By Len St-Aubin
DEBATE ABOUT BILL C-10 thus far has focused on Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault’s goal to make big foreign online audio and video streamers, like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Spotify, contribute to the creation of Canadian content.
But Bill C-10’s scope is vast. It will impact broadcasting and the internet in Canada, and all Canadians
It’s a valid public policy goal to expect big foreign streamers which have significant market share and revenues in Canada to engage with Canadian creators in the production of Canadian stories for Canadian and global audiences. It’s a valid question whether amending the…
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By Etan Vlessing
OTTAWA – Neil McEneaney, president and CEO of media measurement firm Numeris, was on the hot seat Thursday as he told the virtual CMPA Prime Time conference how the Canadian TV ratings firm collects and measures race-based audience data amid an industry reckoning.
McEneaney told an online panel that while Black Canadians and others from diverse communities were included in Numeris panels for a representative sample of domestic TV viewership, Numeris isn’t “segmenting one race or another” as it focuses on broad Canadian French and English language TV audiences.
He explained Numeris’ “measurement design” for data points is to…
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TORONTO – CBC today announced four women who will be the broadcaster’s brand new scripted content leadership team.
They will oversee separate development and production units for comedy and drama and report directly to Trish Williams, executive director, scripted content. “The updated structure is designed to be more responsive to Canadian creators and the independent production community,” reads the announcement.
“With this new structure, we are excited to welcome fresh perspectives and recognize the shining stars of our experienced scripted team,” said Williams. “Bringing in two highly respected producers to…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – a 14-day hearing is rather long in normal circumstances but in a virtual context it is a Guinness-like feat and it did go smoothly. Kudos to the CRTC hearings team, and everyone’s local internet connections.
Thursday morning was Phase IV, the final reply portion of the CRTC hearing into the renewal of the CBC’s broadcasting licences. This is where the CBC had its opportunity to reply to the concerns raised by the 70 intervenors who appeared in front of the Commission in the last two weeks.
It’s usually used to celebrate successes with a little dash of…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Like other organizations who appeared during this multi-day hearing, the Canadian Media Producers Association took a narrow view, arguing other discussions should be allowed to take place first.
“We think it’s important to ask questions about how CBC will ensure discoverability, success, and relevance for programming available online, but before thinking of substituting any current requirements for new metrics, we need to engage in the kind of wider industry consultation that will be possible in a major policy proceeding once Bill C-10 is passed,” said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the CMPA during its appearance…
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TORONTO — More than 50 years after a National Film Board (NFB) film crew first visited Fogo Island for its Challenge for Change project, the NFB today announced a new interactive experience marking the next chapter in the island’s story, Far Away From Far Away, will be available on mobile starting February 8.
Written by Michael Crummey and led by creative directors Bruce Alcock and Jeremy Mendes, Far Away From Far Away is inspired by visionary Zita Cobb’s childhood growing up with her father in the remote and resilient community of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, during the 1960s and…
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Day 12…
By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – On day 12 of the hearing into the renewal of the CBC’s broadcasting licences, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) appearances grabbed our attention.
While PIAC has no real skin in this game (beyond representing Canadian consumers who pay for and watch the CBC), the Guild and the various unions are there to defend its members now and in the future.
From the get-go, John Lawford, PIAC’s executive director and general counsel, proposed the CBC’s licences be reviewed in two years “to line up with implementation of changes outlined in…
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TORONTO — CBC announced today it will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with a wide range of programming featuring Black creators, storytellers and changemakers, curated and discoverable in one place on CBC’s Being Black in Canada website.
In February, the site will be a hub to showcase Black History Month content from across all areas of CBC including news, documentaries, arts and music.
Following in the footsteps of the acclaimed HERstory in Black initiative, CBC News and Being Black in Canada will shine a spotlight on Black men making a difference in their communities. Throughout the month, these…
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OTTAWA — Gusto Worldwide Media announced today Keren Jackman (above) has joined Gusto TV’s production team as senior producer.
She will work alongside executive producer Chris Knight to create exciting new content for Gusto’s multiple international channels, says the company’s press release.
“For the past two decades, Jackman has worked globally as a producer and director on a wide range of content, including factual and documentary series. Whether food, fashion or culture, her focus is on telling compelling human stories connected to the subjects that bind us together. Her work can be found on multiple platforms in many international markets, such…
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More virtual buyers briefings slots opening up on Thursday
OTTAWA — Prime Time Online starts this week, and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced today delegates can now book virtual meetings with Global Affairs Canada trade commissioners to discuss projects with international appeal and export potential.
The trade commissioners taking part in the Prime Time Pitch Market’s Trade Commissioner Service Export Café are:
Jeffrey Crossman – Ontario
Allison Goodings – UK
Constance Richard – France
Catherine Scheinman – New York City
In addition, due to popular demand, CMPA announced it is adding a limited number of Buyers Briefings slots which will…
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