GATINEAU – The CRTC today granted eight new radio station licenses in Alberta, five in Edmonton and three in Red Deer. Harvard Broadcasting was granted two of the new licenses.
In Edmonton, the Commission approved applications by CTV, Harvard Broadcasting, Rawlco Radio and John Charles Yerxa (although CTV and Harvard have to submit new frequencies in 90 days).
In Red Deer, approvals went to Harvard, Touch Broadcasting and L.A. radio.
In the decision, the Commission noted that Yerxa “will be a new player both in the Edmonton market and in the Canadian radio industry. As such, approval of its…
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GATINEAU – Following up on a federal government request made this summer, the CRTC said today it will look into broadcasting services offered to French- and English-language communities in a minority situation.
The Commission will hold a public hearing on this matter starting on January 13, 2009.
In its public call for comments today, the CRTC is asking Canadians to share their views on a number of specific questions relating to:
* The availability and quality of French- and English-language broadcasting services in French and English linguistic minority communities * The challenge of providing, in those communities, broadcasting services…
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TORONTO – "Without a doubt culture played a central role in this election,” said Richard Hardacre, ACTRA’s national president, in summing up Tuesday’s election.
“We hope that Prime Minister Harper heard the concerns of the thousands of Canadians who spoke up during the campaign and will make culture a priority in the coming months… We welcome the Conservatives’ campaign commitment to scrap their plans to give bureaucrats arbitrary powers to withdraw or withhold tax credits from Canadian films and television productions. And now the Prime Minister has an opportunity to re-consider his $50 million dollars in cuts to arts…
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GATINEAU – The much talked-about CRTC hearing into new media has been scheduled for February 17th, the Commission announced this morning.
While commissioner Michel Arpin recently said the Regulator does not want to regulate new media, the proceeding, according to the Commission is being undertaken “to gain a better understanding of broadcasting in the new media environment.”
In 1999, the Commission exempted from regulation services that distribute broadcasting content over the Internet because 11 years ago, broadcasting on the Internet was nearly non-existent.
In 2007, it also exempted broadcasting services that are received through cell phones and other mobile…
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PAUL TEMPLE SUGGESTS that the current economic crisis should give The CRTC pause to consider whether the world has changed in the 6 months, since the CRTC’s hearings on BDU and Specialty services. No doubt.
As he writes in his commentary from this morning, entitled: “Is the economic crisis a cautionary tale for our broadcasting system?”
“As governments around the world pour money into the financial sector to correct the sins of the past, you can be sure it’s too little too late. You can’t roll back history. Are we headed for the same crisis in Canadian broadcasting? Will we…
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TORONTO – Canwest has inked a deal to put its primetime programming on-demand on Rogers Cable (on Channel 100) from October 15.
More than 60 hours of network Global and E! programming will be free on VOD, including first-run shows such as House, Family Guy, Heroes, 24, Prison Break, the Office, Knight Rider and My Own Worst Enemy.
Soap operas The Young and the Restless and Days of our Lives will also be included on VOD.
But David Purdy, vice-president and general manager of Television at Rogers Cable Communications, warned this VOD model will not be sustainable in the…
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WHAT A DIFFERENCE a day makes.
Or so they say in politics. Perhaps in the broadcast and cable regulatory environment it takes a little longer than a day, but the world has most definitely changed since last spring’s broadcast distribution undertaking and specialty & pay policy framework hearing in Ottawa. A quick look today at the headlines tells us in no uncertain terms that “Canada heading for recession, say economists” (CBC.ca), and that “Investors panic, markets plunge as crisis spreads in Europe, Asia” (Globe and Mail).
As the credit crunch deepens and consumers begin to rein in their spending,…
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TORONTO – The 2nd annual Insight Entertainment Industries Summit will run October 22-23 at St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre in Toronto.
The event is aimed at senior executives and counsels from the film, television, new media, gaming, music and print media industries who are involved in content creation, development or distribution.
The keynote luncheon address will be given by Namir Anani, executive director of Policy Development and Research at the CRTC.
The conference program co-chairs are Alan Sawyer, principal consultant, Two Solitudes Consulting, and Susan Abramovitch, partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson, LLP.
Topics include issues facing each content genre,…
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TORONTO – With digital channels only beginning to report positive EBITDA in 2007, and analog subscription revenue growth intact, the much anticipated mass exodus to digital channels still is more a dream than a reality, according to a report by Genuity Capital.
The report by Genuity Capital’s Carl Bayard also found based on last year’s numbers that:
– CRTC channel-by-channel data reveals that while the industry is no undergoing change, the pace of change is less dramatic than might be assumed.
– The most lucrative areas of sports and children’s programming continue to outperform on an absolute revenue basis and…
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TORONTO – Former CHUM Ltd Vice Chair and COO Fred Sherratt will be honoured at the Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ Community Service Awards Luncheon 2008 on October 7 at 11:30 at the Boulevard Club in Toronto.
The event will also feature a keynote by CRTC Vice-Chair, Broadcasting Michel Arpin.
The OAB Community Service Award for Radio – Small Market will be presented to CKTB/HTZ-FM/ EZROCK Astral Media Radio Niagara. General manger Madelyn Hamilton will accept the award.
An honourable mention goes to The Rock, Durham Radio Oshawa. Craig Robertson, morning show host; Steve Kassay, general manager; and Adrianne Vogel,…
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