly urged industry to invest in the cultural sector because not only do companies have the money but also because it…
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VANCOUVER and MONTREAL – The heads of three private Québec broadcasters have taken exception to comments made by CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Hubert Lacroix this week that they claim “mischaracterized” their position on the role of the public broadcaster.
Speaking Tuesday at an event at the University of British Columbia about the Corp’s ongoing transformation, Lacroix all but accused some unnamed Canadian private broadcasters of trying to “undermine” public broadcasting to stave off competition.
“Some private broadcasters have suggested that the solution to their declining revenue is to limit what CBC does for Canadians to some sort of "status quo" or…
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