OTTAWA – With two major crises reaching public climaxes just before Canadian film, TV and new media producers gathered here for their annual Prime Time conference last week, the event could easily have become two long days’ journey into denouement.
Instead, although frequent quips proved tensions still simmer following the ACTRA strike and the uncertain future for the Canadian Television Fund, PT’s agenda (which included a speech from new CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein) focused on improving industry performance amid some encouraging 2005-’06 news.
Volume up The Canadian Film and Television Production Association’s annual Profile report says…
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TORONTO – At least one prominent financial analyst has serious doubts about the proposed purchase of Standard Radio by Astral Media.
In a research note published Monday, BMO Capital Markets Tim Casey said that because Standard is already known as a leader on margins and on cost containment, adding Standard to Astral is not such a good idea.
"We estimate the transaction will be earnings neutral in 2008 and modestly accretive to free cash flow," writes Casey. "We do not believe is enhances the long-term growth of the company." BMO Capital Markets downgraded Astral to "market perform."
"Based…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications said today it has begun offering Shaw Digital Phone and Shaw Digital Phone Lite to residents in Penticton, British Columbia.
"Shaw Digital Phone is currently available in several key markets throughout the interior of British Columbia, and we are pleased to grow our footprint in this region to enable more residents to experience our popular and customizable home phone services," said Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Communications.
Shaw Digital Phone offers unlimited local popular calling features, enhanced 911 access, operator assistance and 411 service in North America. Customers now have a choice between Shaw’s two…
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TORONTO – After over a month of uncertainty and facing a serious funding shortfall, the Canadian Television Fund said today it welcomes the CRTC Task Force on TV production funding.
“The CTF is a dynamic organization,” said Douglas Barrett, CTF chair, in a press release. “We continually evolve to ensure our policies, programs and operations meet the needs of all our clients and stakeholders. The CTF welcomes the opportunity to work with (vice-chair broadcasting Michel) Arpin and the CRTC Task Force to examine the issues and improve the stability and strength of the Canadian television industry.”
The CTF is…
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OTTAWA – Saying he is "sufficiently assured" that change is in the works with the Canadian Television Fund, Jim Shaw told the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage this morning "we will restore our payments," to the CTF.
As reported by Cartt.ca, Shaw began withholding its $5 million a month in monthly payments to the $250 million annual fund, saying the fund is not accountable, pays for too few shows that are success stories and that too much money goes towards programs that appear on the CBC.
Shaw’s regulatory head Ken Stein said that the CTF funding, when established over…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Well, this will douse some of the fire that was sure to burn at this week’s Canadian Film and Television Producers Association Prime Time conference in Ottawa beginning Wednesday evening.
With Heritage Minister Bev Oda and new CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein as scheduled speakers at the conference this week, one can bet that producers were prepared to pepper them with repeated questions on the Canadian Television Fund and TV production funding in Canada in general.
However, with Shaw’s announcement today that it will turn its cash spigot to the CTF back on plus this Commission…
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CALGARY – True to its word, Shaw Communications will not be resuming monthly payments to the Canadian Television Fund.
On Friday, Minister of Canadian Heritage Bev Oda was informed of the decision by the company which owns Star Choice and Shaw Cable – and is the largest CTF contributor.
"I am disappointed to learn that Shaw is not going to resume their payments to the Canadian Television Fund," she said. "Clearly Shaw does not recognize the importance of abiding by regulations in a regulated world.
"All cable and direct-to-home satellite companies are regulated by the CRTC," continued Oda’s statement….
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Media has decided to pull in its horns over the funding of Canadian television productions and will resume monthly payments to the CTF, at least for now.
Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau said late Tuesday he was encouraged by the commitment made earlier in the day by the new CRTC Chair, Konrad Von Finckenstein, to become involved in finding solutions to the issues raised by Quebecor and Shaw Communications.
Von Finckenstein said the two companies had highlighted “serious issues that need to be resolved”, and that Quebecor, with its funding proposal outlined Monday, had…
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GATINEAU – In his first public statement since becoming chairman of the CRTC, Konrad von Finckenstein today told Shaw Communications and Videotron that they should resume their required monthly payments to the Canadian Television Fund.
However, he also told the leaders of the CTF to start addressing the concerns raised by both companies, which have been reported on repeatedly by Cartt.ca over the past month.
The Commission statement reads:
"The CRTC recognizes the important role that the funds administered by the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) play in supporting the production of Canadian programs. This programming in turn assists Canadian…
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MONTREAL – Quebec’s film and television producers’ association today lambasted Quebecor’s proposal to re-direct its television program development money from the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) to its own self-directed Fonds Quebecor.
Claire Samson, president of the APFTQ, told a news conference Tuesday that the plan, outlined Monday by Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau, is unacceptable in every regard and should be firmly rejected.
“Quebecor has clearly shown its intentions to reserve its new fund exclusively for its own broadcast properties,” she said, which goes against the whole idea behind the CTF’s creation.
Péladeau’s plan, she said, is…
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