Search Results for: Canadian Heritage

Radio / Television News

New media impact so far? “Marginal”, says Commission

GATINEAU – Despite much experimentation and breathless reportage on the future of electronic media, Canadians still get their entertainment via traditional means, the CRTC said today. The Commission released a 181-page report today, requested by Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda in June on the future environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system. The report finds that any negative impact on the broadcasting system from shifting media consumption patterns has been marginal to date, according to the Commission release. This observation is based on the fact that Canadians still consume the vast majority of programming through regulated Canadian broadcasting undertakings. "However,… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Commission hires new AED

GATINEAU – The CRTC has announced Namir Anani will be joining the organization as associate executive director, industry analysis, economics and technology on January 2nd. "Namir comes to us with a depth of experience in new media research, development of new IT and communications technology as well as management in both the public and private sectors. (He) joins us from Canadian Heritage where he is the director general and CEO of the Canadian Heritage Information Network," said a memo from Len Katz, the Commission’s executive director, broadcasting and telecommunications. Anani has a BSc in electrical engineering as well as… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Government shelves Senate report

OTTAWA – It took three years to produce and then five months to decide that the Senate Committee’s Final Report on Canadian News Media will, in essence, be shelved. As reported in June by Cartt.ca, Senators made a number of recommendations to government on how to improve news and information getting to Canadians – not to mention the CRTC and CBC (come to think of it, some of those topics have been front-and-centre at the TV Policy Review hearings that began November 27th, but we digress…). For example, to stem the effects of mega-mergers, the Competition Bureau should… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

TV REVIEW: Cultural groups in stark contrast to broadcast positions

GATINEAU – Organizations representing many persistent voices opposed to Canada’s 1999 over-the-air television policy – along with a rare cameo by the Ontario Culture Minister – took the stage Monday for Day 6 of the CRTC’s review of this policy. The unions and guilds appearing for English and French writers and actors, and for English directors and crew, almost all requested a mix of re-regulation and new rules for conventional broadcasters – a distinct contrast to many broadcasters, who last week called for fewer rules and greater access to revenues. In what was described as the “first appearance in… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CRTC should listen carefully to Jessica

NEXT WEEK IN OTTAWA, TV broadcasters will tell their regulator, the CRTC, that they want fewer rules and more ways to make money. They will raise the alarm about how difficult it is these days to make money from traditional advertising because of all of the competition for eyeballs coming from new-fangled media, like the Internet, pay TV, and cell phones. They will plead for measures to help them climb back from merely profitable to very profitable. And they may well get their way. After all, they have powerful friends in Ottawa. In fact, the minister responsible for broadcasting… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Heritage Committee launches CBC review: report

OTTAWA – Parliament’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has decided it won’t wait for the federal government to take the lead on an official review of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. On Monday, according to a CBC.ca story, the committee – led by NDP Heritage critic and committee member Charlie Angus – passed a motion to review Canada’s public broadcaster. Through much of the summer of 2006, much speculation bounced around that Heritage Minister Bev Oda would initiate such a review herself, but that didn’t materialize. Click here for the full story. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Heritage Minister talks with friends in Toronto

TORONTO – Saying she was "among friends", former CRTC commissioner and Canadian Women in Communications chair (and current Minister of Canadian Heritage) Bev Oda spoke openly Thursday night in Toronto about the current state of the broadcast and telecom market. The Minister was speaking at CWC Toronto’s fall gathering at the Bravo! Rehearsal Hall. During her informal presentation, Oda acknowledged that there is much uncertainty, many questions and areas where no one knows how broadcasting and telecommunications is going to evolve over the next few years. Instead of fear and trepidation, the industry stakeholders should look at the wonderful… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAB 2006: Over 100 guest speakers, 23 sessions at this year’s convention

VANCOVUER – The 80th edition of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention will feature an impressive roster of keynote speakers, including B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, CRTC chair Charles Dalfen, Rick Hansen Foundation, president and CEO Rick Hansen; Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, and many others. The line-up of musicians performing at various times during the three days includes Colin James, Melissa McClelland, Delhi2Dublin, Alpha YaYa Diallo, Daniel Lavoie and Sarah McLachlan. This year’s convention is booking up quickly, says the CAB, so if you haven’t already registered, it is encouraging members and others… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

The TUESDAY INTERVIEW: CBC CEO Robert Rabinovitch, Part I

I’VE GOT A BIT OF A SOFT spot for the CBC because when you grew up where I did, the CBC was it. Apologies to CTV’s Northern Ontario precursor, MCTV, but when I think of old shows from my youth, it’s most often the CBC that springs to mind. Like sooo many of my fellow Canadians, when I think of the Ceeb, I invariably recall many frigid Saturday evenings inside watching Hockey Night in Canada: Me and my father sitting down with a big bowl of warm, greasy, salted popcorn. I usually fell asleep right after Peter Puck during the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Discovery races across all platforms

TORONTO – Discovery Channel put the pedal on the floor Monday for the launch of its Star Racer media campaign. In a Discovery Channel first, the channel developed one-of-a-kind multi-platform sponsorship opportunities for Mazda, Castrol and Edge Active Care, integrating the brands into every aspect of the production – including television broadcast, broadband and online executions. Premiering Tues., October 24 at 10 p.m., Star Racer explores the world of auto racing, searching for a fearless driver who wants to become the fastest driver on the circuit. With a judging panel that includes racing icon Paul Tracy, the winning driver… Continue Reading