CCR Short Takes

How does Canadian drama compare?Canadian drama is improving in quality compared to American programs, according to a new report released by the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. Hour-long Canadian dramas rating in the top 20 TV shows in terms of quality, include CBC’s DaVinci’s Inquest, CBC’s Wind At My Back, CTV’s Cold Squad, CBC’s Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy, and Global’s Traders. "It’s quite an achievement for a Canadian show with a budget of a million Canadian dollars an episode to stack up there with ER," says Friends spokesperson Ian Morrison, adding, "The system is working rather well, so we should be careful not to throw it out or mess around with it too much." Competition Bureau tells CanWest to sell stake in ROBTvThe federal competition watchdog has asked CanWest Global Communications Corp to sell its stake in Report on Business TV as part of its deal to buy the assets of Hollinger International Inc. In July, CanWest agreed to pay $3.5 billion to acquire 11 dailies, half of the National Post, more than 100 community newspapers and Internet assets, such as Canada.com. In a review of the proposed transaction, the Competition Bureau found "no evidence at this time that newspapers, Internet and television are competing directly for retail advertising normally found in newspapers." The bureau announced Nov. 3 that it would not challenge the acquisition, but it did express concern that the deal would link the Post with its main rival The Globe and Mail through ROBTv. The Globe and CanWest are original stakeholders in ROBTv. CanWest’s interest in ROBTv will be held in trust until it dissolves its partnership in the venture. The Hollinger transaction is scheduled to close Nov. 15. Cable modem subscribers to increase worldwideSubscribers to data over cable services will increase 61% from 3.3 million subscribers worldwide in 1999 to 58.6 million subscribers in 2005, according to Joshua Wise, an analyst with New York-based technology think tank Allied Business Intelligence Inc. Cable’s continued growth will stay primarily within the residential arena, according to Allied’s report, Cable Modems Worldwide: High-Speed Internet Access Over Cable Networks. DAG sets up in CalgaryDigital Artisans Guild Inc (DAG), a company producing content specifically for interactive television, was to open a 6,800-square-foot office and studio complex in Calgary today. "A revolution is taking place in the entertainment and information industries that is changing the face of communications," said Milton Kiehlbauch, DAG president and CEO. "The human visual experience is going to be transformed and revolutionized with new tools in the convergence of television and interactivity." DAG specializes in advanced content for the film and TV market. Its goal is to become a global supplier of HDTV content, webcasting and interactive programming. Look reports increase in subscribers, revenues Look Communications Inc’s new marketing campaigns appear to be paying off. Third quarter financials released last week show revenues at the wireless cableco reached $19.6 million, up 19% from the previous quarter and up 610% for the same period last year. Look’s Internet access and web-related services contributed $10.6 million, while its digital TV distribution accounted for $9 million in revenues. Its subscription base also rose by 80,000 from Dec. 31, 1999 to 250,000 at the end of the quarter. Overall, Look reported negative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $12.6 million in the third quarter as a result of costs associated with the marketing of new channels and the expansion of customer service centers. Rogers adds digital channelsRogers Cable Inc has added the 24-hour Arabic network ART America, BBC World, Court TV, Game Show Network, three additional regional channels of CTV Sportsnet and WNEQ, Buffalo to its digital channel offerings in parts of Ontario, including in Kitchener, Oshawa, London, Ottawa and Toronto. Canadian Cable Systems Alliance deals with A&EThe Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc has signed a five-year deal that gives its 96 member companies, reaching 1.3 million Canadian customers, the right to distribute U.S. arts and entertainment specialty channel A&E. Financial terms of the deal were not released. CRTC renews Quatre Saisons licence for seven yearsReferring to TQS as the black sheep of television, René Guimond, president and CEO of Quatre Saisons Television Network, says the CRTC renewal of its television licence for seven years is a mark of the regulator’s confidence in the network. The commission renewed the licences of Quatre Saison as well as its CFJP-TV Montreal, its transmitter CJPC-TV Rimouski and CFAP-TV Quebec from Sept. 1, 2001 to Aug. 31, 2008. The commission noted that the company had developed a strategy to make itself profitable, including a re-launch that focused on being "bold, urban, aggressive and profitable." CRTC approves cable swap between Rogers and ShawThe CRTC has approved a swap that will see Rogers Communications Inc picking up Shaw Communications Inc’s cable holdings in New Brunswick, Southern Ontario and Quebec, and Shaw getting Rogers’ systems in BC. The commission noted that the exchange will "result in greater efficiencies, cost savings and service improvements." Shaw increases stake in Moffat CommunicationsShaw Communications Inc increased its stake in Moffat Communications Ltd to about 14.8% after buying an additional 1.258 million shares in the company. Shaw said in a statement that the shares were acquired for investment purposes. "It is not the current intention of Shaw to acquire control over Moffat," Shaw stated. Regional Cablesystems still expandingRegional Cablesystems Inc has agreed to purchase Cottager’s Cable Ltd and Village Cablesystems Ltd in Ontario for about $2.461 million, adding 1,150 customers around Peterborough, and about 930 customers in Cardiff and Tweed. As well, Regional announced that its high-speed Internet and digital cable roll out "are proceeding well ahead of expectations." In Sudbury, Regional said Internet subscribers increased by over 100% in September and October as a result of new wholesale and marketing packaging unveiled in Ontario, and that digital cable penetration in the market has increased to over 10% since the service was introduced in March. CBC chair talks managementIn a speech last month before L’Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec Symposium, CBC chair Guylaine Saucier said managers at the broadcaster must "begin by becoming strategic thinkers" and that the CBC’s future "also rests in the hands of innovators.... In addition, the CBC must be able to count on problem solvers…" She said there are no shortages of challenges at the broadcaster, but "…(the CBC’s) unique role in nation building remains un-challenged. With our news and information, culture, variety and sports products, we are the country’s collective memory, and its main witness. This is a heritage our managers and leaders must safeguard at any price."

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | November 9, 2000

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