CNM Short Takes

Video game channel registers trademark in CanadaG4 Media LLC, a Los Angeles-based cable channel devoted 100% to programming about video games, filed a Canadian trademark application for its name last month. The channel, owned by Comcast Corp., does not have any plans to move into the Canadian market, a spokesperson says. The trademark application is a routine filing given even a slim chance that the channel might have a footprint in Canada. The company has no plans either to seek status as a foreign exempt satellite service or a Category 2 digital specialty licence. In 2000, the CRTC granted a Category 2 licence to TVA Inc. for a proposed Game One channel, which has yet to launch, devoted also to video game-related programming. ACTRA dues hike approvedIncreases in dues and performers rights society fees sought by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) were approved by referendum (CNM, Dec. 20/02). The hikes were given the go-ahead by margins of 69.34% and 57.17%, respectively. New rates for dues and the PRS service charge take effect March 1. CHUM wins over-the-air DTV licence from commissionCHUM Television has received approval to operate a digital over-the-air signal for its Toronto station Citytv. Viewers in Hogtown will have free access to digital sound and a widescreen picture from the signal, which will operate from the CN Tower on channel 53. CHUM says it expects to launch the signal by mid-February. The station is also now available to Rogers high-definition subscribers on channel 286. The company is also negotiating carriage with other cablecos and direct-to-home satellite TV carriers. NewMIC joins with TRLabsThe New Media Innovation Centre (NewMIC) has signed an MOU with TRLabs to collaborate on research, provide industry support and share lab facilities in a joint mandate to stimulate growth in western Canada. As a result of the new collaboration, Internet storage company YottaYotta will be the first company to join NewMIC as an industry affiliate through NewMIC’s new reciprocal membership agreement with TRLabs. Peter Pan copyright under fireA Canadian author, Emily Somma, has pre-emptively filed suit in San Francisco against the British hospital that owns the copyright to the popular Peter Pan figure. Somma has written a book, After the Rain: A New Adventure for Peter Pan, which could run afoul of copyright laws in the U.S. where copyright terms have progressively been extended over the years. Somma is being represented by the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. An extensive FAQ page on Stanford’s web site notes that Somma is not challenging the copyright held by the U.K. hospital, but that copyrights on Peter Pan have expired in the United States, and that the work is now in the public domain. Copyright is maintained in the U.K. only by virtue of special Parliamentary statute. ecentricarts takes prizeToronto-based ecentricarts inc. has won Applied Arts’ best information and educational site award for its Art2Life: The Canadian Century web site (CNM, Sept. 20/01). The prize was awarded from among thousands of entries from across North America by an international expert panel of 27 judges. iMagicTV reports further lossesSaint John NB-based iMagicTV has reported a net loss for its third quarter of fiscal 2003 ended Nov. 30, 2002 of US$4.6 million, or US$0.19 per basic share, compared to a net loss of US$5.9 million, or US$0.24 per basic share, for the same period in 2002. Operating expenses fell on a year-over-year basis for the third quarter from US$5.9 million to US$4.6 million. The company recorded a one-time charge of approximately $1.6 milion as a result of its continued cost reduction measures. The company had $36.5 million in cash and short-term investments as of Nov. 30, 2002. Hardware/software companies team with labels on copyrightThe Recording Industry Association of America has agreed to lobby against building locking controls into entertainment devices in exchange for lobbying efforts by the Business Software Alliance and the Computer Systems Policy Project to argue against amending U.S. laws to broaden the rights of consumers. Proposals before the U.S. Congress include mandated technological protection measures built into digital media devices, and other proposals would more explicitly define consumers’ rights to protect the right of first sale, even to the extent of breaking copy protections to do so. Both efforts will now face opposition from the now-united record and technology industries. Observers have been quick to note, however, that the agreement between the two sectors has been struck without the participation of the Motion Picture Association of America. CHUM offers Much-branded radio show across networkMuchMusic has announced a new radio show to be available on CHUM stations dubbed the MuchMusic RadioCountdown. The show will be hosted by Bradford How and Jennifer Hollet. CHUM officials tout the show as the latest multiplatform extension to add to the company’s web, wireless and television efforts. Jurisdiction uncertain in Pickton case Internet media reportingThe Associated Press (AP) reports that the judge hearing the preliminary case of accused serial murderer Robert Pickton has warned reporters that publishing information on Internet sites would violate a publishing ban on information in the case. Lawyer David Sutherland, who represents AP and four Seattle-based television stations, called the directive an "attempt to intimidate journalists." Sutherland is quoted as saying, "There was no addressing of the issue as to whether this court has jurisdiction on whether Internet servers outside the country are subject to this order. This court is attempting to exert jurisdiction over Internet postings." The judge has reportedly refused to hear arguments in the matter. The publication ban is in place to prevent the tainting of a potential Vancouver jury pool for the eventual trial. ISP revenues grow, but losses continue to escalate: StatsCanWhile operating revenues at Canadian Internet service providers rose 27% to $1.27 billion in 2001, total operating expenses rose to $1.55 billion over the same period, resulting in an operating loss of 22%, says Statistics Canada in recently released figures. This was greater than the 13.9% loss recorded in 2000. Strong competition was the most frequently cited impediment to growth in the industry, as well as the high cost of leasing data lines. Broadband revenues increased significantly in 2001, climbing to 38% of revenues, compared with 26% in 2000. Alliance numériQC meets with Quebec education ministryThe Alliance numériQC had the opportunity to meet personally with Quebec minister of education and employment Sylvain Simard to push its agenda of earmarking funds to purchase made-in-Quebec educational software tools. In the course of "positive" discussions on January 10, Alain Aubut and Pierre-Yves Maurice again urged the provincial government to invest money over several years to purchase digital educational content, to lift certain copyrights on educational support material, and to create new curriculum-related content. The IT association first raised its proposal for a $100-million strategy last April (CNM, April 19/02). Confidence in senior IT managers falls as budgets rise: studyA study recently released by CIO Canada magazine and Athabasca University finds that while business increasingly believes technology investments pay off, there has still been a deterioration in the confidence that managers and professionals have in senior managements’ IT competence since 2000. The same study, Third Annual Canadian IT Issues, finds that Canadians view themselves as increasingly competitive in conducting electronic business, there is an urgent need to address deficiencies in IT training and skills development, and that more companies are planning to increase their IT budgets compared to those who plan to reduce them. The 2002 results were gathered from a survey of 2,652 IT managers and decision makers conducted in November.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | January 23, 2003

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