CNM Short Takes

Jump Copyright hearings a goNot surprisingly, the Copyright Board of Canada has flexed its regulatory muscles and asserted its intention to continue with JumpTV hearings. The process, set for this fall, will determine if JumpTV.com Canada Inc qualifies as a re-transmitter, and how much of a tariff it should pay if it does. A newly-announced hearing to examine the Copyright Act, by Industry Canada and Canadian Heritage, hasn’t dissuaded the Copyright Board from going ahead with its own process, despite a request to do so by the CFTPA and CAB (CNM, May 31/01). The board’s decision not to stay hearings was foreshadowed last December when it asserted in no uncertain terms that it would not send the matter to Federal Court. Board members used strong language in that decision to assert their jurisdiction in the matter (CNM, Jan.24/01). 120 seconds gets webby nodCBC site 120seconds.com has received a nomination for the prestigious Webby awards in the broadband category. The awards will be held in San Fran, July 18. Trailervision’s a riotParody site Trailervision.com has unveiled a mockumentary about the riots in Quebec City this spring during the Summit of the Americas. Trailervision is also trumpeting several successful commercial deals signed recently with broadcasters such as the Independent Film Channel both here and in the United States, as well as with Yahoo! Broadcast and for Dreamworks’ web site. Interactive atlas of Canada launched by NRCanNatural Resources Canada has unveiled a new interactive map that traces the evolving borders within Canada since Confederation. The map is accompanied by a teachers’ resources section with proposed study activities, and a selection of photographs, maps, and other research information. Imagic demonstrates broadcast TV over ATMNB-based iMagicTV and Atlanta-based Paceon Corp are demonstrating a broadband TV product at SuperComm2001. The product uses passive optical networking equipment and iMagic’s software to deliver broadcast television services for telephone companies and other interactive service providers. Next-generation Blue Zone product announcedBlue Zone Entertainment Inc, Vancouver, has released the latest version of MediaBZ, its software tool for content management. New features include a wireless-enabled management tool, automation of the content acquisition process, and support for a wider variety of video standards. Google opens Canadian search engineGoogle.com’s popular and powerful search engine now has a Canadian counterpart, Google.ca. Users will be able to restrict searches to Canadian sites, search in French and customize the interface.CRTC seeks DTV inputThe Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is asking for comments on its proposed policy to guide the transition to over-the-air digital television broadcasting. Comments are due September 7. CanWest to establish broadcast centre in WinnipegCanWest Global Communications Corp expects to open a new digital broadcast centre in Manitoba’s capital this fall. The 50-person centre will be home to CanWest’s digital speciality television channels. The company will also create new positions in sales, programming and marketing in Ontario. Callisto and Urbana ink strategic allianceHull QC-based Callisto Media Systems Inc and Cambridge ON-based Urbana.ca Inc have signed a deal to provide video streaming through Urbana’s set-top boxes. Both companies will market each other’s products and services on a non-exclusive basis. Airborne Entertainment launches new games suiteAirborne Entertainment, Montreal, has added a suite of nine new games, dubbed WeGot Games, for its network. The games were developed by England’s Hailstorm Entertainment Ltd. Airborne officials promise more SMS and WAP games in future. Trailervision, IFC, collaborate on filmmaker contestParody web site creators Trailervision.com and the Independent Film Channel, a newly-licenced Category 1 digital TV station, are running a contest for first-time feature filmmakers. The contest calls for applicants to submit feature-length scripts, from which Trailervision will produce trailers, and have them shown on the station this fall, as well as on the Internet. Cold North Wind wins major digitization contractThe U.S.-based National Newspaper Association has handed Ottawa’s Cold North Wind Inc a massive contract to digitize its members’ newspaper content. The initial contract calls for 16 million pages to be put online, but the association expects to eventually digitize 500 million pages. Blast Radius, Forzani group build new Sportchek.ca siteForzani Group Ltd property Sportchek has launched a new sporting goods site built by Blast Radius. The site was built using the Art Technology Group Inc’s Dynamo e-Business Platform, a flexible, Java-based application. Britney, Justin take break, go shopping for clothes in NYCOttawa’s YOUtopia.com has kindly brought Yahoo users previously unseen footage of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake shopping in New York and London. The highbrow fare allows viewers to watch a video screen while also shopping for related merchandise. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was accompanied by a charity auction on Yahoo which gave fans the chance to bid on items used by Spears during her most recent tour. "Celebrity fashion and style is a huge driver of consumer purchasing decisions, and now for the first time, people can conveniently see what their favorite stars like, and then buy those products at the same time," said Michael Landau, general merchandise manager for Yahoo Shopping. Jive extends reach to Odigo instant messaging usersJive Media Technologies Inc, a Toronto-based company which made headlines with its new portable media file format (CNM, May 3/01), has signed a strategic alliance with Odigo Inc, NYC. Odigo claims five million instant messaging users, and Jive will provide those users with Jive Player video files from the music, film and television industry. SaskTel to expand video streaming activitiesPrairie telco SaskTel has taken part ownership of TappedInto.com, a streaming services provider. SaskTel is buying 49% of the company for $5.25 million. TappedInto meanwhile will open a branch office in Saskatchewan, in addition to its Nashville TN headquarters, and create about 25 new jobs in the province. The money spent was part of an aggressive investment program at the telco. New Producer’s Guide availableNew Media, New Business: The Producer’s Guide, edited by Andra Sheffer of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, is now available (CNM, April 19/01). The book is touted as a complete "how-to" guide for producers of new media content. Copies can be bought for 10% off the $19.95 list price through the Liberty Village New Media Centre. American player eyes acquisition targets in CanadaAn American online/offline entertainment media company, PayForView Media Group Holdings Corp, is looking to Canada to expand its holdings. The company cites a low dollar and strong economic growth in this country as reasons for its choice. It is looking for existing businesses in the $3 million to $5 million annual revenue range, and experienced management teams willing to stay with the operation. It has specifically targeted companies in interactive media, web design, and broadcasting, media distribution and content management. Canadore College adopts Bell eCatalogue serviceCanadore College, North Bay ON, has ordered Bell Canada’s eCatalogue product. The package allows students, faculty and alumni to tour the campus, pay tuition, order books, and view course descriptions online. Campus officials say the package will help its nearly 40% of students who don’t come from North Bay. Canada Council posts web strategy site for artistsThe Canada Council, Canada’s main public funding body for the arts, has posted a new forum site for the discussion of web strategies for media artists and media arts organizations. The site, www.netcontent.ca, is intended to provide opportunities to develop an informed approach to web dissemination, and display works for feedback from other artists and the public. Destiny improves streaming techDestiny Media Technologies, Vancouver, has released a new Beta version of its Java-based video streaming technology, dubbed VideoClipStream. Multimedia International Market 2001 show announcedOne of Canada’s largest information and communications technology shows, the Multimedia International Market (MIM) has announced its program. This year, it is touting an even greater foreign component, with a series of international workshops and an American pavillion set up with the U.S. Department of Commerce. This year’s show will be held in Montreal, October 3-5.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | June 14, 2001

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