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…
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TORONTO – The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) has asked for clarification on comments made by CBC president Hubert Lacroix during his speech at a business luncheon in Toronto on Thursday.
At that time, Lacroix reportedly said that he was asking the federal government for financial assistance to deal with an expected budget shortfall and to cover downsizing costs in 2009/2010.
He also said that while no decisions would be made for 2009/2010 until the CBC board meets in mid-March, he is seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister before then, and is meeting with Heritage Minister James Moore next week.
But the CMG, who…
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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),…
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TORONTO – Middle East-based news and current affairs channel Al Jazeera English (AJE) is asking the CRTC to add it to the list of eligible satellite services in Canada.
The channel, which is already seen in more than 100 countries and 130 million households worldwide, said it is committed to opening a Canadian news bureau if it is authorized for distribution here.
Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) will present the application to the CRTC, acting in their capacity as "the channel’s sponsor", the press release said. ECG is a Canadian multi-ethnic broadcaster which currently offers 12 television channels in Canada.
AJE…
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TORONTO – The recent cutbacks and sharp shift in focus for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters is something that should be re-thought, say its independent broadcast members.
Readers will recall that the group recently cut its size in half and retrenched its focus so that it will be much less involved with the CRTC and spend far more time and resources lobbying government MPs directly instead.
That’s not to say the smaller members don’t recognize some change is required. “I think it’s important to recognize that the CAB leadership had every good intention of being responsible and changing with…
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TORONTO – Ron Suter has been named executive vice-president/general manager, Canada, NBC Universal Television Distribution and executive vice-president, Universal Studios Canada, the company announced today.
Suter, who is based in Toronto, will continue to oversee all Canadian television operations for NBC Universal Television Distribution and represent Universal Studios as a national leader for both the studio and parent company General Electric. He is responsible for licensing all of NBC Universal’s theatrical and television programming in all media for English and French Canada.
"Ron has done a tremendous job leading our Canadian sales team for many years now," said Barry Wallach,…
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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…
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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…
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HAMILTON – Mountain Cablevision has won the phone business of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, providing the schools in the area and the board’s main offices with their cable telephony service.
Mountain Cablevision will be responsible for providing service to 115 schools, plus the board’s main offices, which equates to over 600 phone lines in total. The switch meant the school board has been able to save a significant amount on expenditures for their phone service, says the press release.
"Not only does this project provide us with real cost savings, it also lays the foundation for the future…
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OTTAWA – James Moore is the new Minister of Canadian Heritage.
A former broadcaster (he was a radio host and reporter in Vancouver and Prince George, B.C.) Moore was elected MP for the Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam in 2000 at the age of 24.
He has served in a couple junior roles in cabinet since the Conservatives came to power in 2006 – as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.
This summer he was appointed Secretary of State…
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