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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TORONTO – CBC has re-loaded and re-launched its two digital channels, and given them names without capital letters.
They are “bold”, which replaces CBC Country Canada and becomes the home for performing arts, drama, and sports, and “documentary”, formerly The Documentary Channel, which will offer “the most provocative and entertaining documentaries from Canada and around the world”, the CBC says.
“We are thrilled to launch bold and documentary,” said Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president, CBC English Services, in a statement. “As the names suggest, these channels will showcase the best of new programming that will excite, challenge and provoke.”
“Bold”…
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TORONTO – Seven broadcast journalists will be honoured this spring with lifetime achievement awards presented by RTNDA Canada – The Association of Electronic Journalists.
The seven are Doug Collins, Vicki Gabereau, Vern Coop, Mike McCourt, Tom Young, Dan McLean, and Gord Harris.
The awards will be presented at the RTNDA Regional Pro Dev Seminars in Kamloops on April 26th, in Calgary on May 10th, Fredericton on May 31st, and at the Central Awards Banquet June 19th during the RTNDA National Conference in Ottawa.
“On behalf of RTNDA Canada, let me congratulate these exceptional broadcasters,” said Bob McLaughlin, President of…
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TORONTO – The Banff World Television Festival has announced that social theorist Richard Florida will be the CBC/Radio Canada opening keynote speaker at this year’s Banff World Television Festival, which runs from June 8-11.
Florida, a professor and head of the Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management and the MaRS Discovery District at the University of Toronto, is best known for his work in developing his concept of the “creative class”, and its ramifications in urban regeneration.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Professor Florida as keynote speaker,” said Richard Stursberg, executive vice president of English Services for CBC….
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TORONTO – The Canadian Television Fund said on Monday that it will provide $275 million to Canadian television producers for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
Through the Broadcaster Performance Envelope (BPE) system, the CTF will allocate $173 million to English-language broadcaster envelopes and $79 million to French-language broadcaster envelopes.
These funds will support English and French programming in the genres of Drama, Children’s and Youth, Variety & Performing Arts, and Documentaries. The 2008-2009 BPE allocations are listed on the CTF website, www.ctf-fct.ca.
Initiated in 2004, with English Drama being incorporated two years later, the Broadcaster Performance Envelope system “is a…
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TORONTO – The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Thursday launched a redesigned website featuring some of its past shows and programs at cbc.ca/archives.
Some 12,000 historic radio and television clips, including some that were never broadcast, can be viewed for free on the website.
For the first time, the new website includes full-length versions of some CBC radio and television shows, including This Hour Has Seven Days, Man Alive, Close Up, Howie Meeker Hockey School along with David Suzuki’s 1975 debut on Quirks and Quarks and Kate Aitken’s eclectic blend of homemaking and interviews with international leaders.
New interactive features…
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TORONTO – CBC Sports said Wednesday it has signed Jim Hughson to a new six-year deal to announce NHL hockey and Blue Jays baseball on the public network. The agreement begins immediately and continues until the end of the CBC’s deal with the NHL in 2013-14.
“I’m honoured and excited to continue my association with CBC sports,” said Hughson. “In the play-by-play world, Saturday night on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is the best place to be, surrounded by the top professionals in the business. And baseball, at a time when the Jays look resurgent, is a great change of…
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TORONTO – Kirstine Layfield, CBC Television’s executive director of network programming, has been named a Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World Economic Forum.
Layfield was among 245 leading executives, public figures and intellectuals under the age of 40 from 65 countries given the honour.
“I feel deeply privileged to be selected as a Young Global Leader and work with a community of committed individuals from around the world to be a voice for our generation,” said Layfield in a statement. “YGL’s amazing networking opportunities will enrich my world view and ensure I have the broadest possible horizons.”…
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