TORONTO and CALGARY – It’s been a busy week for Canada’s radio industry.
After buying up BOB-FM (CHST-FM) earlier this week, Rogers Broadcasting also acquired Edmonton’s BOUNCE (CHBN-FM) from CTV’s CHUM Radio and Milestone Media Broadcasting.
"Rogers has been active in the Edmonton radio market for four years and we’re keen to expand our local presence," said Rogers radio CEO Paul Ski, in the announcement. "The acquisition of BOUNCE will strengthen Rogers’ position in this important young adult demographic and will allow us the opportunity to offer a more enhanced service to both our listeners and our advertisers."
Hit music station…
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OTTAWA – A new web site called ‘Don’t Lock My Freedom’ is rallying Canadians to rebel against cell phones which are “locked” to the wireless providers from which they were purchased. But it also may serve to shake up the way that wireless companies in Canada do business.
The newly-launched site supports a private member’s bill known as the Cellphone Freedom Act introduced last week by NDP MP Bruce Hyer. If passed (private member’s bills are rarely passed, however), the legislation would require telecom companies to ‘unlock’ fully purchased phones free of charge at a customer’s request, and unlock…
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TORONTO – The Canada Media Fund has released its recoupment policy for projects accepted for funding under its ‘experimental stream’.
The experimental stream encourages the creation of leading-edge, interactive, digital media content and software applications. Projects funded under the experimental program are to be developed for commercial potential by the Canadian media industry or public use by Canadians.
Applications to the experimental stream will be reviewed and selected for funding by a jury. Click here to download the policy.
www.cmf-fmc.ca
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OTTAWA – Canada should aim for "an inclusive digital society" where all residents have access to high-speed Internet at speeds "necessary to bring essential digital services".
These are just a few of the 18 recommendations in a new report from the Senate Committee on Transport and Communication called Plan For A Digital Canada.
The report also calls for a Minister for Digital Policy, who would take over the oversight of the strategy from the Minister of Industry; that proceeds from spectrum auctions should be used to provide broadband access for rural and remote areas of the country; and that the government…
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TORONTO – The channel rebranding exercise continues at CTV.
After renaming three of its Discovery specialties two weeks ago, the network announced Monday that it would also rebrand its TV Land Canada channel as Comedy Gold, effective August 2.
Comedy Gold will focus exclusively on sitcoms of the 70s, 80s and 90s including classics such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Murphy Brown, Night Court, SCTV and the show that catapulted Will Smith to stardom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the announcement detailed.
“With the launch of Comedy Gold and the new Discovery Channel brands, along…
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OTTAWA – Given the recently launched public consultation of foreign ownership/investment in Canadian telecom carriers announced last week by Industry Minister Tony Clement, the report of the standing committee on industry, science and technology on that very topic, released late Wednesday, is more than a little anticlimactic.
The process was inspired by the situation that arose with Globalive Communications. It spent over $400 million on wireless spectrum in 2008 and was approved to operate as a Canadian wireless carrier by Industry Canada, but then denied by the CRTC in the fall of 2009 (which said due to the amount…
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IF EVERYONE PLAYS their expected part, Canadians may end up clamouring for the new SunTV News channel that its owner, Quebecor Media, envisions.
The launch strategy, it appears, is so far playing out brilliantly. After a couple of weeks of leaks (“It’ll be like Fox News, but in Canada!” “They’re going to spend $100 million!” “They’ve asked the CRTC for permission! “We’ve hired some reporters!”) which were linked and retweeted everywhere across the country – and especially in Ottawa – newspaper, TV and radio reporters, camera folks, online newsers (including yours truly) and bloggers crowded…
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WINNIPEG – Craig Wireless has finalized the sale of its multipoint communications system licenses for the Manitoba region and its associated business to Inukshuk Wireless Partnership for $4.8 million.
The application to Industry Canada for the transfer of the Manitoba MCS licenses and the associated business represents the satisfaction of an additional condition to the completion of the sale of its spectrum assets to Inukshuk as announced in March.
The amount remaining of the aggregate sale proceeds of $80 million to be paid by Inukshuk, is, following this closing, $20 million which is to be paid upon completion of certain…
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BANFF – The Canadian Film and Television Production Association announced today it is now the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA).
The change was made “to better reflect the multi-screen world and the future of our industry,” according to the press release.
“The global shift towards digital technology and new forms of distribution means we have to change with the times,” said Norm Bolen, president and CEO. “The new name embraces the opportunities for our members to create new partnerships and expand into the international market place.”
The new name also adheres to a tradition within the organization to update itself as technology…
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TORONTO – Canada’s entertainment and media market will see a 5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next four years, compared with a 3.8% CAGR in the U.S., says a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
According to the company’s Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2010-2014, which provides forecasts and analysis on 13 major entertainment and media industry segments in 48 countries, this growth will be led by mobile, Internet, TV, film and video games, combined with a rebound in advertising spending.
"The big story in 2009 was the recession’s impact, which led to a broad pull back in advertising spending”, said Michael…
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