By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – The much-anticipated report by the federal Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel has so far drawn praise from some of the industries it affects, but mainly criticism from the official opposition Conservatives.
At a National Press Theatre news conference following the release of the report on Wednesday, Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservative shadow minister for industry and economic development (pictured in a cpac.ca screen cap), said that while the 235-page document, entitled Canada’s Communications Future: A Time to Act, is “well-intentioned, was written in one of the most heavily lobbied and regulated spaces in Canadian industry…
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TORONTO — The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) Panel report released today contains a number of recommendations which Canadian content producers will consider good news — namely that all media content undertakings, including international digital giants not currently covered by legislation, should have obligations to support Canadian content.
As part of its review, the BTLR panel looked at the possibility of creating new financing models and other initiatives to support the creation, production and discoverability of Canadian content. Among its recommendations related to Canadian content are that the functions of the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada be…
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Renamed Commission would oversee all media in Canada
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – Eighteen months, thousands of pages from more than 2000 written submissions, dozens of staff and six panel members have produced a shockingly thorough 235-page report which proposes 97 recommendations to change the Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act and Radiocommunications Act.
The CRTC will be dead, long live the CCC
One of the many recommendations from the Broadcasting & Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) panel in its report called “Canada’s Communications Future: Time to Act” is a renamed CRTC where the new moniker would reflect the sweeping new regulatory powers found in many…
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LONDON and MARKHAM, Ont. — Despite deeming Huawei to be a “high-risk vendor”, the British government announced it will allow the Chinese telecom company to play a limited role in building the U.K.’s 5G wireless networks.
In keeping with guidance from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the U.K. government issued a news release Tuesday outlining how high-risk vendors such as Huawei will be allowed to participate in 5G and gigabit-capable infrastructure builds in the country. “High risk vendors are those who pose greater security and resilience risks to U.K. telecoms networks,” reads the UK government release.
The…
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By Irene Berkowitz
THE LONG-AWAITED announcement from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) review panel is upon us.
Charles Falzon, among his many firsts, is founding chair of the CMPA. He also served on the Expert Advisory Group for our last federal media inquiry, the 2016-2017 Department of Canadian Heritage Canadian Content in a Digital World/Creative Canada Policy Framework. Falzon is Dean of Ryerson University Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) and former Chair of RTA School of Media. He’s produced more than 2000 hours of TV with Gemini awards and Emmy nominations to his credit.
As…
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OTTAWA – The federal government’s expert panel which has spent 18 months building recommendations on how the various Acts which govern television, radio, broadband and telecom in Canada should, or should not, change, will make its report public early Wednesday afternoon.
Legislation coming from those recommendations will drive the various policies created over the years for the connectivity and cultural sectors and could alter the way Canadians receive electronic media, how Canadian content is made and funded, deliver increased broadband accessibility, change wireless policy, rework the way the federal government treats wireless spectrum and so forth.
Cartt.ca has confirmed with the…
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VANCOUVER – Novus Entertainment today announced Chris Marett will become the company’s new co-president and chief financial officer in March as Doug Holman will be retiring then from that role after 20 years with the company. Holman will act as a special advisor, subsequent to his retirement, to ensure a smooth transition for his successor, says the company’s press release.
Marett is currently CEO of CityWest in Prince Rupert and he had been CFO prior to that. He recently announced he was leaving the company.
“We would like to thank Doug for his contribution to the expansion and strategic transformation…
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BRAMPTON and DAVOS – There were a couple of important Canadian cybersecurity announcements today.
The first was from Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, in partnership with Ryerson University’s DMZ, which announced the launch of the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, “Canada’s first commercial accelerator specifically designed for scale-up companies in cybersecurity and related fields,” reads the press release.
Headquartered in Brampton’s Innovation District, the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator “will help Canada’s cybersecurity ecosystem by providing Canadian scale-up companies in cybersecurity and related fields the essential tools they need to grow and succeed nationally and internationally.”
The CCA is supported by the Government of Canada, through the Federal…
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VICTORIA – More folks working in British Columbia’s TV and streaming industry will soon have more help getting projects off the ground through a new partnership called Access 2020.
Through this pilot program, B.C.-based producers will be eligible for up to $30,000 to support early-stage development of children’s and scripted drama projects.
The program is designed to make it easier for producers to access funding, as it does not require the secured support of a broadcaster, says the press release. Eligible activities include research, script development and hiring a scriptwriter, as well as travel to pitch or market a project.
“B.C. producers…
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TORONTO — Although some would argue mobile devices and digital platforms have isolated and divided us like no other force before, this year’s trends report from the Canada Media Fund explores whether audiovisual content could bring us closer and interactive experiences, unite us.
“Togetherness may not be outright associated with technology as we have come to experience it, but this is what seems to be taking over,” said Catherine Mathys, CMF’s director of industry and market trends and co-author of the report, in the news release. “Digital platforms are now venues where youth gather to consume content, create their…
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