OTTAWA – With the CRTC’s report on the future of programming distribution in Canada now in hand, it is expected that Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will unveil a panel of industry experts which she has appointed to come up with key recommendations to overhaul the Broadcasting Act.
We don’t know what it’s going to be called or who is going to be on it as of this writing (really early June 5th), but the announcement could come as early as today and not wait until the Minster’s keynote speech at the Banff World Media Festival this…
Continue Reading
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT promised a review of the Broadcasting and Telecommunication Acts in its 2017 budget and last week the CRTC took the first step down this path when it issued: Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada.
While it floated a number of interesting, innovative and controversial ideas, we’re all anxious to hear what Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will have to say about it this weekend when she addresses the Banff International Media Fest. There, we hear she is likely to announce the appointment of a worthy and carefully chosen panel of experts to undertake a year-long…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Canadian television broadcasting sector saw total operating revenues fall 4.8% from to $7.1 billion in 2017, while profits before interest and taxes jumped 10.5% to $940.7 million in 2017 from the year prior, according to newly released data from Statistics Canada.
The lift in profits before interest and taxes is the result of a 6.8% decrease in operating expenses, which fell to $6.2 billion in 2017.
All revenue categories were down in 2017, continues the data. Air time sales dropped 4.9% to $3.0 billion last year while subscription revenues fell by 1.3% or $39 million over the same period, marking the first time that subscription revenues have fallen in the…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – On the empirical side, unsurprisingly, data compiled and released today by the CRTC in response to a government request, show the slow decline of the popularity and revenues of traditional media.
But for the future, the report called Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada identifies four options available to the federal government as it mulls its promised overhauls of the Broadcasting Act and Telecommunications Act:
Status quo
Deregulate traditional players
Apply the existing regulatory approach to new players
Develop new, adaptable and innovative approaches which engage new players. This is the one the Report recommends.
“To ensure a vibrant domestic…
Continue Reading
MISSISSAUGA and MONTREAL – Gap Wireless has signed a reseller agreement for the distribution of Siama Systems' converged network performance test and diagnostic tools in Canada and the U.S.
Montreal-based Siama Systems combines the tools network technicians require to quickly diagnose problems with all the standard Ethernet and IP service assurance features, into a single, intuitive platform – at a price point equivalent to a basic field portable tester, reads the news release.
"Gap Wireless is delighted to distribute Siama equipment for Ethernet and IP network infrastructure testing," said Gap’s VP and GM Glenn Poulos, in the release. "Siama solutions can…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU – On Thursday morning, the CRTC will release its new report into the future distribution models for content in Canada, which it was asked to do by the Governor-in-Council in September 2017.
The report, called “Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada,” is meant to aid an overhaul of the Broadcasting and Telecom Acts by answering the three main questions which were posed by the Order-in-Council from Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly:
the distribution model or models of programming that are likely to exist in the future
how and through whom Canadians…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Bell Media set to cancel Discovery's Daily Planet next week after 23 seasons and Space's Innerspace after nine cycles, and the CBC ending its daytime lifestyle series The Goods marks no major retreat from in-house production, both broadcasters insist, only a practical acceptance they must move faster to check Netflix, Google and fast-expanding digital platforms.
Here, the shift from traditional TV to digital video, while certainly not happening quickly or seamlessly, does have Canadian broadcasters tackling production costs amid falling TV ad revenues and growing streaming competition. “This decision is part of CBC's ongoing redirection of programming budgets…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Groupe V Media has named Marie-Sylvie Lefebvre as director of acquisitions, effective immediately.
In this role, Lefebvre (pictured) will acquire the best content while developing and coordinating partnerships with international distributors for the entire group and its properties, including V, Max, MusiquePlus and Noovo.ca.
Prior to joining Groupe V Media, she held roles at L'Équipe Spectra, TVA Films, and ICI Radio-Canada, plus provided consulting services to Encore TV and Datsit TV.
"It's a great privilege to welcome a professional of Marie-Sylvie’s calibre and experience to our team," said content VP Brigitte Vincent, in the announcement. "Her industry recognized track record, leadership and privileged…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – The National School of Humour (NHS) is launching a Screenwriting Development Program for both TV and film comedies with the support of Netflix.
The program will be divided into three parts: public lectures and master classes, advanced comedy screenwriting, and mentorship project development, and aims to demystify the essential components of comedy scripting plus provide individual creators with advanced training or professional mentoring for their TV series or movie project.
NHS said that the growth of content platforms has resulted in an increased demand for scriptwriters in comedy fiction.
A Netflix spokesperson said that the partnership agreement stems from the…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Christianne M. Laizner is the new full-time telecommunications vice-chairperson at the CRTC, a role that she has held on interim basis since last July.
Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Laizner’s appointment early Thursday. Her five year term will officially begin on July 17, 2018, making her the first female vice-chairperson of telecommunications in the CRTC’s 50-year history.
Laizner (pictured) first joined the CRTC in 2010 as general counsel, telecommunications before being named the Commission’s senior general counsel in 2013, and then executive director of the CRTC legal sector. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1982…
Continue Reading
