Search Results for: cbc

Radio / Television News

CBC Radio One clings to top spot in Toronto and Vancouver over summer

TORONTO – CBC Radio One maintained its top position in the lucrative markets of Toronto and Vancouver for the S3 period, but just barely. According to BBM’s top-line results for July and August, CBLA FM achieved an 8.8% share of tuning in Toronto, which was down from its 10% share in the Spring, but still ahead of its closest competitor.  Rogers-owned CHFI FM achieved an 8.4% rating for the period, which was also down from its Spring rating of 9.2%. In Vancouver, CBU garnered an 11.6% share, a drop from its 12.4% share in S2, followed closely by Corus’ news talk CKNW which had a… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

BDUs launch campaign to “stop the TV tax”

TORONTO – A coalition of some of Canada’s biggest TV service providers have teamed up on a campaign to tell their side of the story on the contentious issue of fee for carriage. Bell, Bell Aliant, Cogeco, EastLink, Rogers and Telus have joined forces on ‘Stop the TV Tax’ which they say is designed to ensure “that Canadians hear the whole story”. "Cable and satellite subscribers have united to stop the broadcasters’ costly proposal because it amounts to a tax, pure and simple”, said Rogers vice chair Phil Lind, in a statement. “This tax will hit viewers for stations that have always… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC, National Post to share content

TORONTO – The CBC and the National Post have brokered an agreement allowing both organizations to share content across their respective media platforms. Effective immediately, CBC.ca will run daily financial stories and podcasts from the Financial Post in CBC’s on-line ‘Money’ section, and The National Post will run daily sports stories in the sports section of nationalpost.com and periodically in the sports section of the newspaper.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "This is an attractive arrangement for both organizations," said Richard Stursberg, EVP of CBC English services, in the announcement. "As Canada’s national public broadcaster, we have an unsurpassed… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

MoboVivo launches TV series on Apple and BlackBerry platforms, simultaneously

CALGARY – MoboVivo is offering popular prime time hit The Tudors for iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry and laptop users simultaneously, marking the first time that a major TV series has been simultaneously released on the Apple and BlackBerry mobile platforms. Canadians can download the show’s third season for $1.99 per episode, or $12.99 for the entire season. Each episode will become available as it is aired on the CBC. "Bringing TV shows to computers, iPhone, iPod and BlackBerry takes the idea of anytime, anywhere video and makes it a reality," said founder and CEO Trevor Doerksen, in the announcement. "MoboVivo is… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CKX-TV to close as buyer walks away

BRANDON – The final newscast of CKX-TV Brandon will happen tomorrow at 6 p.m., station owner CTVglobemedia told staff Thursday evening. Thirty-nine employees will lose their jobs. The company that had announced in July that it was purchasing the station, Bluepoint Investments, has walked away from the $1 deal to buy it, a surprised CTVgm CEO Ivan Fecan told employees today, calling a letter he received from Bluepoint late Thursday an “unanticipated development”. “Bottom line, they didn’t think there was a sustainable business without satellite coverage, which they cannot get,” said Fecan in a memo to staff. “Brandon, like many of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Fun with TV numbers as Commission releases BDUs’ and broadcasters’ aggregate financial data

THE BIG BROADCASTERS and BDUs fought this, but by September 14th, those companies had to file their aggregate financial data from their 2008 fiscal years with the Commission. On the weekend, the CRTC posted the figures on its web site and since the industry it currently roiling over the continuing fee-for-carriage debate, we looked at the numbers largely through that prism. After spending several hours examining a lot of the data, I can tell you the most lucrative place to work is Bell TV – which paid its 1,398 employees an average salary of $90,136 – or CTV, whose average… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC holds first public meeting, denies plans to move ‘The National’

OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada staged its first annual public meeting Wednesday morning, allowing Canadians to tune in on-line to hear about its financial highlights from last year and its strategic direction for the future. Board chair Tim Casgrain, president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, and VP and CFO Suzanne Morris took part in the ‘pubcaster’s attempt to appear more transparent in its management of public funds. "All CBC/Radio-Canada’s services, on television, radio and the Internet, in English and French, cost only $34 per year per Canadian – which translates into less than 10 cents a day”, Lacroix said in a statement. “Our annual public meeting has allowed… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Is local TV news under siege? Maybe, maybe not

TORONTO – Can local television news be profitable? Or is it a public service that should be funded as such? These were just two of the many questions that were debated at a panel discussion Tuesday evening that examined the role and the state of local television news in Canada, hosted by the Canadian chapter of the Radio and Television News Directors Association at Ryerson University. CHCH TV news director Mike Katrycz spoke about his station’s move to air back-to-back news shows with a local focus throughout the day, a format change that came about after the station was purchased by Channel Zero… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC, Teletoon experiment with product integration

TORONTO – When viewers tune in to three of CBC’s popular prime time programs this Fall, they’ll notice familiar scene in the background: a TD Canada Trust bank branch.  In a first for a Canadian bank with CBC-TV, TD Canada Trust will be integrated into some settings in new episodes of Little Mosque on The Prairie, Being Erica and Heartland. Product integration, where branded goods or services are placed in programming beyond traditional ads, has evolved considerably since its introduction over a decade ago. Going beyond simply placing a product in a camera shot, products and brands are now being… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Stingray, CCSA sign deal

QUISPAMSIS and MONTREAL – Karaoke Channel owner and Galaxie Music service distributor Stingray Digital has signed an affiliate agreement with the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance. The deal allows for the continued distribution of the Galaxie audio service (which the company is negotiating to purchase from the CBC) and the distribution of the Karaoke Channel as a free on-demand service for VOD enabled MSOs. Stingray is also the Platinum sponsor of the Connect conference. “We are very happy to be able to continue to serve CCSA member companies with the Galaxie music service. The 40 channel package available to CCSA members includes… Continue Reading