Nextologies is changing the economics of signal transport
SLAVA LEVIN WANTS to show me something.
We walk through his new building in Markham, past his master control which now offers 107 TV channels to Canadian distributors (making ECG the largest broadcaster in Canada, by number of channels), past one of his studios where a Canadian Filipino-language talk show is being shot, and through a tech-cluttered storage area to a set of tight, narrow stairs and then a ladder.
We’re now on the roof among 27 satellite dishes pointed out to the present and future of far lower-cost signal transport than the TV…
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MARKHAM, ON – Canadian radio industry veteran Chuck McCoy will receive the 2016 Hall of Fame Award from the Ontario Association of Broadcasters at the organization’s fall conference in November.
A Board nominated honour, the OAB Hall of Fame is presented to individuals who have spent most of their careers working for private broadcasters and demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of broadcast excellence.
With 51 years in the Canadian broadcasting industry, McCoy began his professional career on-air in 1965. His on-air hosting included stops at four stations, culminating with five years at the iconic 1050 CHUM. Over the span…
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TORONTO – Bell Media’s Harold Greenberg Fund will support 10 new feature-film projects through its Equity Investment Program.
The latest round of funding includes the first English-language production from international sensation Xavier Dolan (The Death and Life of John F. Donovan), the latest from acclaimed director Kim Nguyen (Eye on Juliet), as well as works from Kathleen Hepburn (Never Steady, Never Still), Jordan Canning (Suck it Up), Miranda De Pencier (The Grizzlies), and Eisha Marjara (Venus).
“We are proud to support Canada’s incredible filmmaking talent through the Equity Investment Program,” said English-language program president John Galway, in the news release. “This…
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LOOKING BACK ON THE recent Banff World Media Festival, there are any number of valuable signposts for the future of our moving image industry.
One which rattled my analog cage (in a good way) was the apparent devaluation of the concept of audience in favour of "fan-dom". Ten years ago when many of us attended Banff, we had an informed inkling, maybe even a giggly-tingling anticipation, for the creative potential of the internet. It was a vague notion – we didn't really know what was going to become of this new digital frontier.
But this year at Banff, one can't miss…
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Office culture needs repair
WITH BOTH THE 2016 NBA and NHL drafts happening this week, sports fans know that among all the “mock drafts” and other analyses about the brand new about-to-be-pros, there are a smattering of additional stories which speculate what the draft will look like next year, in 2017, despite the fact anything can happen in a year and the pure conjecture involved to write a piece like that relies on a great many moving parts falling into place – and not a small amount of gossip and guesswork.
So it is in that spirit I’m going to look…
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BANFF – Canada has a long history of playing catch-up when it comes to setting policy for electronic media, starting with radio in the early part of last century and then with conventional television and cable TV through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. We can’t afford that any more.
The U.S. generally pushed the envelope in launching new media, Canadians adopted the technology and governments here played regulatory catch-up, often preferring early monopolies in radio or TV over competition in the marketplace.
“By first delaying the introduction of television, and then delaying the introduction of competing services, government policy almost guaranteed…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital Group is buying music video channels MuchLoud, MuchRetro, MuchVibe and Juicebox from Bell Media, the companies announced early Tuesday morning. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stingray called the four specialty services a “valuable addition” to its slate of TV music services that already includes Stingray Ambiance, Stingray Lite TV, Stingray Concerts plus the recently acquired Brava and Djazz. Upon completion of the transaction, expected in the third quarter of this year, the channels will be rebranded and relaunched under the Stingray brand.
“In an industry where consolidation is the watchword, and where growth and…
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TORONTO – Internet advertising, mobile technology adoption, and over-the-top (OTT) streaming will drive Canadian entertainment and media revenues through 2020, says a PwC report released Monday.
According to Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2016-2020, Canadian entertainment and media revenues will rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% in nominal terms over the coming five years, from US$43.8 billion in 2015 to US$50.0 billion in 2020. This growth rate represents a slowdown from last year's 5.0% growth in industry revenues, and will lag behind overall global economic growth during this period.
Overall, what emerges from the report is media…
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DEMORESTVILLE, ON – Broadcast industry veteran, former CRTC director-general, and community advocate Peter Fleming passed away June 15 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 66.
Fleming spent close to 25 years at the CRTC between 1973-1997, holding a variety of positions including director-general of radio and television broadcast policy. He went on to become a consultant to the broadcasting industry, helping various television and radio companies in Canada in preparing applications, policy positions and presentations to the broadcast regulator. Early on his consulting career, he helped the Government of South Africa to develop its post-apartheid broadcast legislation.
Fleming also served on the…
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MARKHAM, ON – Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) has thrown its support behind a new initiative that will see retired professionals offer mentorship and expertise to aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Seniors Mentorship Program, announced Monday, sees ECG partnering with York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), a charitable organization whose mission is to provide free business education and mentorship to innovative entrepreneurs from any sector or industry in order to build and accelerate successful businesses and efficient not-for-profit organizations.
“The Seniors Mentorship Program is multilingual and will be broadcasted on ECG’s channels across a number of language groups,” said ECG CEO Slava Levin, in the news release….
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