CNM Short Takes

Possible new interactive content producer in Toronto?Rui Pereira of 1 Atlantic Ave., Toronto, has filed with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for a trademark on the logo pictured at right. Not pictured is the word "TV" in smaller letters indicated by Pereira’s application. The filing also notes that it is in connection with "media and video production services" as a proposed use in Canada. Banff Centre posts help wanted signs in National PostThe Banff Centre is running advertisements seeking a technical manager and a producer for its Horizon Zero web publication. The application deadline is February 11 for the technical manager position, and passed on February 4 for the producer’s position.MSN, Bell Mobility team to provide instant messagingMSN.CA and Bell Mobility have launched the full suite of MSN services to Bell’s customers, making it possible for them to now communicate using either instant text messaging with all their MSN contacts. Users can even find out if their contacts are online prior to messaging them. No pricing for the service was announced. Blast Radius partner in Intuit Canada web redesignBlast Radius and Art Technology Group have been announced as the partners involved in redeveloping the Intuit.ca web site. Blast says Intuit has addressed shopping cart abandonment through improved usability including more self-serve features. Mythica trademark filedKathryn Saunders of Hampton Ave., Toronto, has filed with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office to register the trademarks "Mythica" and "Mythi.ca". The marks are related to an entertainment destination, content and product related to Mythi.ca content and entertainment services including online content services and an ecommerce site. Bell Globemedia posts higher Q4 and 2002 revenuesBell Globemedia (BGM) reported revenues of $379 million for the fourth quarter of 2002 and $1.29 billion for the twelve months ended December 31. Those figures are up from the same periods a year ago, respectively $354 million and $1.203 billion. EBITDA for the quarter and fiscal year were $72 million and $180 million. The company says advertising revenue was $284 million in the quarter, up 8% from the same quarter a year prior. Subscriber revenues on the quarter rose by 7.5% to $72 million, largely due to higher subscriptions to new digital specialty channels and an increase in print circulation revenues. Zomba takeover under Canadian Heritage scrutinyA brief Order-in-Council issued by the federal government January 23 notes that the investment by BMG Holding B.V. to acquire control of the Canadian business carried on by Zomba Records (Canada) Inc. will be reviewed pursuant to the Investment Canada Act. No further details are available. Canadian Idol site posted in run-up to much-anticipated showCTV has posted a web site for its upcoming show Canadian Idol at http://idol.ctv.ca. The site has the series’ rules and regulations, the competitor application form, FAQs and other information for the show, which mimics the successful American Idol television program. The show itself is being produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions along with Atlantic Canada-based Rink Rat Productions and Alberta-based Aquila Productions. John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are executive producers, joining producers Mary Sexton, Don Metz and Trevor Cousineau. The 24-part series will begin airing in June, and auditions are expected to start on April 24 in Vancouver. CAB to research cultural diversity through task forceThe Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has announced a comprehensive study of cultural diversity that it says will be one of the largest of its kinds ever undertaken. "This issue is an important issue for the CAB and that is why the CAB’s Task Force on Cultural Diversity has taken an extremely pro-active approach on this issue," says executive VP Sylvie Courtemanche in a media release. The task force will comprise: Beverly Oda (co-chair), Stefany Mathias, Marie Anna Murat, Raj Rasalingam, Madeline Ziniak, Elaine Ali, Sarah, Crawford, Rita Cugini, Philippe Lapointe.No date was provided for when the task force might complete its study. It will be assisted in its efforts by Johnston and Buchan LLP and will involve an "inclusive and wide ranging consultation process." Ontario opens tap on fundingOntario’s Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation has re-opened the taps on the Interactive Digital Media Small Business Growth Fund (IDM), announcing $850,000 worth of investments in the province on January 29. The fund, which provides assistance to initiatives that bolster training, innovation and networking, had been on hiatus for almost two years before the announcement.One of the fund’s biggest winners was the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI). It received $300,000 toward a needs analysis and branding exercise for the digital media cluster in Ottawa. The public/private partnership organization will work with local marketing firm Hewson Bridge & Smith and Phase 5 to find ways to use the centre’s Smart Central facility to promote Ottawa new media firms to the outside world. The funding will likely come in handy. Little to no interactive production or even fee-for-service work is being done in the capital. Says OCRI executive director Paul Wilker, "This is an effort to see whether, in fact, we can raise the profile of our media cluster here, and perhaps re-form again into a group that will help each other."Another recipient of big funding was the newly branded Smart Toronto Technology Alliance (STTA) (CNM, Nov. 14/02). The group was awarded $275,000 to support the interactive digital media program run by the industry association, particularly to accelerate the building of a new innovation lab and the technical infrastructure that will need to be installed. Money will also be used to run technical workshops and education seminars, and assist peer-to-peer networking. The announcement of provincial funding is good news for the STTA, which has been rushing to take a leadership position in the Toronto new media community since swallowing the Liberty Village New Media Centre late last fall.Funding for the STTA from Ontario government coffers is also a coming home of sorts. The Liberty Village project was amalgamated into Smart Toronto just months shy of running out of first-round IDM funding.Interactive Media Arts and Technology (IMAT) received $35,000 from the fund in this round to showcase and create export development opportunities for digital media companies. IMAT executive director Aurel Langlois tells Canadian NEW MEDIA that the organization will use the money to attract further funds from organizations such as Ontario Exports and to underwrite the administrative costs of buying cooperative booth space for companies with digital product that is market-ready. Langlois says IMAT is adding a twist by shying away from multimedia trade shows. For example, it will soon be attending a manufacturing trade show in Chicago to highlight a company’s wares. "In a fish market, you want to be selling frying pans, not fish like everyone else," he says.Also receiving funds were the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and George Brown College’s school of design. CNM was unable to reach representatives from those organizations for further details. Breaking: Alcatel buys iMagicTVAt press time, telecom giant Alcatel struck a deal to acquire St. John NB-based iMagicTV for US$30 million in a transaction worth about US$1.20 per share. iMagicTV shareholders representing about 50% of the outstanding shares in the company have agreed to the deal. CNM will have further details as they become available.

CNM Short Takes

News | 02/07/2003 5:00 am EST

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