DESPITE THE CLOSING OF Canadian Digital Television (CDTV) at the end of August 2006, both the Canadian television industry and government still saw a need for further collaboration on technical and operational issues surrounding the roll-out of digital television in Canada.
To that end, a new group called the Digital Television Technology Group (DTV-TG) was formed about one year ago.
The Technology Group (whose web site can be found here) carries out collaborative investigative projects and research “to provide decision makers in industry and government with the technical information they need to plan for, and advance, the roll-out…
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OTTAWA – Outgoing CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Robert Rabinovitch said Tuesday the public broadcaster needs a contract with Canadian in order to reach its potential before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
It’s a message similar to the one Rabinovitch delivered last march in his first appearance before the standing committee, which is review the role of the public broadcaster in the 21st century. Today was his second and last appearance before the committee.
“The Broadcasting Act has not changed in more than 15 years, CBC/Radio-Canada has not received an increase to its base operating appropriation in more than…
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OTTAWA – Shaw Communications has taken aim again at the Canadian Television Fund. In a full-page advertisement on the back of the sports section of Saturday’s edition of the Ottawa Citizen, Shaw asks: “What do you call a $250 million boondoggle?” The answer, also in all capital letters, reads the ad: “The Canadian Television Fund.”
The advertisement notes the CTF has lost is way, and has “little to show” for the $2.5 billion it has spent on promoting and developing quality TV programming in Canada.
“Who made the decisions to spend billions of your dollars only to achieve so…
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QUEBEC CITY – Canadian Heritage minister Josée Verner on Monday announced funding for a special broadcast of “La Fureur” on December 31, 2007, live from Quebec City.
The federal government will contribute $308,000 to the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue for the special broadcast. The program will be devoted to the 400th anniversary of Quebec City and the 10th anniversary of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie.
“The 400th anniversary of Quebec City is an important celebration for all of French-speaking Canada, as is the 10th anniversary of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. We could not pass up the unique…
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OTTAWA – The membership of the House of Commons Standing Committees on Canadian Heritage and Industry – the two with the most impact on the cable, radio, television and telecom industries were announced this week.
New members are in bold.
The members of the Heritage Committee are: Chair: Gary Schellenberger (Conservative, Perth-Wellington, ON); vice-chairs: Mauril Bélanger (Liberal, Ottawa-Vanier, ON) and Maria Mourani (Bloc Quebecois, Ahuntsic, QC); Members: Jim Abbott (C, Kootenay-Columbia, BC), Dave Batters (C, Palliser, SK), Gord Brown (C, Leeds-Grenville, ON), Ed Fast (C, Abbotsford, BC), Hedy Fry (L, Vancouver Centre), Luc Malo (Bloc, Vercheres-Les Patriotes, QC), Francis…
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TORONTO – Global Television has named this year’s winners of the Broadcasters of the Future Awards. They are Scott Best of Winnipeg, Felicia Hsuen-Ling Yap of Calgary, and Morgan Barrett Schaller of Wilmer, B.C.
The annual awards offer a series of scholarship, internship, and mentorship programs to encourage and aid talented Canadians toward establishing or furthering careers in the Canadian broadcast industry.
“We commend all of this year’s applicants for their hard work and interest in the broadcast industry,” said Kathy Dore, President, Canadian Television, CanWest MediaWorks. “The recipients of this year’s awards astonished us with the passion and…
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TORONTO – Emily Bellavy of Tecumseh, Ont. is this year’s recipient of the Alliance Atlantis Diversity in Broadcasting Internship, awarded in partnership with Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T).
Bellavy begins her three-month internship this month, and will assist in the co-ordination of CRTC documents and research information on regulatory affairs and Government policy. She’ll also meet government broadcasting regulatory leaders in Ottawa.
The award will be presented to Bellavy at the Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2007 in Toronto.
The internship program offers an entry-level visible minority or aboriginal woman the opportunity to gain…
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OTTAWA – The federal government has found a new President and CEO for CBC – Radio Canada.
He’s Hubert T. Lacroix, a Montreal lawyer, former private broadcasting executive and former Radio-Canada basketball colour commentator.
The announcement was made Monday by Heritage Minister Josée Verner, who said Lacroix “possesses the necessary experience and skills to lead Canada’s national public broadcaster”.
“I am confident CBC/Radio-Canada will be well-served by the leadership of Mr. Lacroix,” Verner said in a short statement.
Over at the federally-funded CBC, the news was “welcomed” by CBC Board Chair Tim Casgrain, who, anticipating criticism of the appointment,…
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MONTREAL – With the CRTC having indicated in its upcoming review of broadcast distribution undertakings and specialty services that it is prepared to let market forces begin to dictate how the TV industry works here, a group of artist and cultural business groups are demanding something different.
They have asked Canadian Heritage, Josée Verner, “to use her power to issue policy direction to the CRTC so that the Commission gives primary consideration to social and cultural factors, as required by the Broadcasting Act, in all its decisions to do with the broadcasting sector,” says a press release.
The release…
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OTTAWA – The 81st annual Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention kicks off this Sunday in Ottawa and runs through Tuesday, November 6th.
(Cartt.ca, which is a media sponsor, will be there with a team of reporters covering the sessions – and will also produce a printed show daily on-site.)
The 2007 convention theme, Broadcasting, Redefined, “targets issues of fundamental importance to the broadcasting and distribution industries: new technologies and platforms, new business models and partnerships, and new policies and regulations that will allow Canada’s private broadcasters to thrive in an increasingly complex global business environment,“ says the CAB.
There…
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