Move will let broadcasters keep $30 million
OTTAWA – While Canadian broadcasters have been working extraordinarily hard to deliver the news to Canadians during the Covid-19 crisis – and entertain them when they need diversion – this very crisis has caused revenue to bleed away from them as advertisers pull back facing an uncertain economy.
So, the federal government announced today a bit of a break, announcing it is waiving the payment of annual CRTC Part I licence fees for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
“The government knows that our Canadian broadcasters have been working around the clock to deliver news and…
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CBC/RADIO-CANADA SAID the industry collaboration of major media and technology organizations it joined in 2019, will direct itself to rapidly identify and stop the spread of harmful coronavirus disinformation.
Starting today, partners in the Trusted News Initiative will alert each other to disinformation about coronavirus, including “imposter content” purporting to come from trusted sources, said a CBC release on Friday. Such content (like the lie that 5G technology caused Covid-19) will be reviewed promptly to ensure that disinformation is not republished.
This will complement work already underway by CBC and Radio-Canada to expose mistruths and disinformation around the global…
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TORONTO – The Canada Media Fund sent a note out to the production community on Friday assuring everyone it – and the program administrator team at Telefilm Canada – are still operational during the Covid-19 crisis.
“Among all the challenges our industry has overcome, none has been as destabilizing as the one we currently face. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to a standstill most sectors of the economy, including ours,” said CMF president and CEO Valerie Creighton in her email.
She added the CMF is looking at added flexibility for its programs and funding, as well as what critical relief measures…
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By Greg O’Brien
A DAY AFTER A group of independent network operators publicly appealed to streamers Netflix and Amazon to help with the traffic congestion problems resulting from millions of Canadians now being home and online during the day due to the Covid-19 crisis, Netflix responded and said it will implement a move to cut its traffic by 25%.
That said, Cartt.ca has also learned some of the large ISPs were also quietly asking Netflix for help – and had engaged the federal government to try and influence the California-based streamer, too. Earlier this week we asked Minister of Innovation,…
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TORONTO – The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees met with Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault to discuss ways in which the federal government could best support the entertainment industry and its workers.
IATSE represents technicians, artisans and craftspeople in the entertainment industry, including live theatre, as well as motion picture and television production.
The conference-call meeting included 40 IATSE local union leaders who stressed the Covid-19 pandemic has brought economic hardship to all workers, but with virtually 100% unemployment, the entertainment industry has been hit particularly hard.
“Minister Guilbeault spoke knowledgably about the situation facing workers in both the film…
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By Ahmad Hathout
CHATHAM, Ont. – Canada’s largest independent third party internet access ISP TekSavvy said today it will lay-off 130 employees and raise internet prices by $5 per month due to the effects of Covid-19 as well as the uncertainty surrounding the wholesale rate appeal that resulted in reduced prices it has maintained since.
In an email to Cartt.ca, TekSavvy’s vice-president of regulatory affairs Andy Kaplan-Myrth confirmed the layoffs and said the price increase will go into effect in May – all in an effort to “keep things going,” he said.
The 130 people account for a significant chunk of the…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – When the Competition Bureau filed its further comments in the CRTC’s Wireless Review proceeding and issued detailed recommendations as to the future of the wireless industry in Canada, it was obvious that there was going to be some pushback.
Both Telus and CNOC requested to see more of the information filed in confidence and the Commission on Tuesday, granted some of CNOC’s wishes while denying Telus request.
CNOC was interested in both information filed in confidence that is publicly available, as well as methodological aspects of the Bureau’s analysis which was not revealed.
“The Commission also directs…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted business operations far and wide, including TV and film producers in Canada, who are calling for the federal government to pledge a financial aid package for the industry.
Boat Rocker Media has jumped out ahead as the first TV producer this week to register its intention to ask the federal and Ontario governments for financial support to continue to create, produce and distribute its content. The Toronto-based company’s subsidiary Temple Street has produced the popular show Orphan Black and its kids content has been enlisted in CBS All Access’s roster. Insight…
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GATINEAU — The federal government announced Wednesday it is taking action to support Canada’s publishing and news sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the announcement made by the department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) confirmed the Independent Advisory Board on Eligibility for Journalism Tax Measures is now in place. The advisory board’s role is to make recommendations to the CRA on whether a journalism organization meets criteria to receive the Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization (QCJO) designation, which is a prerequisite for organizations to take advantage of new tax measures introduced in the 2019 federal…
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IQALUIT — Amid much turmoil and uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Iristel released some positive news Wednesday, announcing its subsidiary Ice Wireless has completed a project to more than double its transport network capacity in Iqaluit.
“The infrastructure deficit in Canada’s Arctic makes its population vulnerable to unforeseen crisis events like the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Samer Bishay, CEO of both Iristel and Ice Wireless, in the news release. “Telecommunications infrastructure remains a very limited resource in the North, but we are pleased to be able to turn up this capacity at a time when it is most needed.”
The…
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