Search Results for: industry canada

Radio / Television News

Groupe Média TFO introduces its made-in-Canada blockchain prototype to the world

TORONTO – Groupe Média TFO showed off its new blockchain royalty model for audiovisual content to international producers earlier this week at the Berlinale European film market. Profiled by Cartt.ca last August,  TFO's Blockchain project has the potential to transform digital cultural production management to truly value the creativity of audiovisual content, the French-language educational content provider said.  The initiative uses intelligent contracts, accuracy guarantees for consumption statistics, inalterable traceability of credits and attribution, ease of creation and transparent presentation of user reports and royalties and license revenue distribution reports with investors. The Blockchain TFO project targets the entirety of… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

APTN, NFB partner to boost involvement of Indigenous Peoples in Canadian film, TV

WINNIPEG – The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and APTN have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together to strengthen relations with Indigenous Peoples and creators in the Canadian audiovisual industry. The two organizations said Thursday that agreement will allow them to pool their respective efforts and expertise to implement various protocols, programs, training and other initiatives, such as promoting and utilizing archival materials in the NFB’s Indigenous collection; jointly developing best practices around hiring, training and retaining Indigenous employees; and sharing audience-data analysis and research. “The NFB and APTN have a long history of working together. This… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

SiriusXM Canada, CCMA behind new music competition in search of Canada’s next country star

TORONTO – SiriusXM Canada is teaming up with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) in search of Canada’s next Shania Twain. Exclusively for emerging Canadian country artists, the cross-country search, known as Top of the Country, offers participating acts a shot at playing at Canada's biggest country music festivals, industry mentorship programs, a SOCAN songwriting camp in Nashville plus the grand prize of $25,000 and a SOCAN songwriting camp in Pender Island, BC. Canadian country solo artists and groups are invited to register from now until midnight ET on March 2 at siriusxm.ca/topcountry.  Following the registration phase, three artists from each of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: 4,700 people can be wrong

THE HEADLINE WAS a typical one: “Thousands slam Bell coalition’s website blocking proposal,” said the Globe and Mail two weeks ago. That number (4,700-plus comments from Canadians to the CRTC over the Part I proceeding begun thanks to the FairPlay Canada coalition proposal), should not matter. At all. It will of course, especially to skittish politicians, but it shouldn’t. A large count of submissions to the CRTC on this or any topic shows people are engaged, which is a good thing, but that doesn’t make them correct. It’s the subject and the substance the arguments which are… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

ANALYSIS: Why more media mergers were never a good answer (part three)

Towards a Canadian strategy OVER THE LAST two weeks, I’ve argued the Canadian strategy of supporting, and indeed actively pushing for, the vertical integration of our broadcasting system was a mistake, suggesting the vertically integrated companies – namely Bell, Shaw, Rogers and Quebecor – had not and will not become international distributors of content as it was presumed. (Click here for part one and here for part two) A reader pointed out it’s always easier to take the position of a critic – particularly in hindsight – so let’s look at the changes which… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Commission says no to telco sales inquiry

GATINEAU – The CRTC this week told consumer group Public interest Advocacy Centre that there are already ample ways for customers to lodge complaints over what they feel are unfair telco sales practices and that no new public hearing is needed. After some 2017 CBC.ca stories levelled accusations of potentially unfair, high-pressure sales tactics against Bell Canada (the CBC in January then did a similar story about Rogers Communications), PIAC last month called on the CRTC to launch a formal inquiry into the matter. Both Bell and Rogers have vehemently denied the claims which were made by… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

DOC unveils new executive director

TORONTO – The Documentary Organization of Canada | l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC) has named Mathieu Pierre Dagonas as its new executive director.  Dagonas (pictured) has led the philanthropic efforts of three not-for-profit organizations in Canada, raising nearly $25 million for at risk youth.  He also has 15 years of political affairs experience, including as national campaign manager for former Liberal Party of Canada president Mike Crawley.  In addition, Dagonas serves on the board of Firefighters Without Borders, is CEO of an E-sports start-up, and is a passionate advocate for youth engagement, activism and mentorship.  “Mathieu Dagonas brings a wealth of political,… Continue Reading

Investigates

Cartt.ca Investigates: Is Netflix really the bad guy?

Part III in our series on rewriting the Broadcasting and Telecom Acts THERE IS NO QUESTION the emergence of Netflix as a major competitor for eyeballs in Canada has created significant disruption to the domestic broadcast landscape. With its more than six million subscribers and first place ranking in prime time viewing among 25-to-54 year olds (more here), it’s hard to argue against including the over-the-top (OTT) broadcaster and distributor under the current broadcast regulations. That disruption is likely to continue as Amazon Prime bolsters its content offerings, the new CBS All Access service launches in Canada in… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Shaftesbury’s Christina Jennings to receive CFC Award for Creative Excellence

TORONTO – The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) will honour Shaftesbury founder, chairman and CEO Christina Jennings with the 2018 CFC Award for Creative Excellence in recognition of her innovative storytelling, critically and commercially accomplished body of work, and her creative and business contributions to the Canadian and international entertainment industries. Jennings (pictured) was among the first few groups of residents to attend the CFC, joining as a producer resident in 1990, the third year that the Resident Program (now the Cineplex Entertainment Film Program) had been running. A visionary producer with a track record for delivering award-winning scripted content for… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Revenues up, profits down in Q4 at BCE

MONTREAL – BCE saw an uptick in revenue as higher additions in its postpaid wireless business offset a rise in expenses, the company said Thursday For the quarter ended December 31, BCE saw operating revenue increase 4.5% to $5.96 billion, led by strong top-line growth at Bell Wireless and Bell Wireline and a favourable financial contribution from the acquisition of MTS that drove 5.1% higher service revenue. This was partly offset by a year-over-year revenue decline at Bell Media due to a soft television advertising market. Net earnings fell 11.7% to $617 million while net earnings attributable to common shareholders dropped… Continue Reading