TORONTO – This past Monday, the federal government announced new measures added to its budget bill that would give political control to the Cabinet over how much Crown corporations such as the CBC pays its union and non-union staff and other terms and conditions of employment.
“CBC is not just another crown corporation. The financial decision-making the government plans to take over will affect CBC’s editorial independence,” said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, in a release. “If this bill becomes law, the government will have one more lever to control what…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Canada’s biggest broadcasters still haven’t found a way to make their digital ventures pay off in this on-demand world, and continue to rely on their linear television channels to drive the bottom line.
Speaking Tuesday evening at a Canadian Women In Communications-sponsored panel entitled ‘Perspective on the Broadcast Landscape Revolution’, Christina Litz, vice president of digital content and engagement for Corus Entertainment, said that her department’s mandate is to leverage social media specifically to drive live tuning to the company’s women and children-focused television channels.
“And we don’t see that going away any time soon”, she said, adding that…
Continue Reading
COURTENAY, B.C. – Vista radio co-founder, president and CEO Margot Micallef has resigned from the company, employees were told earlier this week. Former Rogers Radio president Gary Miles, a member of the Vista board of directors, will act as interim CEO until a permanent successor is found.
“I have worn many hats since founding Vista, including chair of the board, CEO, president and Board Member,” Micallef said in her resignation letter, which has caught many in the industry by surprise. “In my capacity as president and CEO, I have taken Vista as far as I can and now believe it…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The Canadian Digital Media Network is anticipating a 25% increase in attendance at this year’s Canada 3.0 Conference, with more than 2,000 IT decision makers attending.
The conference, held in Stratford until this year, will feature world-class keynotes with executives from Netflix, Facebook, and YouTube, as well as thought leaders such as Jane McGonigal, Chris Anderson, and Club Penguin co-founder Lane Merrifield who sold his startup to Disney for $350 million.
Attendees can connect with leaders from the financial services, telecommunications, and banking industry at breakout sessions and workshops to discuss emerging technologies….
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Bell learned its lesson after the CRTC refused its request to acquire Astral Media last fall and, among other things, the company won't be making any surprise changes to its proposal when it goes in front of the commission May 6 for its second attempt.
That's what Bell Media president Kevin Crull told reporters Friday after a speech to the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in Montreal. In that speech, delivered in English in the presence of Astral executives Ian Greenberg and Jacques Parisien, he reassured francophone TV and film producers that the acquisition would result in…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Bell Media announced today the creation of a new apprenticeship program to help develop the next generation of small-screen producers in Canada.
With a yearly commitment of up to $1 million, the Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab says it is a catalyst to fast-track the advancement and skills of qualified television producers. As the latest program supported by the Bell Media TV Skills Development Initiative, the Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab provides emerging producers from across Canada with the opportunity to gain unique hands-on experience – at both Bell Media and at leading production…
Continue Reading
IT MIGHT SURPRISE SOME to learn that one of the fastest growing Canadian media companies is not some sexy, new media, web based disruptor, but in fact built on the oldest electronic media we have: radio.
In about nine years, Vista Radio has grown from a single station in Duncan, B.C. to a national power with over 60 stations spread from the west coast to Ontario. It really jumped in size in 2012 when it agreed to purchase Haliburton Radio and its 24 Ontario stations for $32 million (backed by Westerkirk Capital, an investment arm of the powerful Thomson Family)….
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – If you live in Quebec and happen to notice a slight improvement in your internet service, it may be due to the launch of the province’s first Internet Exchange Point (IXP) today.
The Montreal Internet Exchange, a non-profit organization working to create a more robust, higher-performing Internet in Quebec, along with its partners, officially launched the first Quebec Internet Exchange Point, bringing faster Internet to users across the province.
“The launch of the Montreal Internet Exchange, also known as QIX, is a critical step towards creating a faster, more robust Internet, not just…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – In his final annual general meeting as CEO of Rogers Communications, Nadir Mohamed set some ambitious goals for the company for 2013, with the key being a need for much better customer service.
In his speech to shareholders, Mohamed didn’t mince words. “There’s no question we need to significantly improve customer service. We need to help our customers better understand what they get when they sign-up and we need to do a better job supporting them once they do,” he said.
“This year we’re focused on resolving the top reasons customers call, enhancing employee training and raising the bar…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – The TV series The L.A. Complex and Less Than Kind were among the winners Monday at the Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards.
More than 700 revelers from the film, TV and digital media industry came together for the WGC’s 17th annual gala presentation to congratulate the finalists and cheer the winners.
The co-creators of Flashpoint, Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, were recognized with the WGC Showrunner Award for their work on the series, which ended last year after five seasons.
Screenwriters Anne-Marie Perrotta, Simon Racioppa and Lienne Sawatsky received the WGC…
Continue Reading
