JAY SWITZER HAS IT bad for the Canadian TV industry.
After less than three months out of work, the former CEO of CHUM Limited dearly misses the people he has worked with for over two decades and the work of providing hours of TV programming to Canadians.
The self-professed "content guy" – who spent some time this summer riding into the sunsets of the U.S. southwest – is not about to ride into the sunset and retire. He’ll be back, but he has months to decide where and when.
Last week, he sat down with Cartt.ca editor and publisher…
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TORONTO – Bill Bellamy resigned his position as vice-president of sales for Canada and new business development at Lindsay Broadband this summer.
His last day is Friday.
Of his 43 years in the cable industry, Bellamy (pictured) spent his first 20 years in the industry with MacLean Hunter Cable and held various technical management and senior management positions.
After leaving MacLean Hunter, he transitioned over to sales beginning with Lindsay Electronics in 1986. He also spent several years with General Instrument (now Motorola) and COM21, returning to Lindsay Broadband 4 1/2 years ago.
He intends to take a break…
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KAMLOOPS – Dave Sherwood has been promoted to general manager of Jim Pattison Broadcast’s CHAT TV, CHAT FM & CFMY FM in Medicine Hat/Redcliff, AB, effective September 17th.
Sherwood has over 25 years of experience in both television and radio and most recently was program director of CKPG TV in Prince George. He has also been creative director at CKPG TV, commercial production representative at CBC Edmonton, radio sales account executive/writer-producer CKPG Radio and TV, and was also a news reporter/announcer at CJCI Radio in Prince George.
“Dave’s integrity, business experience and vast knowledge of broadcasting made him an…
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TORONTO – Canadian drama leads the 2007 Gemini Award nominations with Slings & Arrows, season three receiving 14 nominations followed by ReGenesis with 12 nominations, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced today.
The 22nd annual Gemini Awards, which recognize the year’s best in Canadian English-language television, will be presented in Regina for the first time at the Conexus Arts Centre on October 28th, 2007. CBC Television joins the Academy as the broadcaster to celebrate this year’s outstanding achievements. Global will kick off the evening with its signature red carpet pre-show in a special broadcast of ET Canada…
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TORONTO – David Corey has been promoted to program director for 104.5 CHUM FM.
Effective immediately, he is responsible for the management of all aspects of the Toronto-based 104.5 CHUM FM brand, overseeing the programming, management and marketing of one of Canada’s top-rated FM radio stations.
He replaces Rob Farina, who had been PD and vice-president of program development for CHUM Radio. Farina will concentrate on his VP role.
Corey joined 104.5 CHUM FM eight months ago from Boston, Massachusetts where he was the assistant program director/music director at Boston’s WXKS FM (Kiss 108). In his 22 years…
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TORONTO – Maria Hale has joined Telus as vice-president, content, consumer group.
Most in the industry will remember her for her eight years at CHUM Ltd. in various broadcasting and new media roles. Her final job there was as vice-president, content business development.
She left that company just last month as the CTVglobemedia purchase of CHUM was finalized. At CHUM, she was the driving force behind the company’s brands’ push into integrated multiplatform content.
As vice-president, content, Hale will focus on acquiring and managing content featured across Telus TV, broadband and mobile service platforms,…
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TORONTO – CTAM Canada is looking for a few good board members.
Nominations for the 2008 board of directors are now open and the organization is asking its members to stand for election to the BOD.
In order to be considered as a nominee, candidates must meet the following criteria:
1. They must be members of CTAM
2. Be an established marketing professional serving the cable television industry in Canada.
3. Be able to commit to attending monthly board meetings (by phone, in person or by proxy).
4. Be willing to commit to leading or participating on one of…
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OAKVILLE – After steering Cogeco’s Ontario operations through a period of unprecedented growth over the past five years, Gaston Germain will move on to new challenges as president and COO at Pelmorex, beginning next month.
Staff at the parent company of The Weather Network and Météomédia were informed of the changes at the top last week which will also see company founder Pierre Morrissette retain his CEO title but begin to concentrate more on overall direction and strategy than the day-to-day running of the company.
Germain has a long history in the Canadian cable and television industry. Prior to…
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TORONTO – Bell Canada said today it will begin giving a dollar for every new Sympatico Total Internet customer signed during the back-to-school selling period to Cybertip.ca "as part of its commitment to online safety and security," said the company’s press release.
Cybertip.ca is Canada’s national tip line for reporting online sexual exploitation of children.
"Through our Cybertip.ca contribution program, Bell extends its commitment to online safety and security, educating consumers and protecting families online," said Kevin Crull, president, Bell residential services, in the release.
The new money coincides with the results of a recent nationwide survey that explored…
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TORONTO – Flanked by some secret-agent look-alikes who were actually a Hollywood stunt team (below), Bell ExpressVu launched a pre-Christmas season campaign to educate Canadians looking to go HD.
"Only half of Canadians with High-Definition (HD) televisions are getting the Full HD Experience and most don’t know what they’re missing," says the ExpressVu press release. That statement echoes some CTAM Canada research we reported on in late 2006.
So, the country’s leading DTH provider is taking the HD message to Canadians with the Full HD Tour. Bell ExpressVu is on a mission to show and tell Canadians the…
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