BPF reviewing whether it will continue awarding funding to CMAC moving forward
OTTAWA – A month and a half after the federal government announced it was cutting funding it awarded to the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC), the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is trying to figure out why the organization received the funding – to develop an anti-racism strategy – in the first place.
Funding was cut to CMAC’s project after numerous concerns were expressed about antisemitic and other racist tweets posted by Laith Marouf, a senior consultant with the organization.
At a meeting last Friday, committee members, who argued CMAC…
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TORONTO and LONDON, U.K. — Blue Ant Studios and Catalyst, a Toronto-based development and funding company focusing on content created by women, announced today production has started on a new female-lead unscripted comedy series created by and starring Carolyn Taylor (above).
The six-episode, half-hour comedy, which is still untitled, was commissioned by Bell Media’s Crave and is slated to premiere on the streaming service in 2023. Blue Ant International is overseeing worldwide distribution.
The series is produced by Catalyst and Blue Ant Studios “as part of their strategic partnership to develop female-generated programming for the global marketplace,” a press release says.
Canadian…
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SEVERAL CANADIAN TELECOMS are currently waiving fees to help their customers stay connected to their loved ones in Iran.
Xplore posted on Twitter today to say it is waiving all home phone long-distance calls to Iran from now until the end of the month.
Telus announced on Sept. 27 it (and Koodo) would be waiving all long-distance calling and text messaging to Iran until Oct. 14.
On Sept. 28, several more companies including Rogers (and Fido and Chatr), Bell (and Virgin Plus) and Shaw (and Freedom Mobile) announced they would be waiving long-distance fees for calls and texts…
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OTTAWA – While telecommunications service providers continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the CRTC is seeking more information on how they prepared for and responded to the storm.
The Commission sent a request for information last week to Bell, Eastlink, Rogers and Telus. By Oct. 7, the companies are expected to submit information including “a high-level estimate of the number of customers affected by service outages of 24 hours or more caused by the hurricane, for each of the phone, mobile wireless, and Internet access services,” as well as “The status to date of any…
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IT HAS BEEN nearly two weeks since Hurricane Fiona devastated Canada’s east coast, despite which some Canadians continue to be without telecommunications services.
This is not because service providers failed to plan ahead or because restoring service was not prioritized. Rather, it goes to show just how bad the storm was when it hit.
“Hurricane Fiona was the biggest storm ever to hit anywhere in Canada,” a Bell spokesperson told Cartt.ca via email. “Our preparations ensured our core networks remained largely operational throughout, but the damage to our infrastructure in the field is the worst we have ever seen in this…
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By Connie Thiessen
TORONTO – Terrie Tweddle (above) has returned to Rogers Communications as SVP communications and sustainability, the role she previously held before joining the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan as global head of marketing and communications in late 2020.
Rogers has confirmed her appointment was effective Sept. 26.
The move follows some internal year-end restructuring at Rogers that marked the high-profile departure of Julie Adam, head of news and entertainment, among other changes.
Tweddle was previously with Rogers for 12 years, the first eight as vice-president, communications and social media before being promoted to the SVP role in 2016.
Prior to that, she held senior roles at Sunlife and Visa Canada.
This…
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MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) today announced details of two sessions taking place during its Connection 2022 conference, being held Oct. 18-19 at the Hyatt Luxe Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
“Creating Winning Radio Culture” will be moderated by Amanda Cupido, director of talk and talent at Corus Entertainment’s 640 Toronto. Joining her for the panel discussion will be the morning show teams from Corus’ FM96 London and Rogers Sports and Media’s 98.1 CHFI Toronto. (Please see the panelists’ photos and titles above.)
“Attracting and retaining top talent has never been harder in today’s competitive landscape. Creating…
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TORONTO — Rogers Bank, a subsidiary of Rogers Communications, announced today the launch of the new Rogers Connections Mastercard (above).
The latest in Rogers’ suite of credit card options for Canadians, the new card “delivers cash back rewards and tangible Rogers benefits”, reaffirming the company’s “commitment to providing innovative products and value to Rogers customers,” according to a press release.
“With the Rogers Connections Mastercard, Rogers Wireless customers can stay connected while travelling with five Roam Like Home days at no cost every year, just in time to help cardholders get more out of the winter travel season. This first-of-its-kind card…
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TORONTO — Toronto-based live television app toober, announced today it launched 12 more channels in September, expanding its arts, travel, esports, sports, music and entertainment content.
toober “aims to fill a gap in the live streaming market by providing subscribers access to all of their favourite channels from around the world at one low price,” a press release says.
The new channels include:
Scream Flix — an English-language channel from Jungo featuring Asian, European and Hollywood horror films.
Front Row — an English-language music channel from Jungo featuring “the biggest acts performing in the biggest gigs from around the globe”,…
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OTTAWA – The Royal Canadian Geographical Society announced today Returning Home, Canadian Geographic’s first feature-length documentary, is now available through Crave and other Bell Media properties.
“Returning Home follows Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Jack Webstad on a cathartic, nationwide educational tour while, back home in Secwepemc territory, her family struggles to deal with the multigenerational trauma of Canada’s residential school system,” a press release says.
“The documentary, shot during the pandemic amid one of the lowest salmon runs in recorded history, masterfully connects Canada’s colonial history with the plight of Pacific wild salmon in B.C.’s Fraser River.”
Returning Home can be…
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