OTTAWA – While giving Canadians over a month to get their opinions down in writing about the purchase of CHUM Ltd. by CTV would seem to be plenty of time, Canada’s largest media union says it’s nowhere near enough.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union issued a press release today saying: "(G)iving Canadians 35 days to review the largest television deal in Canada’s history is nothing short of a charade at transparency and public accountability."
"The CRTC needs to hold full public hearings on the concentration of media ownership in this country," says Peter Murdoch, vice-president, media for CEP,…
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GATINEAU – After months of waiting (it took CTV until almost Christmas to submit its application to the Commission to purchase CHUM Ltd.) the CRTC will hear the request at a public hearing beginning April 30th.
In July, Bell Globemedia (now CTVglobemedia) announced a $1.4 billion purchase of CHUM Ltd. from the Waters family ($1.7 billion if assumed debt is included). If approved, CTV will take ownership of the Citytv broadcast stations across the country, numerous popular specialty channels like MuchMusic, Space and Star! as well as 33 radio stations.
As for the secondary market A-Channels, CTVgm will sell…
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TORONTO – CTVglobemedia said this afternoon it has been told by the Competition Bureau that the Bureau is fine with the broadcaster’s purchase of CHUM Ltd.
The decision follows a diligent and thorough review of the industry by the Bureau’s Mergers Branch, said the CTV release.
The acquisition of CHUM remains subject to approval by the CRTC. CTVgm’s application for such approval was made public yesterday by the CRTC, which also announced a public hearing to review the application will commence on April 30, 2007, as reported by Cartt.ca.
www.ctvglobemedia.ca
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DARTMOUTH, N.S. – 2006 fourth quarter revenue of $28 million came in 14% higher than 2005, and for the year revenue grew 17% to $93.9 million at radio broadcaster Newfoundland Capital Corporation.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization increased 12% over 2005 in the quarter and improved 26% for the year reaching $23 million, however, the increase was driven primarily by $8.7 million in net investment gains which were not specified.
Net income is $600,000 higher in the quarter, and $5.9 million higher for the year. Net income for fiscal 2006 was $12 million
The company’s release noted…
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OTTAWA – Canadian Women in Communications held its annual awards gala evening on Tuesday in Ottawa.
The CWC Annual Awards recognizes the accomplishments of four outstanding women in the communications industry and one communications organization that has nurtured the aspirations of its female employees.
The event is attended by over 600 VIPs to publicly recognize the achievements of communications industry role models. The following CWC Annual Award Winners were honoured at this year’s event (pictures are below):
* Karen Radford, executive vice-president and president, Telus Quebec and partner solutions, Telus – CWC Woman of the Year Award Recipient
* CanWest MediaWorks Inc….
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Providing emergency alerts to TV viewers will continue to be a voluntary thing for the industry, the CRTC said today.
In a public notice, the Commission set out its approach for the establishment of emergency alert services in Canada, and in another decision also issued today, the Regulator allowed public authorities to use 911 databases in order to improve the effectiveness of telephony-based emergency public alerts.
"According to the Broadcasting Act, the Canadian broadcasting system should serve the needs of Canadians," said Michel Arpin, vice-chairman, broadcasting, of the CRTC, in a press release. "It is vitally…
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OTTAWA – Just two years into his five-year mandate, CRTC vice-chair, telecom, Richard French, told Heritage Minister Bev Oda on Thursday he will be stepping down no later than June 15th of this year.
French told Cartt.ca on Monday that he is resigning now before section 75 of the Federal Accountability Act applies to him. That’s the portion of new federal legislation that will essentially prevent anyone who works for the government or a government agency to lobby the government or even to hold a leadership position in a company that gets government contracts for up to five years….
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OTTAWA – With two major crises reaching public climaxes just before Canadian film, TV and new media producers gathered here for their annual Prime Time conference last week, the event could easily have become two long days’ journey into denouement.
Instead, although frequent quips proved tensions still simmer following the ACTRA strike and the uncertain future for the Canadian Television Fund, PT’s agenda (which included a speech from new CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein) focused on improving industry performance amid some encouraging 2005-’06 news.
Volume up The Canadian Film and Television Production Association’s annual Profile report says…
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OTTAWA – Today in Ottawa during his first official speech to an industry group, new CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein set the tone for his five-year mandate and confirmed that the CRTC under him will continue to pursue deregulation as desired by the federal government.
However, one could say that during his breakfast address to Prime Time, the Canadian Film and Television Producers’ Association annual conference, he pushed back a little bit in the other direction, warning of the dangers of "untimely deregulation."
"Make no mistake: less regulation in telecom has and will continue to be the Commission’s prime…
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TORONTO – After over a month of uncertainty and facing a serious funding shortfall, the Canadian Television Fund said today it welcomes the CRTC Task Force on TV production funding.
“The CTF is a dynamic organization,” said Douglas Barrett, CTF chair, in a press release. “We continually evolve to ensure our policies, programs and operations meet the needs of all our clients and stakeholders. The CTF welcomes the opportunity to work with (vice-chair broadcasting Michel) Arpin and the CRTC Task Force to examine the issues and improve the stability and strength of the Canadian television industry.”
The CTF is…
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