CNM Update

Industry Canada rep named to U.N. ICT task forceIndustry Canada deputy minister Peter Harder has been appointed to a newly formed United Nations task force on information and communications technologies. The body will search out ways to help build universal interconnectivity to help bridge the global digital divide. The task force will work with partners such as regional development banks, international donors, and non-profit groups. The group will be expected to contribute to two upcoming U.N. summits on the information society to be held in 2003 and 2005. Harder was unavailable to comment on his role in the 43-member group, which includes the heads of some of the world’s largest ICT corporations, as well as various government representatives from nations both large and small. More details. Internet radio powerhouse formed as Bonzaroo, Iceberg mergeIceberg Media Inc., Toronto, has scored a major coup by winning the assets of CHUM Ltd.’s Bonzaroo.com. If the industry weren’t so nascent, some say, the deal might raise competition concerns as two of the biggest Canadian names in radio, along with Standard Radio as a partner, create an online juggernaut. There’s no guarantee of success, of course, but the initiative seems poised to capture a significant number of eardrums through cross-promotion on-air and online. Iceberg president Ted Boyd spoke with Canadian NEW MEDIA about the deal, and a story in the next issue of CNM will explore the news. While it appears Iceberg got the sweetest part of the deal – securing $1.5 million in ad inventory for half-price and all-stock, with the assets of Bonzaroo thrown in for free – Boyd says he doesn’t look at the deal that way. More details: Iceberg Media purchases 300 internet radio channels and $1.5 million in radio advertising from CHUM Limited CHUM officials mum on role for 500-channel-plus music streaming site Alias/Wavefront previews new direction for softwareAlias/Wavefront is previewing a new take on its well-regarded Maya graphics software intended for the visual-simulation market. While the software is best known as a component of building realtime 3D graphics for the entertainment market, Alias/Wavefront is demonstrating a plug-in translator that allows the import and export of OpenFlight flight simulator data. The software is being demonstrated at Toronto’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education conference November 26-29. More details. Quebec writers drop Le Devoir from suitFreelance journalists in Quebec have won a deal with Montreal’s Le Devoir that will see them paid for any use of their work outside of print versions of the newspaper, CBC Radio reports. The journalists will drop the paper from a $30-million class action lawsuit which still involves La Presse, Le Soleil, and l’Acualité. More details: Publisher and union clash over e-rights Jan. 24, 2001 short takes At least some dot com visitors willing to payA recently released American survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project indicates that a small number of web surfers have paid for content when provided the opportunity. The survey, which was conducted between August 13 and September 10, found 17% of Internet users have been asked to pay for access to a web site that used to be free. Of those, half found a free alternative, 36% completely stopped getting that information or service online, and 12% paid to get the information. The survey also found that 12% of Internet users have had a favourite web site ploughed under. Of those, 62% found an alternative that did the same thing, 31% stopped doing that activity online, and 5% say they haven’t found any web sites to replace the old one. The survey also looked at the growth of the Internet, and the effects of the dot com meltdown. More details. CBC calls for entries in new late-night convergence programmingCanadian NEW MEDIA will feature an interview in its next issue with the producers of a new CBC initiative to run a late-night "Web/TV programming strand". The Crown corporation has called for entries from aspiring convergence product creators covering a range of programming genres for the as-yet unnamed show. More details.

CNM Update

Broadcast | November 21, 2001

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