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
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
TORONTO – The New Democratic weighed in on the CRTC’s TV Policy Review on Monday.
According to a press release from the party, Heritage Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) and MP Peggy Nash (Parkdale High Park) held meetings with key players in Toronto’s film and television industry, although it did not say whom they met with.
"The message from industry is clear: the Federal Conservatives need to step forward with firm commitments and targets to stop the bleed off of jobs from English Canada’s television and film industry," says the press release.
Angus and Nash held meetings in Toronto…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – At a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the government of Canada signed amendments to an agreement with the Government Spain on cinematographic relations
This document replaces the original 1985 co-production agreement and includes television productions as a new area of co-operation between the two countries. The new agreement will support expanding cultural relations with Spain and provide Canadian and Spanish producers with enhanced opportunities for collaboration in both film and television, says the press release from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
"Canada’s new government is pleased to strengthen the audio-visual industries in…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The Canadian Women in Communications Jeanne Sauvé Professional Development Program provides women in the Canadian communications field with opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge of federal communications policy, the role of the government and its impact on industry as well as the dynamics of the relationship between public and private sectors.
In addition, the program strengthens the relationship between government and industry, and encourages dialogue on issues of common interest, says the association.
CWC supports and promotes the advancement of women in the communications industry through the CWC Jeanne Sauvé Convergence Program which focuses on broadcast and communications…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) on Friday announced the election of two independent directors to its board: Michel J. Carter and Anne-Marie Jean.
Jean is a former television producer and currently serves as executive director for Culture Montréal. Carter is an experienced finance and broadcasting executive and former president and CEO of TQS Inc. and Cogeco Radio-Télévision Inc.
As part of its commitment to accountability and governance best practices, the CTF board screens all independent candidates to ensure they pass the CTF independence test, including Carter and Jean. In accordance with the corporation’s bylaws, the process includes…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters has confirmed its lineup of speakers and panellists at its upcoming annual convention in Vancouver.
Appropriately for its 80th anniversary gathering, the CAB has booked more than 80 panellists, including keynote speakers Heritage Minister Bev Oda and outgoing CRTC Chair Charles Dalfen, who will likely be giving his last major address to broadcasters before his terms ends in December.
Along with top broadcasting execs (including Rick Arnish of The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, Norm Bolen of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., Catherine Bridgman of CanWest MediaWorks Inc., Kathy Dore of CanWest MediaWorks…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Thirty-three million dollars that was once part of the Canadian Heritage Ministry’s budget yesterday is no longer there today.
While on the face of it, the budget cuts the ministry will face does not directly affect the TV, film, and related industries (funding of $6.5 million for the Centre for Research and Information on Canada was cut and $4.6 million of assistance to museums was eliminated, for example) and it was just part of a larger, billion-dollar budget trim across all ministries.
The "new expenditure management system" was announced late Monday by Jim Flaherty, minister of finance…
Continue Reading
NOT EVEN A YEAR INTO HIS JOB as board chairman of CBC-Radio Canada, Guy Fournier scarcely had time to make an impact before resigning Tuesday, smothered (as reported by Cartt.ca) by ridicule for a succession of blunders about bestiality, bowel movements, and the lack of national unity cheerleading from the French-language service.
Appointed by then-Heritage Minister Liza Frulla in the dying days of the Liberal government last October, the 75-year old Quebec film producer, scriptwriter and author had only a few months to make an impression on his new political overseer, Bev Oda. Evidently, it wasn’t a good…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Speakers have been announced and sessions outlined for the 2006 Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention, set for Vancouver November 5-7.
The early registration deadline (where attendees get a rate break) ends on Friday.
The theme for this year’s CAB Convention – New Realities. New Rules. – "reflects the tremendous rate of change that Canada’s private broadcasters are experiencing," says the association.
"From the explosive growth of new digital technologies to an unprecedented level of regulatory review, 2006 is shaping up to be a watershed year for Canada’s private broadcasters," adds a release.
In keeping with well-established tradition,…
Continue Reading
