TORONTO – Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean has extended his contract with CBC for another seven years. The new deal, terms of which were not released, starts with the 2007-08 season and continues to the end of 2013-14, the year the public broadcaster’s deal with the National Hockey League expires.
“For millions of Canadians, Ron is the face of CBC Sports, and we are absolutely thrilled to continue our partnership with him for the long term,” said CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore. “He is the best in the business and has played an integral role in…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) today announced the finalists for the prestigious Gold Ribbon Awards, honouring excellence in private broadcasting. The awards will be presented during the CAB 2007 Convention in Ottawa on November 5th and 6th.
The Gold Ribbon Awards honour achievement in broadcasting in various categories including community service, breaking news, humour, public affairs, and promotion of Canadian talent. The CAB has again this year broken records for the number of entries received, with a total of 544 submissions – an increase of 5% over 2006. Radio and Specialty/Pay/Pay-per-view entries broke new records with…
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TORONTO – That’s the question the Alliance for Children and Television will attempt to answer on November 29 when ACT will host the second Children, Youth & Media Conference.
This event is the only one of its kind to bring together Canada’s creators, producers and broadcasters of children’s and youth programming. This year’s theme, “Are We Listening?”, promises to generate lively discussions through a series of sessions and panels on key screen-based media issues for Canadian children and youth.
Below are a few highlights on the agenda:
Broadcasters’ Panel: Representatives from BBC Kids, CBC, Corus Entertainment, Family Channel, Teletoon…
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TORONTO – VisionTV, Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural television network, has produced a one-hour panel discussion program to accompany its broadcast of the controversial two-part mini series “Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story”.
VisionTV is streaming the panel discussion in full on its web site prior to broadcast. This is the first time the network has pre-released a program online.
The four-hour Prairie Giant miniseries, produced by Regina-based Minds Eye Entertainment, airs on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. and midnight ET/6 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT.
The discussion program, “Prairie Giant – Beyond the Controversy”…
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ROGERS BELIEVES Bell Canada is less than two months away from launching its IPTV service in Toronto, beginning in the Yonge-Bloor region, according to David Purdy, Rogers Cable’s VP and GM television.
********** WTBS will change its name to PeachtreeTV as of October 1st, said Turner’s Matt Tolleson. The programming will remain much the same, however. Also – with CNN HD having launched in the States on September 1st – Tolleson says he wants to see that feed in Canada soon.
********** And speaking of HD, Speed is readying its high definition version, which it will have ready to…
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TORONTO – John Cruickshank, currently publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times and chief operating officer of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Group, has been named publisher of CBC News.
He is expected to take up his new position within the next three weeks.
The announcement was made today by executive vice-president of CBC Television Richard Stursberg, and vice-president of CBC Radio, Jane Chalmers,. The newly created position will report to both senior executives.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to lead our news organization,” Stursberg said in the press release. “He has enjoyed a distinguished career as a journalist, first in…
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TORONTO – The NBA’s Toronto Raptors will be seen on five different channels this year, including the CBC, the team announced Wednesday.
All 82 regular-season contests will be televised nationally and for the first time, all of them in high definition (HD). This also marks the sixth straight campaign that the entire regular season schedule will be aired locally.
"We are excited to once again partner with The Score, TSN and Rogers Sportsnet, plus welcome CBC,” said Tom Anselmi, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment executive vice-president and chief operating officer, in a press release. “In addition, Raptors NBA TV…
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TORONTO – CBC institution Royal Canadian Air Farce is about to seriously revitalize itself by becoming Air Farce Live beginning on its season-opener, Friday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.
For 14 seasons, Air Farce has been providing its take on the week’s events in Canada in front of an audience, but it was taped. Now, the show is returning with an expanded cast of seven and a new unpredictable, fresh take on the week’s events.
Joining the Air Farce Live cast is Penelope Corrin, who made her debut on the show last season while Jessica Holmes was on maternity…
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TORONTO – The board of directors of Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) announced today that Executive Director Sue Sheridan will be leaving the organization effective September 17, 2007 to join the Boys and Girls Club of Canada as the Director of Corporate Development.
Award-winning journalist, host, producer and WIFT-T board member Sadia Zaman will assume the role of Executive Director October 1, 2007.
“We are saddened by Sue’s departure, but wish her well in her new role,” said WIFT-T Board Chair Wendy MacKeigan, in a press release. "Sue has made a remarkable contribution to WIFT-T and…
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OTTAWA – CBC-owned digital music service Galaxie turns 10 years old this week and is available in more than six million households in Canada through their cable or satellite or telco TV digital set top box.
“With more than half of these households tuning in each month, according to a 2006 Media Technology Monitor survey, Galaxie makes discovering new artists more accessible to a growing number of Canadians,” says the press release the company issued Monday.
"With more listeners than ever tuning in to Galaxie each month, the survey confirms that, 10 years in, the strength and relevance of the…
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