THE SESSION ON WHAT TV distributors think of content and its changing place in their business plans was a popular session at the Canadian Film and TV Producers Association annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa three weeks ago.
As we noted in part one last week, the great big elephant not in the room was a cable company. Moderated by Peter Lyman, senior partner, Nordicity Group, the panelists included Chris Frank, vice-president, programming and pay-per-view, Bell ExpressVu, Michael Hennessy, vice-president, broadband and video policy, Telus (and former head of the Canadian Cable Television Association); Tom Laird, general manager, digital…
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CALGARY – DTH provider Star Choice said today it is launching the World Fishing Network, GolTV, and five new high definition channels.
On March 15, 2007, WFN and Gol will take their places on the Star Choice lineup while on March 22 superstation WGN HD and 24/7 HD channel HDNet will be turned on.
In May, the Shaw Communications-owned satellite company also plans to launch three new French HD channels from Astral Media: Canal Vie HD, Series+ HD, and Z télé HD.
Pricing and packaging of the HD channels will be announced later.
www.starchoice.com www.wfn.tv www.goltvcanada.com…
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ENTITLED "BDU CONTENT Strategies: Can Cable and Phone Companies Do Their Own Thing?", the session on what TV distributors think of content and its changing place in their business plans was a popular session at the Canadian Film and TV Producers Association annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa two weeks ago.
The elephant not in the room, however? A cable company. But one former cable guy spoke for the industry anyway. Moderated by Peter Lyman, senior partner, Nordicity Group, the panelists included Chris Frank, vice-president, programming and pay-per-view, Bell ExpressVu, Michael Hennessy, vice-president, broadband and video policy, Telus; Tom…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications launched its voice over IP services, Shaw Digital Phone and Shaw Digital Phone Lite, in Vernon, B.C., this week.
The service includes local phone service, popular calling features, anytime calling at 4 cents per minute within Canada and the US and 50 other international countries for as low as $29.95 per month.
Shaw Digital Phone is a primary home phone service that uses Shaw’s secure managed broadband network, not the public Internet, which enables Shaw to offer a consistent level of quality and reliability to its phone customers.
www.shaw.ca
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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-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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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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