TORONTO and MONTREAL – The Independent Production Fund is investing $1.5 million in 15 new Canadian web drama series.
The scripted drama series (10 English / 5 French) represent a range of genres including comedy, adventure, thriller, sci-fi and fantasy for different target demographics and distribution platforms (click here for the list of 2012 recipients).
The IPF, which is incorporated as a private foundation with charitable status, operates on the interest generated by a $33 million endowment and by recoupment from its investments. Through locations in Toronto and Montreal, it also administers the Cogeco Program Development Fund and the Bell Broadcast…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable has rolled out its new Internet packages in Cornwall and Leamington, ON.
The new Turbo 20 package offers a download speed of up to 20 Mbps, upload speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps and a monthly data transfer capacity of 80 GB. For this package, bandwidth usage that exceeds the specified monthly data transfer capacity limit will be billed at $1.50 per additional GB, with a maximum of $50 per month.
The package is currently available for a promotional price of $44.95 per month for 12 months for customers who also subscribe to Cogeco's television and/or home…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Rogers-owned easy-listening pop music station CHFI-FM held on to top spot in the Toronto radio market with a 13.1% share, down slightly from the winter period’s first place 15.8% share, according to the Spring 2012 portable people meter (PPM) report released by BBM Canada.
For the 13 week period from February 27 through May 27, 2012, Toronto’s second spot went to CBC Radio One (CBLA-FM) with a 10.1% share, while Bell Media’s CHUM-FM rounded out the market’s top three stations with a 9.7% share.
CBC Radio One (CBU) moved into first place in Vancouver with a 10.9% share, followed…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The dispute between Bell Media and a group of independent distributors known as the Canadian Independent Distributors Group (CIDG) will go to final arbitration on June 29, the CRTC said Thursday.
As Cartt.ca has reported, Cogeco Cable, Telus, EastLink, MTS and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance have balked at the terms of carriage offered to them by Bell Media for its 30-some specialty channels. Alleging undue preference against Bell, the CIDG object to packaging, penetration, and other terms offered to them by Bell Media. Bell says that its wholesale costing model, a penetration based rate card that it says…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has kicked off a new television campaign to help promote its descriptive audio service AMI-audio.
AMI-audio is the world's largest broadcast reading service whereby volunteers read and record current articles from newspapers and magazines, which are then broadcast on TV and online.
The campaign's 30 second TV spot features a blind man walking into a variety store. He sets up the story of an attempted robbery and then clicks on a television set to reveal the AMI audio channel where the announcer completes the news story. It is airing nationally in English Canada on a…
Continue Reading
I DARE ANYONE TO disagree with this statement: “A child without access to the Internet will find life increasingly difficult in the information age.”
National Cable and Telecommunications Association president and CEO Michael Powell said it Monday morning during his keynote speech to delegates in the standing-room-only opening general session at the 2012 Cable Show here in Boston. He was singing the praises of the U.S. industry’s Connect to Compete initiative where all of the major American cable companies have teamed up with the Federal Communications Commission and a large number of other corporations to push…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC renewed a number of national and regional video-on-demand licences Thursday.
Bell ExpressVu, Cogeco Cable, Rogers Communications, Telus Communications, and Videon Cablesystems had their licences extended through August 31, 2016, while MTS and SaskTel had theirs renewed through August 31, 2015.
Videotron received a short term renewal to August 31, 2014. In addition, it must provide the Commission with proof that it is in compliance with its requirements relating to its English-language feature film inventory by July 16, 2012, and file quarterly compliance reports going forward.
SaskTel and MTS were directed to inform the Commission that they are…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Natural resource channel IDNR-TV has signed its first major affiliation deal with Cogeco Cable in Quebec.
IDNR-TV is devoted to the coverage of natural resources including industry related and social issues programming. As Cartt.ca has reported, the eight-year old independent channel was banking on a recent groundswell of community support to help it nail a major carriage deal. Cogeco will include IDNR-TV in its basic cable package starting this Fall.
"Cogeco Cable's affiliate relations managers were very responsive and professional and a pleasure to deal with”, said IDNR-TV CEO Ivor Barr. “They are clearly committed to serving their customers…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Cogeco has added Wild TV to the majority of its markets in Quebec.
Wild TV offers programming devoted to hunting, fishing and the environment. It is available now on channel 153, and on demand on channel 600, on a three month free preview.
OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) and the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund are partnering on a new mentorship program designed to offer hands-on training opportunities to digital media producers.
Working with an independent production company, participants of this new initiative will develop their technical, business and creative acumen in the digital content production sector. The program emphasizes one-on-one mentoring provided by seasoned producers, and creating enhanced professional development opportunities in a digital media environment.
The deadline for applications is July 3, 2012. Click here for more information on the program, application forms and eligibility criteria.
“In today’s ‘digital…
Continue Reading
