CCR Short Takes

Bell ExpressVu subscribers get Leafs exhibition games freeTo promote the digital channel LeafsTV, Bell ExpressVu LP subscribers can watch the Toronto Maple Leafs’ nine pre-season games this year for free. The free games are being offered through Bell ExpressVu’s pay-per-view service on a complimentary basis to subscribers in the Leafs TV broadcast area, and as part of the NHL Centre Ice package to viewers outside Ontario. The direct-to-home satellite television distributor will offer the digital channel LeafsTV as part of its regular programming in 2003 on a subscription basis. This year’s exhibition games are the first live Leafs games that have been broadcast on the regional diginet. The rights to the Leafs’ regular season games this year have already been sold to other networks. "We hope that by offering these pre-season games that Bell ExpressVu subscribers will be enticed to sign up for LeafsTV with us next year," says Chris Frank, ExpressVu’s VP of programming and government affairs. The Leafs play their last exhibition game October 5 against Tampa Bay. The Sopranos rates big for The Movie NetworkThe fourth season of The Sopranos rated the highest in audience viewership in The Movie Network’s 19-year-history, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research figures. About 20 per cent of The Movie Network’s subscriber base tuned in to the season premiere of season four on September 17 at 9 p.m. The Movie Network, owned by Astral Television Networks, consists of five 24-hour pay-television multiplex channels to viewers in eastern Canada. 390 entries received for CAB’s Gold Ribbon AwardsA total of 390 entries were received for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Gold Ribbon Awards in 2002, up from 342 last year. Judges have narrowed the entries down to 111 nominations in 32 award categories. Some broadcasters are multiple nominees, including CKZZ-FM Richmond, CISS-FM Toronto and CHUM-FM Toronto in the radio categories; and CFTM-TV Montreal and CHBC-TV Kelowna in television; and the Discovery Channel and Canal Vie in the specialty and pay services category. The awards will be presented at Broadcasting 2002, the CAB’s 76th annual convention in Vancouver from October 20-22. CTV wants intra-corporate reorganization of TSN, RDSBell Globemedia Inc. is asking the CRTC to approve transfer of control of its English-language sports network TSN Inc. from CTV Specialty Television Inc. to the New RDS (Le Réseau des sports). The New RDS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the current licensee RDS inc., will take control of the current French-language sports channel RDS. As part of the reorganization, RDS will also change to a yet-to-be-determined new name. The proposed intra-corporate reorganization would also see the New RDS gain control of the yet-to-be-launched French-language diginets Info-Sports and Le Réseau grand air, as well as any unlaunched Category 2 specialty television service in which TSN Inc. is authorized to hold interests. Interested parties have until October 11 to submit written comments on the proposal – Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2002-9-1. BBM Canada to deploy Arbitron Portable People Meters BBM Canada will deploy Arbitron Inc. Portable People Meters (PPM) to measure television audiences in Quebec next year. The PPMs will be deployed to about 875 people in Montreal and about 450 people in Quebec City in early 2003. These people are to begin reporting television ratings in the fourth quarter of 2003. Pierre Bouvard, president of international and new ventures at Arbitron, says that one decade after BBM Canada acquired the exclusive rights to its PPM, the technology is ready to be used commercially. The PPM, which is the size of a pager, automatically detects inaudible codes that have been embedded in the audio portion of programming using encoders. Arbitron says the PPM can simultaneously measure audience exposure to any electronic media – television, cable and radio – that can be encoded. Shaw rolls out VOD serviceShaw Cablesystems commercially deployed its video-on-demand (VOD) service this month, using Liberate Technologies’ Liberate TV Platform software. The service will initially be available in Calgary. Shaw’s Internet customers with digital set-top boxes make their VOD selections from an online menu, then watch their chosen programming on television. Shaw unveiled its VOD plans this summer (CCR, July 4/02). PrideVision cuts programs, staff but is still looking to U.S. marketPrideVision TV has cut at least six positions and four homegrown shows, but is still looking to expand into the United States. "We are actively seeking carriage in the United States on DTH and MSO," Anna McCusker, PrideVision TV’s VP of marketing, tells Canadian Communications Reports. She said the intention would be to launch the channel south of the border under the PrideVision name, but with a modified slate of programming. "We had restructuring, and some positions no longer exist. I know that six people were no longer with us as of the end of August," she says. She adds PrideVision is still well staffed, with 40 employees, five executives that share their time between the diginet and The Score, also owned by Headline Media, and six GayJays. But four shows were cancelled: Shout, Under Covers, Bump, and Derek Noble’s Urban Fitness. Locker Room survived, and a new program Jawbreaker makes it onto the schedule. "We were very ambitious in our first year in producing five new original programs, and in our second year, we realized it was best perhaps to concentrate on two shows to (provide) a much more focused opportunity and develop those to their fullest potential," McCusker adds.

CCR Short Takes

News | 09/26/2002 4:00 am EDT

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