TORONTO – The end of the 2011/2012 television season sparked a war of press releases from Canada’s private broadcasters headlined by declarations like “we’re the most watched!” and “we’re growing the fastest!”
After cutting through the hype, what’s clear is that with the exception of NHL hockey, Canadian audiences still opt for the big American hit shows. Of the top 20 most-watched shows this season, The Big Bang Theory, The Amazing Race and Survivor ranked number one, two and three for total viewers, with all averaging audiences north of 2.5 million. CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada (east) ranked ninth with 2.07…
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TORONTO – This is the last chance to register for the CTAM panel ‘Sports Television: Will the Goose Stop Laying it’s Golden Eggs’ taking place on Tuesday, May 29 at the CBC building in Toronto.
Moderated by Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien, the lively discussion will feature John Levy, chairman and CEO of The Score; Jeffrey Orridge, executive director of sports properties for CBC; David Purdy, SVP of content for Rogers Communications, and Sean Riley, SVP of Fox Networks as they share their thoughts on whether the rights to live sports and league content will continue to drive the TV business or whether…
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RICHARD STURSBERG CAN be a polarizing figure. He knows he rubs some people the wrong way (and I think he kinda likes being the thorn in some sides).
You can read that personality throughout his recent book, Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets and Successes Inside the CBC. He admits as much on many pages, calling himself “arrogant”, “insouciant” and “insubordinate” and reading through some of what he describes about his time at the Corp., it’s hard not to disagree with his self-assessment.
Stursberg was actually my first interview when I started covering the electronic media industry in…
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OTTAWA – If you ask the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), the CBC could learn a few things from Ontario’s educational broadcaster TVO.
CACTUS wants the national broadcaster to follow TVO’s lead by offering its analog TV transmitters that are scheduled to be shuttered this summer to their local communities. TVO, which is pulling the plug on its over-the-air signals on July 31st, has already contacted over 100 affected communities to offer them the towers and satellite equipment for free.
"This transmission infrastructure is worth millions and has already been paid for by Canadian taxpayers," said CACTUS…
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BANFF – Some of the country’s most notable media leaders will share their perspectives on the key issues facing the Canadian media industry at next month’s Banff World Media Festival.
Shaw Media president Paul Robertson, Bell Media president Kevin Crull, Rogers Media president Keith Pelley, and CBC Executive vice-president Kirstine Stewart will participate in a panel discussion on topics such as the impact of further consolidation and vertical integration within the media industry, as well as how the Canadian content industry can become more globally relevant.
Delegates at the event will have the opportunity to submit questions via Twitter (@BanffMedia) or on…
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OTTAWA – The CBC’s oft-postponed licence renewal hearing will begin November 19, the CRTC confirmed Friday.
In a letter to CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, the Commission directed the Corp. to file updates to its renewal applications by July 16, 2012.
“In recognition of your desire for a timely ruling on the amendments the Commission is scheduling the public hearing to consider the renewals as soon as its agenda permits”, reads the letter, signed by secretary general John Traversy. “The hearing will commence on November 19, 2012.”
CBC/Radio-Canada’s licences were last renewed 12 years ago. Since then, the licence hearing has…
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(Ed note: We ran this column back in May 2012 with our overall investigation into the CBC. Given the Corp's news this week – that it will still air, but has lost control of, NHL hockey – we thought it made sense to give it a re-print, as it were, on November 27, 2013.)
AT CBC ENGLISH TELEVISION’S fall 2012 programming launch last Thursday, you could hear how the massive recent budget cut – along with the constant hectoring of the Corp. by so many Canadians –…
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MUCH HAS BEEN SAID and written over the last few weeks on the new CBC Music service, which has generated quite a bit of interest from the industry, and from the population in general for Stingray’s Part 1 application with the CRTC regarding the newly launched service (and letter to the Minister of Heritage).
Founded in 2007, Stingray’s various services, including Galaxie, the Karaoke Channel and Concert TV, are now available to over 70 million households in 48 countries around the world. With over 200 employees, a good portion of which are here in Canada, Stingray…
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HAMILTON – CBC has officially launched the first of five new local digital services with the debut of CBC Hamilton.
CBC.ca/Hamilton provides an in-depth, neighbourhood-focused experience for Hamilton residents, catering to the needs of each individual user, from local news, weather and traffic alerts to things to do and the local economy. All of its information can be seen on any digital device – desktop, smart phone or tablet – so Hamiltonians can always get what they need, when and where they want it. Adding to the ease of service is a pinned map on the homepage allowing users to…
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TORONTO – Despite revealing much of its fall lineup last month, CBC made it official Thursday at an event in Toronto.
As Cartt.ca reported, the national broadcaster is bringing back 14 shows to its primetime schedule next season, including popular series Arctic Air, Republic of Doyle and Mr. D. What’s new, however, is that George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight is adding an early airing at 7 p.m. (7:30 NT) weeknights starting in September, in addition to its regular 11:05 p.m. (11:35 NT) slot, taking the place of U.S. game show Jeopardy! which will not return.
Also axed from the schedule is original reality…
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