TORONTO – Production exec Carol Commisso is the new vice-president of development at Halfire Entertainment.
An industry veteran, Commisso (pictured) was the production executive for original scripted programming at Rogers Media and prior to that, executive in charge of production for CBC TV Comedy.
In her new role, based out of Halfire’s Toronto offices, Commisso is responsible for overseeing all development and the growing slate of scripted series, as well as continuing to foster relationships with the international creative community.
“Carol has been in the industry for more than 30 years and has worked as both a writer and network executive, so she…
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New show, hosts, format, launches Monday
CBC HAS LONG BEEN home to some giants in Canadian journalism, but when you walk into the broadcaster’s Toronto headquarters now you can’t miss its most recent famous retiree. An enormous, red and black, Peter Mansbridge likeness decorates what is now called Mansbridge Hall, hovering over all who arrive at the Front Street entrance.
It’s a pensive pose struck by the former anchor and chief correspondent of CBC News, a look longtime viewers of The National came to know very well during his 29 years helming the flagship show, where he’s intently watching, hearing, perhaps…
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OTTAWA – Just in time for the holiday shopping season, CBC/Radio-Canada is offering a new hardcover collection of Canadians’ stories that reflect the diverse people, places, things and events that tell a story of who we are now, and where we are headed together as a nation.
Available in both official languages as a single edition, What's Your Story? – A Canada 2017 Yearbook is designed to mark Canada's 150th anniversary. The limited edition yearbook is available now at Indigo (online at !ndigo), Chapters, Coles and independent booksellers for $29.99. A downloadable, digital version will also be…
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TORONTO – Newcomers to Canada use their mobile phone more than the general Canadian population, stream more content, and enjoy watching basketball, according to a new report released Tuesday.
Solution Research Group’s Newcomers to Canada research study explores consumer behaviours, social attitudes and demographics of newcomers in the last 10 years. The study polled 1,149 newcomers from China, South Asia, The Philippines, North Africa and the Middle East, as well as Latin and Central America.
According to the report, the newcomer market is increasing in importance socially and economically because of their record numbers (2.6 million since 2007) and habits that…
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TORONTO – Bell Media Studios is behind a new social media-first series created for youth by youth that is available first on Twitter and then as a linear TV series.
Sides* streams live globally on Twitter @Sides on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT, featuring a rotating panel of six teen hosts exploring and debating topics important to them and the series’ social media audience.
Following the live broadcast, a one-hour episode of Sides* will air on Much Saturdays at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. TV episodes highlight the debates from that week’s social broadcast, while also incorporating…
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OTTAWA – A letter signed by Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, ISED Minister Navdeep Bains and Finance Minister Bill Morneau confirms there will be no tax applied to Canadian ISPs in order to support Canadian content and journalism.
The October 16th letter – sent in response to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage report entitled “Disruption: Change and Churning in Canada's Media Landscape” – actually seems to kibosh a lot of the committee’s wish list.
(Ed note: The letter reads more like a detailed defense of the current Liberal policies , prior announcements [Creative Canada – within which echoes of…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC will review applications for channels wishing to renew their places in the basic programming package of the country’s television service providers at a hearing starting April 30.
Currently, programming services that must be carried within the basic package include 9(1)(h) services, all local television stations, provincial educational services, community channels and provincial legislature channels, if available.
The Commission said Tuesday that it will examine applications by Cable Public Affairs Channel Inc. (CPAC), Accessible Media Inc., Pelmorex Weather Networks (Television) Inc., TV5 Quebec Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc., Vues & Voix and The Legislative Assemblies of Nunavut and…
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CANNES – Go worldwide, young man and woman.
That's the message out of MIPCOM where the trend towards international funding of TV dramas featuring partners and talent beyond Canadian shores is playing out this week in networking and deal-making.
An example is Blue Moon, the French-language drama starring Karine Vanasse and Caroline Dhavernas for Club Illico. That's a local story with universal themes now being adapted by Cineflix Media into an English language drama to be monetized on a global scale. "We would rather go to the international market – Canada is the last territory," Cineflix Media president Peter Emerson told…
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OTTAWA – Canada’s longest-running one-hour drama, Heartland, has spurred $469 million in economic activity over its first ten seasons, says a new study released by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).
The study, available here, determined that the Alberta-based production contributed $351 million to Canada’s GDP and generated $469 million in economic output. Over that same period, it created the equivalent of more than 4,500 jobs in Alberta.
Heartland is a multi-generational saga, focusing on two sisters and their grandfather, who are struggling to overcome the challenges of running a family ranch. Produced and developed by independent production companies Seven24 Films…
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TORONTO and MONTREAL – Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) will showcase four short TV series this weekend at MIPJunior, the annual international event in Cannes that attracts producers, buyers, sellers, broadcasters, and content creators of content for children.
The series, Anaana's Tent (pictured), The Art Show, Beat Bugs, and Cracké, will be presented under the ‘Canada Big on Shorts’ banner at an event on October 15, 2017.
"Canadian talent is recognized everywhere," said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant”, in the news…
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