Move will let broadcasters keep $30 million
OTTAWA – While Canadian broadcasters have been working extraordinarily hard to deliver the news to Canadians during the Covid-19 crisis – and entertain them when they need diversion – this very crisis has caused revenue to bleed away from them as advertisers pull back facing an uncertain economy.
So, the federal government announced today a bit of a break, announcing it is waiving the payment of annual CRTC Part I licence fees for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
“The government knows that our Canadian broadcasters have been working around the clock to deliver news and…
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TORONTO – The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees met with Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault to discuss ways in which the federal government could best support the entertainment industry and its workers.
IATSE represents technicians, artisans and craftspeople in the entertainment industry, including live theatre, as well as motion picture and television production.
The conference-call meeting included 40 IATSE local union leaders who stressed the Covid-19 pandemic has brought economic hardship to all workers, but with virtually 100% unemployment, the entertainment industry has been hit particularly hard.
“Minister Guilbeault spoke knowledgably about the situation facing workers in both the film…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted business operations far and wide, including TV and film producers in Canada, who are calling for the federal government to pledge a financial aid package for the industry.
Boat Rocker Media has jumped out ahead as the first TV producer this week to register its intention to ask the federal and Ontario governments for financial support to continue to create, produce and distribute its content. The Toronto-based company’s subsidiary Temple Street has produced the popular show Orphan Black and its kids content has been enlisted in CBS All Access’s roster. Insight…
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GATINEAU — The federal government announced Wednesday it is taking action to support Canada’s publishing and news sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the announcement made by the department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) confirmed the Independent Advisory Board on Eligibility for Journalism Tax Measures is now in place. The advisory board’s role is to make recommendations to the CRA on whether a journalism organization meets criteria to receive the Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization (QCJO) designation, which is a prerequisite for organizations to take advantage of new tax measures introduced in the 2019 federal…
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TORONTO – TLN Media Group confirmed today a free preview of each of the TMG family of TV channels is now available with participating carriers across Canada until June 2020.
“As a public service, TLN Media Group is keeping our diverse communities connected to the rapid developments of COVID-19. News and programs directly from Italy are widely available to the public via Italian-language news channel TGCOM24 and Mediaset Italia. The latest breaking updates are also available to Spanish-speaking Canadians on Canada`s leading all Spanish-language TV channel Univision Canada,” reads the press release.
Heritage language children’s channels, Teleniños and Telebimbi, are included…
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By Steve Faguy
OTTAWA – Despite a demand from the premier of Prince Edward Island to do so, the federal government has apparently chosen not to intervene to force the CBC to restore its local TV newscasts.
As Cartt.ca reported, on Wednesday, the CBC announced it would suspend local newscasts, except at CBC North, and instead rebroadcast CBC News Network on local stations. PEI Premier Dennis King demanded Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault intervene, saying “now is not the time to scale back.”
The Canadian Media Guild, representing most CBC employees, and lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, also demanded the decision…
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By Konrad von Finckenstein
THE BROADCAST AND Telecom Legislative Review panel’s lengthy report is divided into institutional recommendations, telecom recommendations, broadcasting recommendations and others.
It made 46 regarding the Broadcasting Act. Apart from the recommendations on the CBC about which I express no comment, some are well thought out and would improve the present system substantially. The extension of the Broadcasting Act to “electronic communications services” on the internet is the area of greatest concern.
The Panel recommended:
… the Telecommunications Act be amended to establish explicit jurisdiction over all persons and entities providing, or offering to provide, electronic…
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By Steve Faguy
TORONTO – In what it describes as “unprecedented times,” CBC has decided to cancel local English TV newscasts in all markets except CBC North, replacing them with broadcasts from CBC News Network.
In a memo to staff sent Wednesday signed by CBC executives Susan Marjetti (general manager of news, current affairs and local), Brodie Fenlon (editor-in-chief of CBC News) and Cathy Perry (executive director of current affairs, investigative and long-form journalism), CBC cites “fewer staff in the Toronto Broadcast Centre and much stricter newsgathering protocols” as the reason for the change, which will be temporary.
CBC North newscasts are…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications last week announced its keynote speakers for IIC Canada 2020, to be held April 20-21, at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.
The big names are:
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Monika Ille, president and CEO, APTN
Grace Koh, U.S. representative and head of delegation to the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO, Quebecor
Ian Scott, CRTC chair
Catherine Tait, CBC president and CEO
Details of IIC Canada plenary sessions are also now available on the IIC Canada website. The session subjects…
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BANFF – The Banff World Media Festival announced Thursday Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will give a keynote address on Sunday, June 14, during the festival’s opening ceremonies.
“I am pleased to be taking part in my first Banff World Media Festival as Minister of Canadian Heritage,” said Guilbeault, in the press release. “The screen-based, music, interactive and production businesses that make up the creative industries ecosystem are essential to the Canadian economy. I am eager to share my vision for the future of creative industries in Canada with delegates and global leaders at this important B2B trading floor.”
We…
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