Search Results for: Canadian Heritage

Radio / Television News

CTF doles out $285 million to broadcasting industry

TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) will hand out approximately $285 million to Canadian television producers this year through the broadcaster performance envelope stream. The funds are earmarked to support English and French programming in the genres of drama, children and youth, variety and performing arts, and documentary. English-language broadcaster envelopes will total $194 million, while $91 million will be allocated to French-language broadcaster envelopes. The CTF supports the development of Canadian talent, programs, and audiences through financial investment and industry research, and is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada’s broadcasting distribution undertakings. As Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Cautious optimism, but questions remain about CMF

TORONTO and OTTAWA – Television industry stakeholders continue to weigh in on the new Canada Media Fund (CMF) announced Monday. CTV said in a statement that they “welcomed” the Fund, and “applauded the proposal (for) striking down antiquated rules that prevented broadcaster investment in the creation of high-quality Canadian programs for both broadcast and digital platforms.” "Congratulations to Minister Moore for recognizing the importance of audience success and for putting the audience first in the creation of this fund. All of us in media exist to serve the audience," said Ivan Fecan, president and CEO… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF dumped in favor of new, larger, multiplatform fund, Minister Moore announces (corrected version)

TORONTO – Getting funding to make television in Canada is about to get a whole lot different. Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore announced today the Canadian Media Fund, a combination of the existing Canadian Television Fund and the Canadian New Media Fund. The new fund, according to the Minister will be “reformed and rebranded” through a radically different partnership with the groups who provide the funding (government, DTH, cable and telco TV providers) and those who spend it (the production community). Its mandate will be to ensure the production of quality content and to make it available on multiple… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTF ups funding commitments this year

TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) has bumped up its program commitments for 2009-2010 by almost 14% over last year. The increases will be directed to the following CTF programs: – the broadcaster performance envelope has been allocated $285 million, a 7.2% year over year increase ($194 million to English and $91 million to French); – French-language projects outside of Quebec will increase to $10.2 million from $9.3 million; – funding to Aboriginal-language projects will increase from just over $3 million to $4 million; – the allocation for the digital media program will grow to $10 million; – funds for the production incentive… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Production industry needs “balanced approach to policy, regulation and funding” to survive, report

OTTAWA – The Canadian production industry is facing two significant challenges – the current economic "crisis", and uncertainty over how Canadian content will reach audiences over digital platforms, according to the Profile 2009 report. In order to maintain the 131,600 jobs the sector creates, the industry needs new approaches to access and funding, along with a balanced approach to policy, regulation and industry funding, said the press release announcing the report’s findings.  The annual economic report is published by the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) in collaboration with the Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ),… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Charbonneau joins CBC BoD

OTTAWA – Peter Charbonneau has been appointed to the Board of Directors of CBC/Radio-Canada. Charbonneau has been one of three general partners at Skypoint Capital Corporation since 2001, where he is responsible for the placement and management of various funds, according to the press release. Prior to this, he was executive vice president of March Networks Corporation, and held several senior positions with Newbridge Networks Corporation. "Mr. Charbonneau brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to CBC/Radio-Canada," said James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, in the announcement. "I am confident that the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Another January hearing as Feds send Ottawa radio decision back to Commission

OTTAWA – New Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Minister James Moore didn’t wait long to get his hands dirty. On the job for less than a month, his ministry today announced the federal government has referred back for reconsideration and re-hearing, the August 26th decisions by the CRTC to award new radio station licenses in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The decision, as reported by Cartt.ca, licensed two new English-language commercial FM radio stations to serve the area and some complained that both licenses were going to English-language broadcasters. Under orders from the Minister today, the Commission now has to squeeze… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cabinet shuffle coming today; Prentice out at Industry

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper, fresh off his election win and larger minority government, will announce a new cabinet today in Ottawa, according to several sources. Online and televised reports say Industry Minister Jim Prentice is being reassigned to Environment and Tony Clement, the current Minister of Health, is headed to the Industry portfolio, which of course oversees the telecom space along with the Department of Canadian Heritage. It’s not known if Heritage Minister Josee Verner will keep her job, but rumours during the election campaign had her pegged as a minister who may also be reassigned. Watch… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Entertainment Industries Summit set for October 22-23 in Toronto

TORONTO – The 2nd annual Insight Entertainment Industries Summit will run October 22-23 at St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre in Toronto. The event is aimed at senior executives and counsels from the film, television, new media, gaming, music and print media industries who are involved in content creation, development or distribution. The keynote luncheon address will be given by Namir Anani, executive director of Policy Development and Research at the CRTC. The conference program co-chairs are Alan Sawyer, principal consultant, Two Solitudes Consulting, and Susan Abramovitch, partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson, LLP. Topics include issues facing each content genre,… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CAMPAIGN 2008: Parties make election promises on culture and broadcasting

OTTAWA – With many Canadians concerned about the economy, environment, and our troops overseas, you’d think culture would not be on the radar in the federal election, but the parties have made promises that could affect broadcasting. The Conservatives have vowed to change the make-up of the CRTC commissioners to better reflect the regions and francophones. Leader Stephen Harper said the chair position would alternate between English speakers and French speakers, the vice-chair positions (in broadcasting and telecom) would be split with one anglophone and one francophone, at least one-quarter of the commissioners would be French-speaking and would be… Continue Reading