TORONTO – GlassBox Television has promoted Simon Foster from VP to SVP of digital publishing and business development.
Foster (pictured) is responsible for all aspects of GlassBox’s entertainment and lifestyle digital media business unit including managing product development, audience engagement, content and sales. Since joining the company in 2008, he has built a strong portfolio of digital products and partnerships that have helped make GlassBox one of the top companies in youth lifestyle media in Canada.
“This promotion is a well-deserved reflection of Simon’s role on the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – In the face of enormous political and public pressure, Bell Canada has killed wholesale usage-based billing.
Knowing politicians (whomever wins the election) are determined to stop wholesale UBB in its tracks, in its submission to the CRTC late Monday evening on the newest proceeding into the issue, Bell Canada abandoned any plan to continue pushing for UBB in its previously Commission-approved-form.
Instead, Bell has proposed a new idea (well, borrowed, really from CRTC Commissioner Candace Molnar and industry consultant Mark Goldberg) it is calling aggregated volume pricing.
“We are basically riffing off of the sentiments expressed by several…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Wind Mobile has donated $100,000 to six Canadian charities as part of its national competition entitled ‘Best Conversation Ever’.
From January 24 to March 7, Canadian charities competed on-line for votes to split a $100,000 donation from Wind, and Canadians entered to compete for the conversation of their dreams by saying who they would most like to talk to in the world.
Taking home the top prize with more than 13,000 votes is Engineers without Borders Canada, who help to improve living conditions and provide clean water to communities in Africa. The five $10,000 runner-up donations were…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) said that it applauds the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for recognizing the importance of fair terms of trade agreements between independent producers and vertically integrated media companies.
As Cartt.ca reported, in a report to the Government of Canada on the impact of private television ownership changes, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government consider the issue of fair terms of trade agreements between independent producers and vertically integrated media companies when reviewing the Canada Media Fund.
“The Committee is to be congratulated for its timely recognition of the need for…
Continue Reading
TORONTO and VANCOUVER – Telus and Cogeco Data Services have both stepped up to honour of Earth Hour on Saturday night.
Telus said that it will turn off all non-essential lights at 8:30 p.m. local time on March 26 at 28 of its major buildings across Canada in response to Earth Hour 2011’s global call to action in respect of climate change.
"By taking part in Earth Hour we are not only supporting a global initiative that raises awareness of the need for all of us to act responsibly, we are making a statement in support of environmental sustainability," said Josh Blair,…
Continue Reading
“THIS IS THE EXCEPTION rather than the rule,” Industry Minister Tony Clement told a Parliamentary committee earlier this month regarding the Conservatives penchant for weighing in on CRTC decisions.
He quoted the number six – three varied and three referred back to the Commission – out of 2,200 telecom decisions issued by the CRTC (below is a list of the decisions and how the government ruled). These numbers don’t tell the whole story though. While on the surface six out of 2,200 is miniscule, the fact of the matter is that out of those 2,200 decisions only 30 were…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Tom Pentefountas, the recently appointed vice-chair of broadcasting at the CRTC, stood firm as opposition MPs on the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage questioned his ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
He said all the right words in his opening remarks, highlighting the challenges facing the CRTC in the face of convergence and the new realities on online viewing. “Convergence is on the verge of erasing the dividing line between broadcasting and telecommunications,” he said. “That is one of our greatest challenges.
“Moreover, to face this new reality, the CRTC must implement 25 year old legislation….
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Count CBC, the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) in favour of Tuesday’s 2011-2012 Federal Budget, though its ability to be ratified by Parliament appears doubtful.
The public broadcaster said that it was “pleased” that the $60 million in funding that CBC/Radio-Canada been receiving since 2001 for Canadian programming initiatives has been renewed for another year, calling it “crucial” to the implementation of its new five year plan known as ‘Everyone, Every Way’.
"This is great news for Canadians who look to CBC/Radio-Canada for high quality Canadian programming on television, radio and the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Granted, it’s just another in the thousands of oft-ignored parliamentary committee reports, but a new one released today by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage wants the CRTC to hold a public hearing about whether or not the likes of Netflix, Google TV, Apple TV, etc., should be contributing funds to the Canadian television industry.
The report, “Impacts Of Private Television Ownership Changes And The Move Towards New Viewing Platforms,” was informed by five fall 2010 meeting days which heard from 21 witnesses representing Canadian media companies (big and small), carriers, producers, Continue Reading
TORONTO – A spot called “Anonymous” from Children Of The Street Society was named ‘Best in Show’ at the 2011 Crystal Awards, taking home the platinum award, and the $10,000 grand prize before going on to compete at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Hosted by Astral RadioPlus, Canadian Broadcast Sales, Chum Radio Sales and Target Broadcast Sales, the Crystal Awards honour outstanding achievement in agency and station radio creative from across Canada, showcasing innovation and celebrating a broad range of industry sectors.
The 10 gold Crystal awards were presented to the following winners:
Public Service Announcment WALK WITHOUT FEAR FOUNDATION Continue Reading