HOURS BEFORE THE CMPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa convention assembled Canada's English and French producers, broadcasters, funders, regulators and digital platform experts, Bell Media made public its second application to the CRTC buy Astral Media, considered the last “independent” big Canadian broadcaster – and one with a long history of supporting Canadian film.
As it did when it reviewed and rejected Bell Media's first bid to purchase the Montreal-based TV, radio and outdoor ad company in 2012, the regulator will once again assess “the concentration of ownership and potential market dominance” that the larger company would…
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DENVER, CO – Canadian anglers who are customers of Bell, Eastlink, Rogers, Shaw and Shaw Direct can access a free preview of the World Fishing Network this month.
The cable companies are providing subscribers free access to the fishing and outdoor lifestyle programming channel throughout March. Insight Sports-controlled Canadian cat 2 channel WFN has a programming lineup that includes travel, lifestyle, sportfishing, tournament coverage and more. “We're excited to present this free preview offering with our distribution partners. This is a perfect opportunity for Canadian viewers to see the exclusive fishing and outdoor lifestyle…
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TORONTO – BMO Bank of Montreal announced today that it will continue its sponsorship of Shaw Media’s specialty channel HGTV Canada, providing the bank a strong presence in Monday night’s primetime programming block called “Make It Happen Mondays”. The popular line-up airs Mondays at 8pm ET/5pm PT beginning March 11 on HGTV Canada, featuring all-new series and seasons from House Hunters International, House Hunters, Bryk House and Home Strange Home.
The sponsorship package includes 30-second TV spots appearing across Shaw Media's channels, backed by digital support. The extensive sponsorship tie-in will provide viewers access to a…
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OTTAWA – Jean-Pierre Blais, chair of the CRTC, challenged Canada’s independent producers to think unconventionally when it comes to promoting their creations, reaching audiences and attracting new advertising revenue.
In a keynote to the Canadian Media Production Association’s annual Prime Time event in Ottawa on Friday, Blais highlighted a quote from the late Thomas Bata, the former head of the Bata shoe empire, to indicate how Canadian content creators should be viewing the world in which their businesses operate. “Executives should be people with a sense of urgency, a demand for excellence and a healthy discontent with the way things…
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OTTAWA ? Every content producer can follow unique logic in deciding whether to extend a content brand beyond its original media platform in today?s transmedia landscape ? and if the producer does extend the brand, that move leads to another decision: Which additional digital media should be used and how?
These questions were at the heart of a CMPA Prime Time panel, ?Digital Content ? When is Brand Extension Appropriate?? on Thursday.
Or, as panellist Caitlin O’Donovan noted, ?It’s a question of where does the brand live? Does it start as a toy, a TV show (or something else)? Most (children’s)…
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TORONTO – The comedy specialty channel Bite TV has rebranded with a new look to reposition the channel to a core demo of 18-49 year old males.
The new look, which is being rolled out on-air, online and in campaign elements, introduces a redesigned logo and two new core colours: a golden yellow and eggplant purple. The new logo design emulates a typewriter feel that was meant to speak to the creative process of comedy and comedy writing. As well, key imagery from Bite’s programming is presented in black and white with key elements…
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OTTAWA – Despite the promise of cheaper and more widespread 4G services, Canadian cellphone customers are unlikely to see any real benefit from the 700 MHz auction to be held later this year says consumer rights group the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). Industry Minister Christian Paradis officially outlined on Thursday the final regulations for the eagerly awaited spectrum auction.
While Paradis ensured “at least four providers in every region can acquire spectrum in the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction,” PIAC claims there have been no substantive changes to the upcoming auction rules to…
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GATINEAU – With today’s public release of BCE’s new application to acquire Astral Media, the CRTC has set the new hearing date for May 6.
In its second attempt to win CRTC approval, Bell and Astral Media’s renewed proposal includes a $174.64-million tangible benefits package that includes the development and promotion of new Canadian TV and film content in French and English and over $50 million in radio benefits. “This new application to the CRTC clearly demonstrates the tremendous value the combination of these two all-Canadian media brands will mean for the Canadian public and their broadcasting industry” said Bell…
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TORONTO – ZEE Americas, in partnership with Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECG), has announced the launch of Zee TV Canada on Shaw Cable.
ECG, a Canadian TV broadcasting, distribution and communications company specializing in multicultural television channels for the North American market, said the move to Shaw Cable will enable more than 94% of the South Asian households in Canada to access ZEE TV, a south Asian TV network. “Shaw Cable customers will be delighted with the plethora of content that Zee TV Canada has to offer," said Hari Srinivas, president…
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. and CALGARY, ALTA – Shaw Communications has been named the title sponsor of the Champions Tour tournament to be played at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alta. The tournament, to be known as the Shaw Charity Classic, will be held the week of August 26-Sept. 1, 2013.
“We are excited to be part of this international event in our hometown and help create a platform that celebrates our community and makes our charities even better,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “We have grown from our roots as…
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