OTTAWA – Parliament should ensure Canada’s broadcasting legislation “keeps step with the times”, including proper accountability and transparency, even if it means restructuring the CRTC, said Canada’s largest media union.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) told the Heritage Committee on Monday that Canada’s big broadcasting corporations were “supposed to strengthen local stations not close them down”, and the CRTC must share the blame for allowing that to happen.
"Parliament needs to reshape the CRTC, review the Broadcasting Act, and consider whether Canada needs converged communications legislation geared to the 21st century to address consolidated media ownership, telecommunications and…
Continue Reading
HE HAS A PAIR OF BlackBerrys on his desk, but his iPhone is what’s tucked in his jacket pocket. It goes with him always and everywhere.
He was first elected as MP in 2000, at the age of 24, in his Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, B.C. riding, but his official bio lists the former radio and TV reporter/commentator’s occupation as “broadcaster.”
He’s mentioned every now and then as a candidate for much higher office that the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
And while his cabinet colleagues struggle with the multi-billion dollar requests from the likes of car companies…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, talked up the pending arrival of the new Canada Media Fund at the annual convention of the Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec (APFTQ).
"Technology has changed how we create, obtain, and enjoy film and television productions," Minister Moore said in his address on Tuesday. "Many producers have found new ways of reaching audiences in recent years. The industry must continue moving in this direction. The key to its success remains innovation. With this in mind, we recently announced the creation of the…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Astral Media urged the government to proceed with “caution” before amending any broadcast industry regulations, and encouraged a thorough examination of “the broader matrix of rules that serve to produce a carefully regulated balance between the various sectors of the industry”.
"The Canadian television industry has developed because of a careful balance in benefits, rights and obligations," said André Bureau, Astral’s chairman of the board, in a company statement. "It may well be that we have reached a point where a rethink is required. However, it has taken 40 years to establish this balance and we should be careful…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Shaw Communications doesn’t take long to act.
In fact, says company president Peter Bissonnette, the decision to go after three CTV-owned stations made available to purchase for the low-low price of a dollar each was made on Wednesday, with an offer executed via a newspaper ad slated for today’s Globe and Mail, but scooped yesterday by Cartt.ca instead.
Within hours of hearing of the ad from Cartt.ca, CTV accepted and Shaw – after some due diligence and contracts we suppose – will own CKNX-TV in Wingham, Ont., CHWI-TV Windsor, Ont. And CKX-TV Brandon, Man., for three…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – About two hours after having been informed by Cartt.ca that an offer to buy three troubled TV stations was coming from Shaw Communications, CTV said it will accept the $3 offer.
An exclusive story broken by Cartt.ca this afternoon revealed that Shaw Communications was placing a full page newspaper ad in tomorrow and Saturday’s Globe and Mail, as well as The Hill Times on Monday morning.
The ad, signed by CEO Jim Shaw, warns Canadians their broadcasters are seeking a bailout worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “They call this Fee for Carriage. Without mincing words, this…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Six in ten Canadian voters believe that Prime Minister Harper and the Conservative government are “hostile” to the CBC/SRC, and would like to “diminish public broadcasting in Canada”, says a survey conducted on behalf of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
The survey, which was conducted by public opinion research firm Pollara, was released Wednesday in advance of Canadian Heritage Minister Moore’s appearance before the Heritage Committee.
The online survey of 3,361 voting age Canadians was conducted to gauge the attitudes of Canadians when it comes to their public broadcaster. According to the press release, it found an electorate…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Peter Menzies has been appointed as a full-time member of the CRTC, representing the Alberta/Northwest Territories region.
"Mr. Menzies’ talent and experience in leading teams and managing high levels of performance make him an ideal candidate for the responsibilities entrusted to him," said James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, in the announcement.
Menzies is the president of Menzies Strategies, a company specializing in media consulting and strategic planning, and has been a part-time member of the CRTC since 2007. He spent his career in the newspaper business, serving as general manager of the Calgary…
Continue Reading
THERE IS SO MUCH left to do in order to make the transition to digital television happen in Canada that it’s impossible to see how we’re going to make the deadline despite the fact there’s still 28 months to go before the August 31, 2011 date set by the CRTC.
That thought struck me yet again, but harder, during the DTV transition session the National Association of Broadcasters held for international broadcasters here in Las Vegas. The association helpfully hosted the session, complete with panel representation from the FCC, cable, consumer electronics, the telecom industry and a social group representative….
Continue Reading
WINNIPEG and TORONTO – Canwest Global Communications said this morning that its subsidiary, Canwest Media Inc. and its senior lenders have agreed to extend the waiver of certain borrowing conditions until May 5, 2009.
The members of an ad hoc committee of 8% noteholders, which collectively hold approximately 70% of the outstanding notes, have also agreed not to demand payment of their notes for a period ending May 5, 2009 to coincide with the expiry date of CMI’s waiver agreement with its senior lenders.
This is the latest in a series of extensions as the giant media company struggles…
Continue Reading
