TORONTO – What is it about Saskatchewan?
First, the fictional residents of Dog River and their Corner Gas station on CTV captured millions of viewers and now comes word that over 2 million people watched the first episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie, whose creator based it partly on her life growing up Muslim in Regina.
The eight-part series continues in its regular time slot on Monday nights at 9 p.m. and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBC Television.
“We’re extremely pleased that Canadians tuned in to watch. We knew this was a terrific show and we’re very…
Continue Reading
FINAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE CRTC on its conventional television policy review were due in yesterday.
Cartt.ca managed to get our hands on eight submissions (unfortunately, none of the companies serving the Francophone market responded to our e-mails), which were filed by parties Wednesday in response to what they were asked – or what others were asked – during the seven-day oral presentations that began on November 27th.
(Ed note: Thank goodness broadcasting vice-chair Michel Arpin – who looks as though he’ll be the Commission’s Interim Chair for the time being as the PMO explores more candidates to replace departing…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – As of 2008, the Canadian Football League will only be available to TSN or RDS subscribers.
The league and the two CTV-owned sports specialties signed a five-year broadcast and multiplatform rights agreement that will see all CFL games on the two channels.
The CBC, as it now stands, will have no football on its schedule as of the 2008 season.
TSN president Phil King told a conference call on Wednesday the multi-million-dollar agreement includes broadcast, broadband and wireless rights, meaning some games will be made available on the web and the league will have a higher profile on…
Continue Reading
TIMMINS-JAMES BAY MP Charlie Angus didn’t even flinch when I said he seemed to be the self-appointed rabble-rouser on the Standing Committee for Canadian Heritage.
Reading through the transcripts of some of the meetings reveals Mr. Angus as one of the committee members who consistently pushes his fellow members – or whomever appears in front of the committee. Seems he likes that role.
Then last week, just before Christmas, his office released a missive where Angus critiqued the three "worst performing ministers" in the Conservative cabinet: Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, Defense Minister Gordon O’Connor and Heritage and Status of…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – On Friday, Newstalk 1010 CFRB’s morning host Ted Woloshyn announced his retirement from morning radio.
He made the surprise announcement during the final few minutes of his show that day. Woloshyn had the morning slot at Standard Radio’s AM flagship for 10 years. “Thanks to Alan and Gary Slaight for the chance to be part of something so special," said Woloshyn in a release. "I’ve really enjoyed working with the staff here and I will miss them a lot. I’m also looking forward to some different challenges and what the future holds.”
Woloshyn started his career in…
Continue Reading
WINNIPEG – The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has named a new board chair and added five new members to the board of directors.
Former APTN vice-chair and member-appointed NNBY Director, Shirley Adamson, will serve as incoming APTN Chair. Adamson replaces the outgoing Judy Gingell, who has served on the APTN board since 2001.
"I look forward to using my years of training by Aboriginal leaders in the Yukon and Canada, as well as the years spent as a journalist and broadcaster, to advance the commitment of the APTN Board to continue building Canada¹s premier aboriginal television network so that…
Continue Reading
SOME THOUGHTS ON the TV Policy Review hearings that one day, could grow up to be full-sized columns. ********** ONE OF THE MOST interesting questions at the hearing came late in the day on Monday, December 4th, when Media Awareness Network faced the five-person panel.
MNet, as it calls itself, is a non-profit organization with the laudable goal of boosting media literacy among children. The group promotes media and Internet education through its online programs and resources, working with a number of organizations in Canada and elsewhere. Its sponsors include Bell, Shaw, CTV, CHUM, Rogers, Telus and CanWest Global….
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Airing a show called Sex Traffic prior to the watershed hour of 9 p.m. is a no-no, the CRTC told the CBC today.
The Commission actually ruled on two complaints today (the first of which concerned a broadcast from April 2005) and said that "by airing Sex Traffic and Old School at 8:00 p.m., the licensee did not meet the Canadian broadcasting policy objective set out in the Broadcasting Act that programming should be of high standard," reads the decision.
"The Commission further finds that the broadcast of Sex Traffic at 8:00 p.m. was a violation of…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – As the seventh and final day of the 2006 CRTC TV Policy Review hearing wound down yesterday, a frustrated group got very wound up, and a broadcasting legend weighed in.
In a process that has sometimes gone into excruciating detail about how much more we may pay for our TV universe, how we’ll receive programs, how big a role advertising will play and what we’ll see between the ads – a big problem should have been hard to overlook. But on this day, James Roots, executive director of the Canadian Association of the Deaf, made a passionate…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – A trio of up-and-coming broadcasters have been presented with Ruth Hancock Foundation Scholarships.
Awarded to applicants who demonstrate strong character and leadership qualities, a willingness to assist others and a genuine interest in pursuing a broadcasting career, the students’ commitment is reflected through involvement in extra-curricular activities related to broadcasting or broadcast sales and marketing, or through self-initiated undertakings.
Laranna Cameo Androsoff, Sarah Boothroyd, and Leanna Di Benedetto are this year’s recipients, and have each received a $1,500 scholarship.
Sponsored by the Broadcast Executives Society (BES), the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and the Canadian Association of…
Continue Reading
