Search Results for: cbc

Radio / Television News

Bell Media next to team up with Twitter

TORONTO – Just a day after Shaw Media announced its new partnership with Twitter’s Amplify program, Bell Media today announced its own partnership with the social media juggernaut that will use metrics to examine the relationship between audience engagement and Twitter activity. Bell Media, which made the announcement ahead of today’s “upfront” presentation of its new fall schedule, said the research will also focus on the social TV behaviour of Canadian viewers and the return on investment of social TV initiatives. “We're excited to continually expand our presence in the social media space through the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CTS 2013: Tower tempest dominates regulatory wrangle

TORONTO – Cell tower sharing remains a white hot topic for wireless competitors and the issue raised its head Tuesday morning during the Canadian Telecom Summit’s annual regulatory blockbuster panel, moderated again this year by Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien. Although mandated tower sharing was included in the 2008 AWS spectrum auction rules – as it will be for next year’s 700MHz spectrum auction – the problems for new wireless entrants are the growing costs to share tower space and that access rules are not adhered to by the three incumbents, said Ed Antecol, vice-president of regulatory affairs and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Youtube eclipses satellite radio for online audio streaming: MTM

OTTAWA – Just 14% of Canadians currently subscribe to satellite radio, as more Canadians prefer to listen to music online via Youtube than any other audio streaming channel. That’s according to a couple of new reports from Media Technology Monitor, both of which examine the trends and use of online audio in Canada. Streaming audio online continues to be a popular online activity among three in five Canadians, with most listeners streaming audio from their computer. Smartphones are the most popular portable streaming device. The Satellite Radio report says only a small proportion of Canadians… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC gets five-year licence renewal, limited ads on Radio 2/Espace musique; Pentefountas objects

GATINEAU – Canada’s public broadcaster has been given the green light to introduce advertising on its Radio 2 and Espace musique properties, but only for three years. “The Commission considers that advertising will serve to ensure that the CBC has the resources to continue to provide high-quality diverse programming. However, the Commission is imposing conditions of licence that limit advertising to a maximum of four minutes per hour and limit the number of times that programming can be interrupted for advertising to twice per hour,” reads the May 28 decision. The Commission also ruled that Radio 2… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Julie Bristow leaving CBC

TORONTO – The CBC has lost another of its senior programming leaders with the announcement Wednesday of the departure of executive director, studio and unscripted programming, Julie Bristow. “We know that talented people like Julie often look for new challenges and we’re happy for her that she’s ready for the next phase of her career” said Neil McEneaney, interim executive vice-president, CBC English services. “While we’re sorry to see Julie leave, I'm excited at the prospect of CBC working with her in our shared goal of celebrating the best in Canadian content. We’ll have more to say on that further… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC licence renewal decision coming this morning

GATINEAU – The CRTC will announce its decision on the renewal of the broadcasting licences for the CBC at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. The most contentious issue of the hearing, held back in November, was the CBC’s request for permission to sell advertising on Radio 2. Struggling with cuts to its funding in the past 24 months, the Corp wants to be able to earn more cash by selling advertising into the indie/classical/eclectic music station – and it also promised not to change the nature of the service in order to pursue higher ratings and increased ad dollars. Many Canadian private… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CRTC allows limited advertising on CBC Radio 2, Espace Musique

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has agreed for the first time to allowed limited advertising on CBC’s Radio 2 and Espace Musique networks. The Commission allowed the change as part of its decision, released this morning, to renew CBC’s English- and French-language television and radio licenses until August 31, 2018.   The CRTC says it will allow the radio networks to include up to four minutes of advertising per broadcast hour within a maximum of two blocks. The CBC will also have to submit a new application at the end of the three-year period… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Notable journos endorse Friends’ “Free CBC” letter to PM

OTTAWA – Friends of Canadian Broadcasting today presented a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed by 13 prominent Canadian journalists and educators supporting the watchdog’s call for changes to Bill C-60 so it does not undermine the editorial independence of the CBC. The letter, signed by journalists including CBC’s Joe Schlesinger, Don Newman, and Globe and Mail columnist emeritus Hugh Winsor, was tabled this morning at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance by Ian Morrison, Friends spokesperson, during his appearance before the Committee. “Without change, Bill C-60 will give government the… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Watchdog group calling on feds to drop CBC from Bill C-60

OTTAWA – Friends of Canadian Broadcasting says it will testify before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance tomorrow morning and ask to remove the CBC from the budget omnibus Bill C-60 provision, which would give the government unprecedented authority over the public broadcaster and other Crown corporations. “No public broadcaster anywhere in the free world faces the degree of political interference that is proposed for the CBC in Bill C-60,” said Friends spokesperson Ian Morrison in a media advisory. Morrison will be accompanied tomorrow by media and freedom of expression lawyer Brian MacLeod… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Battle of the Blades laces up again for CBC’s fall lineup

May 22, 2013 – CBC announced today that its sidelined series Battle of the Blades is back on the roster of returning series for the 2013-2014 season. The original reality series is back for a fourth season after being benched last year due to high production costs. The public broadcaster also unveiled the addition of five new series to this fall’s schedule, including: * The Best Laid Plans, based on author Terry Fallis’ award-winning novel; * Crime drama Crossing Lines, starring Donald Sutherland; * Four Rooms, a reality series that pits the… Continue Reading