By Connie Thiessen
WHEN WADE OOSTERMAN took the helm of Bell Media early last year, he signalled that the division was going through unprecedented transition following three rounds of top-down layoffs – from the executive level to more than 200 front-line employees – many well-known and long-serving anchors, reporters and hosts across radio and television.
In his first memo to employees as president of Bell Media in Feb. 2021, the former head of Bell Mobility called the restructuring “an unfortunate and often high-profile reflection of the change necessary for Bell Media to prevail in a transforming sector that has also been uniquely impacted by COVID-19.”
He added that the…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC today announced on Twitter that its Quebec Commissioner Alicia Barin (above) was appointed by the Governor in Council as interim vice-chair, broadcasting on Monday for a six-month period.
Barin takes over the role from Caroline J. Simard, who is set to begin her new role as Commissioner of Elections Canada starting Aug. 15.
Simard was previously scheduled to leave the Commission in September. She was a dissenting voice on two recent CRTC decisions regarding the CBC – the decision to renew its licences with significant changes to its conditions of licence, and the decision…
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TORONTO and MONTRÉAL — The Canada Media Fund (CMF) today announced a $10.7-million investment through its Pilot Program for Racialized Communities (PPRC) for 19 audiovisual projects by production companies owned and controlled by Black people and people of colour.
“The Pilot Program for Racialized Communities, which forms part of the CMF’s Convergent Stream, recognizes the historic barriers members of equity-deserving communities face and is designed to support the growth of English- and French-language audiovisual production by underrepresented creators,” explains a CMF press release.
“The CMF has made — and will continue to make — every effort necessary to ensure Canada’s…
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TORONTO — Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN), Canada’s largest South Asian broadcaster, announced today it is now renting out its Markham, Ont., studio space for various productions including television, movies, music videos, commercials and corporate videos.
ATN has more than 40,000 square feet of studio and office space “which is ideal for small and large productions on a short and long term basis,” says an ATN press release. The studio spaces include a full studio, a studio with a green screen and “a Dry Studio with high ceiling.”
In addition to the studio spaces, ATN offers a large make-up…
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By Bill Roberts
THE RICK HANSEN FOUNDATION promotes a poignant rubric that “One in five Canadians is living with a disability… Thankfully, five in five Canadians can help improve accessibility for all!”.
And, for our Canadian media industry, that is precisely what this important Cartt.ca exclusive podcast is all about – moving beyond the marginalization of 7.7 million fellow citizens.
Join Ophira Calof (above, left) curatorial lead for the 2022 ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto and Lisa Clarkson (right) executive director of business and rights at the CBC as they discuss their bold new partnership to provide training, mentorship and, on select projects, financing…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – The CRTC’s renewal of the CBC/SRC’s licences on June 22, was met with dissenting voices within the Commission where the decision was approved by three commissioners over two dissents, as well as outside voices who have issues with some segments of the decision.
Several groups have now filed petitions to Cabinet to have the decision set aside or referred back to the CRTC, including Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the National Pensioners Federation (NPF), the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), FRIENDS, l’Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA),…
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OTTAWA – CBC’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM) today released a new report that shows one in 10 Canadian kids who listen to podcasts does so either every day or almost every day.
The new report from MTM Jr. “provides an overview of podcasting among kids under 18 in the Canadian market,” a press release explains.
The report shows one in eight kids listen to podcasts. Of those listening, 68% are doing so at least once per week with boys being more likely to listen on a weekly basis than girls.
MTM also highlights that they found “Podcast penetration amongst kids has remained…
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CEO says they are “more determined and motivated than ever” to expand across Canada
MONTREAL – Quebecor Inc. today announced its second quarter 2022 financial results, which states revenue for the quarter was $1.1 billion – a decreased of $16 million compared to Q2 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA was reported to be $491.4 million, a $10 million decrease compared to the same quarter of 2021, according to a press release.
In its telecommunications segment, Quebecor reported $912.6 million in revenue for Q2 2022 (a decrease from $928.4 million in the same quarter of 2021) while adjusted EBITDA was $487.5 million (up from $481.5…
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Calls for minister to ban ads on the public broadcaster
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – In a letter obtained by Cartt.ca, Québecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau brings falling advertising revenues to the attention of the Minister of Canadian Heritage while criticizing the recent renewal of the national public broadcaster’s licences by the CRTC.
“In the face of technological globalization of non-Canadian companies that rely on advertising (FAANG, and soon Netflix and Disney+), which is the only source of revenue for traditional television, the CRTC has decided to maintain the CBC’s power to continue to use it,” Péladeau mentions in his letter…
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By Connie Thiessen
NIAGARA – A new streaming platform will broadcast more than 1,000 hours of live coverage from the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, Aug. 6-21, thanks to digital production partner, Niagara College.
Taking place at venues across Niagara, the 28th edition of the Canada Games will see close to 5,000 athletes, representing Canada’s future Olympians and Paralympians, compete. Niagara 2022 will include an inaugural rugby sevens competition, the return of men’s lacrosse after a 37-year absence, and the first-ever women’s lacrosse competition in the history of the Canada Games.
Over 90% of scheduled competitions, across 18 different sports, will be available…
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