Michael McCabe, outgoing president/CEO of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, kicked off Canadian Music Week earlier this spring with a call for greater collaboration between the music industry and the radio industry. For homegrown talent to succeed in the world stage, he said the two industries must resolve their differences in areas like copyright and focus instead on building a strong homegrown music industry that succeeds here and abroad, and on multiple distribution platforms.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Paul Robertson, president of television at Corus Entertainment Inc, has been named chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. He replaces Daniel Lamarre, who quit the position when he left TVA Group to join the Cirque du Soleil. A number of other new appointments has been made at the broadcast lobby group as a result of vacancies arising since the CAB’s annual meeting in Calgary last November, including CTV Inc president and COO Trina McQueen becoming chair of the CAB’s television board. She replaces Kevin Shea, who resigned as president of Global Television Network (CCR, March 14/01). Lisa de Wilde, president and CEO of Astral Television Networks Inc, becomes chair of the specialty and pay board — the position formerly held by Robertson. Glenn O’Farrell, senior VP of specialty services at Global Television Network, has been named vice chair of the television board, replacing Robin Fillingham. Serge Bellerose, director general of Le Canal Nouvelles, remains vice chair of the specialty and pay board. Doug Rutherford, VP of radio for Western Canada at Corus Entertainment Inc moves up to chair of the radio board from vice chair, replacing Jim MacLeod. The new radio vice chair is Rob Braide, VP and general manager at CJAD/CJFM-FM, who was already on the radio board.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

CRTC renews Télé-Québec network licence until 2007
The CRTC has renewed the broadcasting licence of the French-language television network la Société de télédiffusion du Québec (Télé-Québec; the Société) from June 1, 2001 to Aug. 31, 2007 (2001-256). The television network, which focuses on cultural and educational programming, told the commission it intended "to enhance the diversity of its programming and to meet the needs and specific interests of the Quebec audience." Télé-Québec noted in its application that it would give prominence to several types of priority programming, particularly arts shows and Canadian long-form documentaries. It committed to broadcasting an average of nine hours per week of priority Canadian programming between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and an average of 21 hours per week of Canadian programming targeted at children aged two to 11. The CRTC approved amendments to the licence allowing Télé-Québec to increase advertising time from six to eight minutes per hour to a maximum of 800 minutes per week, and to include alcoholic drinks to the list of products eligible for on-air advertising. The network pledged that advertisements for alcohol would not air during children’s or youth programming.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Alliance Atlantis Communications got its hands on part of another Category 1 digital service with a deal that will see it acquire 29.9 per cent of Vision TV’s Wisdom: The Body, Mind & Spirit Channel for an undisclosed cash amount. Alliance Atlantis also has an option to purchase an additional 3. 4 per cent stake in Wisdom, which is set to launch Sept. 7.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

An application by Rogers Cable Inc to deregulate two small cable systems in southern Ontario is as much a test case for the cable industry as it is for the CRTC’s broadcast distribution rules – PN 2001-53. In a move that had been expected by the commission long before now, Rogers became the first company in Canada to apply under a 1998 regulation that allows a cable system to apply for basic rate deregulation if it can prove a 5 per cent drop in its subscriber base.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Two recent government rulings, combined with industry consolidation and advances in technology, will put satellite TV companies on a more equal footing with cable operators in urban markets, according to a report released this month. The cable industry could lose even more ground come 2004, when Star Choice Communications Inc and Bell ExpressVu launch new two-way Internet services, comparable in speed and price to cable modems, The Yankee Group of Canada concludes.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

One of Canada’s largest media companies is now Quebec’s largest cable operator, following a CRTC decision this week to approve Quebecor Media Inc’s purchase of the cable assets of Vidéotron Ltée – Decision 2001-282. The decision wasn’t unexpected, although a 45 per cent ownership by the province’s pension fund in the venture did raise concerns during the proceeding that the Quebec government may have some control over Vidéotron (CCR, March 29/00). Federal law prohibits government agencies or Crown corporations from owning broadcast licensces.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.