By Connie Thiessen
The 2024 federal budget includes support for media and the cultural industries, with a focus on bolstering publicly-funded broadcasting, fortifying the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), and championing diverse storytelling in film and television.
Budget 2024, released Tuesday, proposes to provide an additional $42 million in 2024-25 for CBC/Radio-Canada news and entertainment programming, on top of its $1.4-billion public funding allocation.
CBC President and CEO Catherine Tait said in a statement that the one-time funding would help the corporation “manage its financial challenges in a more stable manner.”
“This is welcome news. This investment, together with the steps we have taken…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Corus is urging the CRTC to hurry up and make a decision on a proposal to grant the media company temporarily relief on its financial obligations to Canadian content and pandemic back pay.
Next Friday will mark exactly six months since the CRTC proposed granting the pure-play media company “exceptional” relief by reducing its spending to programs of national interest from 8.5 to 5 per cent of previous year’s revenues and by extending the time to pay back what it already owes the regulator from the pandemic relief period.
In the days after the decision, Corus…
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Following its beta launch in several communities in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia in early 2024 and late 2023, Videotron’s fully digital mobile carrier Fizz announced Wednesday the beta test was successful and it is now ready to bring its service to more Canadians in the coming months.
“We are grateful to the thousands of beta testers who were the first to experience Fizz outside Québec,” Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO of Videotron’s parent company Quebecor, said in a press release. “They…
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Rogers Communications announced Tuesday it is collaborating with CableLabs to develop industry-leading network technology for Canadians.
The collaboration will see the establishment of “CableLabs North” — located in Calgary at Rogers Barlow campus (formerly Shaw’s Barlow campus) — which will bring together global industry partners and Rogers technologists to collaborate on network technology solutions, explains a press release. “Together, the teams will develop new innovative applications and provide customers seamless connections in and out of the home or workplace,” the release says.
“CableLabs North will develop technology to deliver 5G using cable network…
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Telefilm Canada announced Thursday the appointment of Monica Flores as vice president of governmental affairs and communications.
She will start her new position on Monday, April 8 and will be based out of Telefilm’s Montreal office.
“In her new role, Ms. Flores will contribute to the implementation of Telefilm’s new strategic plan and lead a team committed to promoting the audiovisual sector to a variety of audiences,” reads a Telefilm industry advisory announcing her appointment.
A seasoned public affairs and communications leader, Flores “has led impactful corporate reputation initiatives in Canada…
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Bell confirms April 11 appearance before Heritage committee
In a message titled “Facts Matter” published Thursday on its website, Bell outlined what it says are the facts about its recent restructuring, which includes the elimination of 4,800 positions across the telecom and media company.
The web post appears to have been prompted by what Bell sees as inaccurate information circulating about the situation, saying, “As some distort the truth, here are the facts about Bell’s restructuring as announced on February 8.”
“Bell is supporting each affected team member with…
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The Black Screen Office (BSO) and Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced Tuesday the launch of a new accelerator program focused on increasing representation and supporting the career growth of Black producers in Canada.
Made possible with financial support from Entertainment Partners, the BSO-CMPA Black Producer Accelerator Program will see six producers participate in 20-week paid mentorship placements, where they will be paired with established producers at CMPA member companies.
Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to receive on-the-job training across various aspects of production, including research, development, on-set…
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Sunco Communication and Installation, an Edmonton-based independent business telecom and managed IT systems integrator, announced Thursday the acquisition of the Canadian on-premise PBX business of Colorado-based Zayo Group.
Zayo’s presence in the Canadian market came through its 2016 acquisition of MTS’s Allstream division, which Cartt wrote about here and here.
“This is an important and historic step in our company’s commitment to growing our Canadian PBX business,” Sunco CEO Mike Schoenberger said in a statement. “We are deeply rooted in our identity as a Canadian-based company. We understand the unique…
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By Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada
What would your life be like without music?
Humans communicate in many languages but we all understand music. It is a universal language and without it, our lives and cultures are impoverished. That’s why the public broadcaster has been supporting Canadian musicians, songwriters, composers and performers for decades. Music is one of the ways we know who we are as Canadians.
During the pandemic, Canadians couldn’t hear music live. Music venues were forced to close their doors and artists to cancel their tours. According to the Canadian Live Music Association, the average loss of…
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Unifor members held a media conference and rally in Ottawa on Tuesday “to call out Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) for postponing a scheduled hearing before the House of Commons Heritage Committee to answer for the recent termination of 9% of BCE’s workforce,” says a Unifor press release.
But a Bell representative told Cartt that Tuesday’s hearing postponement was requested by the Heritage committee clerk, who confirmed that to be the case.
“The Clerk of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage requested Bell postpone its appearance at committee that was originally scheduled for…
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