DARTMOUTH – Newcap Inc. has received CRTC approval to launch a new English-language commercial FM radio station in Miramichi, NB.
The proposed new station will be a country music format targeted to listeners between the ages of 24 and 54 years, with a core audience skewed slightly to women aged 35 to 45 years. The station would broadcast 126 hours of local programming each broadcast week, including 13 hours and 7 minutes of spoken word programming, of which 3 hours would be dedicated to pure news, according to the Commission’s decision.
"We are extremely pleased that our application to…
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OTTAWA – The CBC’s oft-postponed licence renewal hearing will begin November 19, the CRTC confirmed Friday.
In a letter to CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, the Commission directed the Corp. to file updates to its renewal applications by July 16, 2012.
“In recognition of your desire for a timely ruling on the amendments the Commission is scheduling the public hearing to consider the renewals as soon as its agenda permits”, reads the letter, signed by secretary general John Traversy. “The hearing will commence on November 19, 2012.”
CBC/Radio-Canada’s licences were last renewed 12 years ago. Since then, the licence hearing has…
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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…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments on Rogers and BCE's plan to take control of sports channels Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and Gol TV Canada from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
The application, made public on Thursday, proposes a two-step transaction that would see control of the channels switched to a corporation jointly controlled by Rogers and BCE. The move comes as part of the two communications giants planned purchase of a majority stake in MLSE for $1.32 billion, as announced last December.
An independent report dated December 31, 2011 values Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and 80.1%…
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TORONTO – The Bell Fund invested $12.8 million in 148 cross-platform television, web and mobile projects last year, according to its annual report released this week.
The 2011 Annual Report detailed that $9.7 million went towards 62 digital media productions, nearly $1 million was invested in 17 low budget digital media projects (under $100K), and $1.2 million funded concept development of 35 digital media projects.
The Bell Fund is a not-for-profit organization certified by the CRTC as an independent production fund eligible to receive and administer contributions from broadcast distribution undertakings.
www.bellfund.ca
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MUCH HAS BEEN SAID and written over the last few weeks on the new CBC Music service, which has generated quite a bit of interest from the industry, and from the population in general for Stingray’s Part 1 application with the CRTC regarding the newly launched service (and letter to the Minister of Heritage).
Founded in 2007, Stingray’s various services, including Galaxie, the Karaoke Channel and Concert TV, are now available to over 70 million households in 48 countries around the world. With over 200 employees, a good portion of which are here in Canada, Stingray…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to BDU regulations relating to local expression.
The Commission said Monday that the revisions are necessary in order to implement amendments that it made back in March.
Comments are due by June 11, 2012.
www.crtc.gc.ca
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OTTAWA – Reynolds Mastin has been promoted to chief negotiator and chief legal officer for the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), effective immediately.
Mastin replaces John Barrack who left the organization abruptly earlier this month. Mastin, who formerly held the position of counsel for the CMPA, has also served as legal counsel for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and articled at the CRTC.
In his new role, Mastin will take charge of all of the CMPA’s labour negotiations and will continue to oversee other matters such as Terms of Trade negotiations with broadcasters and the Canada Media Fund file. He will also…
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DARTMOUTH – Newcap Inc. has received CRTC approval to launch a second FM radio licence in Fredericton, NB.
The new station, which will offer a contemporary hit radio music format, will broadcast 120 hours of local programming per broadcast week, of which 12 hours and 28 minutes will be devoted to spoken word programming. In addition, the new station will broadcast 4 hours of news programming per broadcast week, of which 75% will be devoted to local stories, reads the Commission’s decision.
"We are extremely pleased to be awarded a second FM to serve the Fredericton community and we will proceed to…
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TORONTO – After listening to most of the nine applicants who have asked the CRTC for the 88.1 FM slot on the Toronto radio dial (of 17 in total) over the past three days, I can’t imagine how the Commission is any closer to making a decision on who will get the license.
It’s not the best signal, down at 88.1 FM and 8,000 watts, but goodness, lots of people sure want it (except for the big Toronto radio companies – Astral, Bell, Rogers and Corus – who weren’t about to challenge the Regulator’s radio station ownership policy based on…
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