Search Results for: cbc

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Banff Fest 2016 commentary: Rigid, old, political rhetoric may mean playing field remains uneven

BANFF – Okay, how do you know you've got a great tax accountant? Well, it's obvious – she's got a loophole named after her! Yup, the title "Digital Content Taxation: Levelling the Playing Field with Foreign Competition" didn't announce well as a barn-burning session. However, I wasn't expecting jokes about tax lawyers deducting ExLax as a moving expense either. There was a principle involved. Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (and former Premier of New Brunswick), has a bee in his bonnet: Foreign digital content providers are not required to register and collect Canadian GST/HST, and thus… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC pledges to increase female directors

TORONTO – CBC has committed to increase the number of women directing its scripted television series. The public broadcaster said that women will make up half or more of all directors or directing 50% or more of all episodes on upcoming seasons of Murdoch Mysteries (Season 10, pictured), Heartland (Season 10), This Life (Season 2), Baroness Von Sketch Show (Season 1), and Workin’ Moms (Season 1). The pledge comes as CBC and its production partners move to support the goal of Women in View’s 2X More initiative, which brings together media industry leaders in the hopes of doubling the number of women directing scripted media in Canada from the current 17% to 35%… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Banff Fest 2016: Why Canadian broadcasters ponder becoming studios; and why next year’s L.A. screenings may be tipping point

BANFF – Inside the picturesque Banff Springs Hotel much is being said about monetization strategies for content development and distribution. And in that context it's fun to recall that titles like Hell On Wheels, Passchendaele, The Revenant, Brokeback Mountain, Fargo, and The Bourne Legacy have all been shot in this fast-changing province of Alberta. So what better venue? For Julie Tremblay, president and CEO of Quebecor Media, the key is partnerships, vertically integrated companies, perhaps even more industry consolidation, and direct co-development and co-production with independent creators. While those may be fighting words for some independent producers, she also admits to two constants:… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

RTDNA Canada names 2015 national and network award winners

TORONTO – RTDNA Canada, The Association of Electronic Journalists, has crowned the winners of its national and network awards which recognize the best in storytelling on all platforms. The winners for RTDNA 2015 National Awards are: Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature – Large Market – Radio – CKNW Radio: Aging Alone   Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature – Small/Medium – Radio – CBC Sudbury: Angels and Demons   Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature – Large Market – TV – Global BC: Transforming Healthcare: St Paul’s Hospital   Dave Rogers Award – Long Feature – Small/Medium Market – TV – CTV Vancouver Island: Benches   Dave Rogers Award – Short Feature… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CTV readies “new style of morning television”

TORONTO – Fresh off the cancellation of its long running morning show Canada AM, CTV announced plans for Your Morning, a new daily news and lifestyle morning program that will premiere at the end of the summer. Hosted by former CBC Toronto News anchor Anne-Marie Mediwake and CTV entertainment journalist Ben Mulroney, Your Morning will air weekday mornings on CTV (Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada) and nationally on CTV News Channel from 6:00 – 9:00 AM.  Joining hosts Mediwake and Mulroney are co-anchors Melissa Grelo (The Social) as late morning anchor, Lindsey Deluce (CP24 Breakfast) as news anchor, and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Shaftesbury’s Scott Garvie named new CMPA chair

TORONTO – Scott Garvie, SVP business and legal affairs at Shaftesbury, was named the new chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) this week by the CMPA board of directors. He replaces Jamie Brown (Frantic Films) who is stepping down after two successful years as chair. Garvie has overseen the negotiation and implementation of all development, financing, sales and recoupment arrangements for Shaftesbury since 1994. He serves as executive producer on all of its productions, which are sold in 120 countries worldwide, and currently includes David Shore's new series Houdini & Doyle for Sony Pictures Television, Shaw Media, ITV and Fox;… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Letter to the Editor: Prior comment on ad load needs more clarity

IN THE MIDST OF a busy upfront event last week, I made a comment that was published in an article earlier this week on Cartt.ca which requires some clarification. Decidedly, at CBC, we are not looking to reduce our ad load. Simply stated, advertising revenue is integral to our business model. As Canada’s public broadcaster, our goal is to offer not only high-quality and creatively ambitious content, but also distinctly Canadian programming and advertising revenues are fundamental to helping us deliver on that promise. The consultant I referred to is sharing best practices for how… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Trina McQueen appointed vice-chair of TVO’s BoD

TORONTO – Television industry luminary Trina McQueen has been appointed to TVO’s Board of Directors as the new vice-chair for a three year-term through May 2019. McQueen (pictured) began her career as an on-air journalist before going on to become head of CBC News, founding president of Discovery Channel, and president and COO of CTV Inc.  She has served on numerous industry boards including CBC, Telefilm, National Film Board of Canada advisory council, Canadian Journalism Foundation, and the Canadian Television Fund.  In keeping with her major interest in education, McQueen has been a Governor of University of Waterloo, board member at… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

UPFRONTS 2016: CBC eyes lightening the ad load as viewers’ expectations shift

TORONTO – The CBC is looking at cutting back on its ad load, even allowing Canadians to watch hit shows online without commercial interruption, as TV viewers gain more control over the medium. "We're doing an analysis (of having fewer ads), right now. We have an outside consultant and are looking more closely at that," Sally Catto, general manger of programming at the CBC, told Cartt.ca on Thursday as her network unveiled its 2016-17 fall and winter schedules. For Catto, despite needing to rely on commercial air-time revenue to supplement the pubcaster’s parliamentary appropriation, CBC must experiment with limiting its… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC exec fired over Ghomeshi affair launches lawsuit

TORONTO – A former CBC executive who was dismissed in the wake of the Jian Ghomeshi issue is suing the public broadcaster for more than $700,000. A National Post report says that Todd Spencer, who was executive director of human resources and industrial relations, filed a lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court that accuses CBC of publicly shaming and “sacrificing” him “to send a message to the Canadian public that the CBC takes matters of workplace harassment seriously.” In a formal defence, the CBC denies Spencer’s claims and alleges he merely “purported to commence” an investigation, then “deliberately misled” them… Continue Reading