OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Rogers Broadcasting Inc.’s application to acquire CTV’s stake in Outdoor Life Network, and the CBC’s application to purchase CTV’s shares in ARTV inc. were gazetted Tuesday (Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-27).
On behalf of 1163031 Ontario Inc., Rogers Broadcasting is applying to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares currently held by CTV in Outdoor Life for $38.805 million. Rogers is proposing a $3.880 million tangible benefits package in conjunction with the sale.
CBC is paying $1.760 million for CTV’s stake in the French-language arts channel ARTV. The CBC currently holds 45.09% and CTV 15.57% of the channel. If…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is recommending the establishment of a small, low-priced all-Canadian basic service and fee-for-carriage for the over-the-air TV signals of broadcasters.
Speaking on the opening day of a three-week-long CRTC hearing on distribution and pay TV, CBC executives told the commission that a small basic service would give Canadians more choice in selecting the additional Canadian and foreign discretionary services they want.
Fee-for-carriage would provide conventional broadcasters with subscription revenues to allow they to “continue to play their cornerstone role in the system and to maintain or enhance the quantity and quality of their…
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TORONTO – There is no current economic rationale for broadcasters and cable networks to abandon traditional TV or attempt to accelerate a transition to a total online model, says a new report released this week by Convergence Consulting Group.
To do so would put $66 billion in traditional TV advertising revenue and $30 billion in cable, satellite, telco TV provider programming fees at risk, says The Battle for the North American Couch Potato report released this week.
“Our forecasts demonstrate that through 2011 broadcaster and cable network online advertising revenues will equal half the gains of their traditional TV…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) has filed a complaint to the CRTC against Bell Canada for allegedly restricting and reducing the bandwidth it provides to third parties.
In its Part VII application filed April 3, the CAIP asks the commission to issue on an expedited basis an interim order directing Bell Canada to “immediately cease and desist from using any technologies to ‘shape,’ ‘throttle,’ and/or ‘choke’ its wholesale ADSL services.” It also wants a final order issued that would prevent Bell from employing the practice.
As well, the CAIP wants the CRTC to declare that…
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TORONTO – The CBC announced Thursday it will be beefing up local and national news in Alberta, particularly in Calgary and Edmonton. The public broadcaster said it would devote more resources to the area, although it declined to provide a dollar value.
CBC News will add 25 new assignments for television journalists in Calgary and Edmonton as it moves forward on fulfilling a commitment to local newsgathering that it announced last year.
“There are important stories that need to be told throughout Canada,” said John Cruickshank, publisher of CBC News. “Calgary and Edmonton are now among the most dynamic…
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TORONTO – CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will be broadcasting live and on-demand select games of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs in Mandarin at CBCSports.ca.
“CBC is committed to providing all Canadians with the most comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs,” said CBC Sports director of production Joel Darling. “This is a great opportunity for us to introduce new audiences to the high-intensity NHL playoffs and CBCSports.ca provides us with an ideal platform to do just that.”
One series per round will be available in Mandarin, with commentary by Jason Wang, who provides the play-by-play for the Vancouver…
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BURBANK, CA – MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives, the CBC series that was cancelled in its first season three weeks ago, has been picked up by U.S. cable network SOAPnet.
MVP is due to premiere on the Walt Disney Co.-owned channel devoted to soap operas on Thursday, June 19. Ten one-hour episodes will air on Thursdays at 11 p.m.
The series, produced by Toronto-based Screen Door Inc., follows the on and off-the-ice drama of the Canadian Mustangs hockey team and the women in their lives.
“MVP is an intense drama with a great cast and interesting stories,”…
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TORONTO –The satirical comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce is being cancelled.
But there will be a shortened 10-episode season starting in the fall, with a final Air Farce farewell episode airing on New Year’s Eve.
Air Farce started out as a Montreal comedy troupe, moved to radio and eventually to television. The show debuted on TV in 1980, which was followed by a 10-episode series and several specials. After its 1992 New Year’s Eve special got good ratings, Air Farce became a regular fixture on CBC Television from October 1993. The show ran concurrently on radio and television until…
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TORONTO – Doug Ellin, creator of Entourage; Hart Hanson, creator of Bones; Michael Poyres, creator of Hannah Montana; Stephanie Savage, executive producer of Gossip Girl; and Craig Wright, creator of Dirty Sexy Money will be headlining the master classes at the 2008 Banff World Television Festival, running June 8-11, organizer Achilles Media Ltd. announced Monday.
“These professionals have created some of the most successful and cutting edge series in television,” commented BWTF executive director Jennifer Harkness. “They possess an incredible amount of experience and knowledge that will make this master class series one of the best we’ve ever presented…”…
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TORONTO – CBC television has announced that its re-branded digital channel documentary, formerly The Documentary Channel, has secured an exclusive deal to air a Sundance Channel-branded block of programming.
The deal will offer Canadian audiences films and series produced by the U.S network as well as titles from other sources that share Sundance Channel’s spirit and vision, the CBC said, adding that under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel has established itself as the “premier destination for bold, uncompromising and irreverent films”.
“We’re delighted to have forged this relationship with Sundance Channel and are excited to bring…
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