Search Results for: Canadian Heritage

Cable / Telecom News

CPAC to re-engage Canadians in politics

OTTAWA – ‘Canadians are looking for truth in politics – no spin, no agenda. CPAC viewers get the unvarnished truth, the whole story. Our viewers watch, listen and decide for themselves what the real truth is,’ said Colette Watson, president and general manager of CPAC, in launching the channel’s 14th season today. A vibrant on-air look and a pledge to renew Canadians’ interest in politics highlight the cable company-owned channel’s new season. Political scandals, seemingly endless speculation on election timing, a minority government, and partisan bickering have eroded Canadians’ interest in the political process, says the CPAC release. "Political apathy… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Feds uphold CRTC’s Vancouver ethnic radio license decisions

OTTAWA – The Government of Canada Wednesday dismissed complaints filed with the Governor in Council over two CRTC decisions awarding Vancouver radio station licenses. On July 21, 2005, the CRTC awarded a radio license to South Asian Broadcasting Corporation Inc. to operate a new commercial specialty FM (ethnic) radio station at Vancouver at 93.1 MHz aimed at the South Asian community. The same day, it also approved an AM radio application by I.T. Productions Ltd. for a new station at 1200 kHz also targeting Vancouver’s South Asian communities. “The decisions… were found to be consistent with the policy objectives… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

BROADBAND: Canada way ahead of U.S., says report

TORONTO – Almost half of Canadian households (49%) are now connected to the Internet via high-speed broadband – and young surfers are using those fat connections to access more and more video, according to new research being released today by Toronto-based Solutions Research Group. The U.S., it found, lags significantly behind – where only 34% of U.S. households have a high-speed Internet connection. These are among the key findings of two reports of among more than 2,800 randomly-selected Canadians and Americans in May-June 2005. “Broadband penetration is a significant marker for the delivery of on-demand video content and entertainment… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Local radio on cable “should remain a cornerstone”, says CAB

OTTAWA – The CRTC Wednesday extended the commentary process on the cable industry’s request to kill the mandatory carriage requirement of local FM radio stations. As first reported by www.cartt.ca, the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association has asked the CRTC to repeal section 22 of the Broadcast Distribution Regulations which say that Class 1 and 2 cable systems must carry all local FM stations in their market on their cable plant. The CCTA told the Commission that about 4% of cable subscribers listen to the radio over cable and that its members could better use the plant capacity to… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Canada pushes UNESCO convention on cultural protection

OTTAWA – A collection of Canada’s leading cultural organizations emerged from a meeting with the federal culture minister and several of her provincial/territorial counterparts Monday, united in their determination to see a Canadian-originated treaty on cultural protection enshrined in international law. While free trade deals and WTO wrangling sort out how countries sell each other commercial goods and services, few international statutes define the treatment of cultural products such as TV programs, films, music, books and magazines. The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) convention on cultural diversity – recognizing every sovereign state’s right to create, support… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

RTNDA launches diversity campaign

TORONTO – A nation-wide radio and television campaign to promote cultural diversity in the news media was launched today by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. A series of announcements will begin airing on radio and television in the coming weeks, promoting awareness and support of diverse news operations. “We hope this campaign will make people aware of the fact that a diverse culture is what Canada is all about, and that the news media is keen to properly reflect that diversity,” said Terry Scott, president of RTNDA Canada, in the press release. According to Statistics Canada, our foreign-born population… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Quebec culture ministry to lead look at technology’s impact in 2006

OTTAWA – One vague paragraph from multi-faceted release from the Department of Canadian Heritage late Friday says the provinces, led by Quebec, will soon delve into the impact new technologies are having and will have on Canadian cultural policies. The communiqué – one of those nebulous press releases where everyone’s agreed to agree upon – came out of a meeting this week between federal and provincial cultural ministers in Banff and covered many issues, from museums to tourism. The paragraph the Canadian cable, radio, television and telecom industry might be concerned with says: “Quebec agreed to take the lead… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Who is steering the CBC ship? A letter from Lise Lareau, president, Canadian Media Guild

THE LOCKOUT AT THE CBC is entering its fifth week because no one in senior management is directly responsible or accountable for their actions. Consider this: CBC president Robert Rabinovitch approved the plan to lockout 5,500 people as a way to force extreme concessions – namely a staff structure with far more reliance on temporary work. Based on the emails to Rabinovitch that are copied to me and based on general media coverage, I don’t think this approach is resonating with Canadians, even the most conservative of them. But who exactly can redirect Rabinovitch? There’s the rub. The CBC’s… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Cabinet decides not to meddle in satellite radio decision

GATINEAU – Now that the two new Canadian satellite radio companies were scared into committing to more French language channels (going from three to four, or half of the Canadian channels they each will have), the federal cabinet issued a statement today saying it won’t interfere with the CRTC decision on the matter. After two months of enormous lobbying pressure from all sides, as reported extensively by www.cartt.ca, Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla and Minister of Industry David Emerson late this afternoon said that cabinet decided to let the decision stand. After looking at several… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Frulla forwards Fournier for CBC chairman

OTTAWA – Writer Guy Fournier has been proposed as the next chairman of the board of the CBC by Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. Fournier will now face the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for approval, which is basically a rubber-stamp. Fournier replaces Carole Taylor, who quit earlier this year to enter provincial politics in British Columbia. “I am pleased to recommend such a distinguished Quebecker and Canadian like Mr. Fournier for this important role,” said Minister Frulla in her press release. “It goes without saying that his vast experience in newspapers, film, television and the theatre will be of… Continue Reading