OTTAWA – The CRTC announced today that its revised commercial radio and digital Radio Policies will come into force this September 1 and will force the country’s radio stations to pay millions more to support the development of Canadian talent.
The levies for the support of Canadian talent had been based on the size of the market served by each station, but the new Canadian content development (CCD)system now calculates fees according to revenues.
Stations at the low end, with revenues of $625,000 or less, will pay a flat $500; those who make between $625,000 and $1.25 million will pay…
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OTTAWA – Two years after the arrival of subscription satellite radio in Canada, the private commercial radio industry has shown no apparent ill effect as revenues continued to climb in 2007 according to numbers released by the CRTC today.
Total revenues for Canada’s AM and FM radio stations increased by 6.2% going from $1.4 billion in 2006 to $1.5 billion in 2007. When factoring in $1.16 billion in expenses, Canada’s radio stations enjoyed profits of $300.2 million, an increase of 5.5% or $15.7 million before interest and taxes.
The profit margin of 19. 99% is slightly below last year’s…
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TORONTO – The unions and guilds that represent Canada’s professional performers, directors and screenwriters are lining up in support of The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) efforts to secure equitable agreements for program rights in negotiations with the major private broadcast networks, as well as the CBC.
"We support the independent producers’ position that equitable terms of trade agreements are needed to secure fairer deals for program rights," said Stephen Waddell, national executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). "Reaching fair terms for granting rights is a struggle with which we…
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A NUMBER OF PEOPLE have mentioned through 2008 that this has been an especially tumultuous year for the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, and some have questioned its vitality.
Regulatory changes, economic challenges, member company departures thanks to acquisitions, more new technology. Aren’t all of these issues conspiring to damage the CCSA and its membership? In a word: No. In a few more words: These are the very challenges the CCSA has confronted head-on since its origination. 2008 doesn’t present anything new.
Members have always come and gone. Founding member Fundy Cable is long gone, for example. However, when 500,000-plus-customer…
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MONTREAL – Canada’s English and French-language producers say they are determined to reach a fair deal with television networks as each side prepares to make their case on a new deal for program rights across a variety of platforms and media.
Tomorrow, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFPTA), which represents the majority of English-language independent producers, is slated to sit down with CTV, Canwest Global and Rogers to begin negotiating so-called “terms of trade” negotiations – framework agreements aimed at defining and valuing program rights. These framework agreements would apply to individual negotiations between broadcasters and producers…
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GATINEAU – Having taken control of the Citytv network but not the local news cable channel Citytv Toronto fed in Hogtown, CP24, Rogers Media has asked the CRTC for a category 2 digital specialty license for a new channel serving Canada’s most populous city.
CTVglobemedia kept ownership of CP24 when it bought former owner CHUM and spun off Citytv to Rogers.
“The applicant states that most of its programming will be sourced from its local television – OMNI and Citytv stations – and radio news properties. The programming will consist of a mix of local news, traffic, weather, business,…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC this week called for comments on amending its benefits policy when it comes to transactions involving regulated media companies.
Set out in 1989, the existing policy generally says 10% of the value of any business transaction involving television companies must be set aside for “benefits”, i.e. something the acquiring company might not normally spend on. So, if a broadcaster is purchased for $100 million, the rule of thumb has said that $10 million must go towards Canadian television production or other industry-related initiatives like internships, scholarships or local expression.
“(T)he benefits policy stipulates that a…
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TORONTO – If everyone agrees the deployment of advanced advertising, finely targeted advertising, is a damn good idea that should yield a nice, new burst of revenue, why can’t the industry pull it off?
That was the question I had in my head prior to Tuesday morning’s CTAM Canada panel discussion on the topic held in Toronto at the Velma Rogers Graham Theatre. I’ve heard the players who spoke on this topic at other events and have chatted with most of them in person, too, on this topic.
Invidi Technologies, which led off the morning with a presentation on…
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OTTAWA – The CFTPA has added one of the architects of the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement, Gordon Ritchie, to its negotiating team, just prior to beginning talks on program rights deals with the major private over-the-air television networks, as well as CBC.
“Gordon’s wealth of experience and sound judgment will be invaluable to us as we sit down with CTV, Canwest Global, Rogers and CBC to negotiate more equitable trading terms with our broadcaster partners that reflect the realities facing independent Canadian producers,” said Canadian Film and Television Producers Association chair Sandra Cunningham, in a release.
According to the…
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TORONTO – Richard Gray, head of news at the A-Channel network, has been appointed vice-president of Ottawa Radio and A-Channel Ottawa, parent company CTVglobemedia announced this morning.
Gray takes over from Chris Gordon, who was appointed president of CTV’s CHUM Radio division in April. Gray begins his new position on Sept. 1.
In his new role, Gray will continue as head of A-Channel News, while assuming responsibility for A-Channel Ottawa, and CHUM Radio Stations Majic 100 FM, 93.9 BOB FM, CFRA 580 AM and The Team 1200 AM. He leaves his current role as vice-president and general manager of…
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