CNM Short Takes

Telefilm Canada to fund 50 new media projectsTelefilm Canada has announced that it will fund 50 new media projects from its Canada New Media Fund. Three projects were selected from the Atlantic region, 13 from Quebec, nine from Ontario, and eight from the western region (some projects were approved for multi-phase financing). Of the projects, 16 were accepted for market research and prototyping, 17 for product development, and 17 for marketing. Overall, 163 projects were submitted for funding in this round, applications for which were due on Sept. 23, 2003. A full list of funding winners is available here. CBC to provide content to new Microsoft smart watchesThe CBC has been tapped to provide news content to a new smart watch offering available from MSN Direct’s Smart Personal Objects Technology initiative. The wristwatches, manufactured by Fossil and Suunto, use MSN Direct to receive personalized content, and feature multiple watch faces and automatic time-zone adjustment based on location. Users can determine what information they want at an online web portal. A monthly subscription to the service is US$9.95 per month, or $59 per year. Retail availability and service options are available from the MSN Direct web site. The watches are currently shipping to stores. CBC also announced on January 22 that it has formed a partnership to deliver CBC news and information content on the Healthy Canadian Networks’ PatientDirect television network in medical clinics across Canada. PatientDirect TV is a combination of closed-circuit television/Internet-delivered content available in more than 120 health clinic locations, representing over 800 doctors from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. It’s expected the service will be available in 175 locations in seven provinces by the end of 2004. CinemaNow debuts download-to-own moviesCinemaNow, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Lions Gate Films, has offered customers the option to buy movies online. The copies would feature unlimited playback. The downloads would be in addition to the company’s current pay-per-view and subscription services. Less than one month left in WINBC applications contestThe Wireless Innovation Network of BC (WINBC) contest for innovative wireless applications sees its deadline for submissions close on February 16. The contest is being held in partnership with Telus Mobility, Nokia and Leading Edge BC. Submissions are welcome in the games and entertainment, business, public sector, collaboration and student categories. More information is available here. Cité Multimédia sold to realtorsThe Canadian operating arm of Hamburg-based MPC has purchased phases one through seven of Montreal’s Cité Multimédia for a reported $147 million. The complex has more than 1 million square feet of space that houses more than 5,600 employees and 117 companies in the new media sector. OMDC invites applications to attend games developer eventThe Ontario Media Development Corp. is offering financial and strategic support to help Ontario-based games developers to attend the Game Developers Conference in San Jose to bolster their contacts, advance business development strategies and move their game projects forward. Up to three emerging game developers, and up to five established game developers, will be accepted into the program. Both will receive a $2,000 travel subsidy, and emerging companies will receive pre-event and on-site support. The deadline to apply is February 12. More information is available here. Reeves completes Grande Ourse web siteReeves Interactive head François Reeves tells Canadian NEW MEDIA that the company has completed its Grande Ourse web site done for the television show of the same name. The site was supported by the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund. Reeves says that the site took eight months to produce, used the skills of over 20 new media creators, programmers, designers and integrators, has 60 pages, 120 MB of content, and is released in synch with the television show aired on Radio-Canada. He notes that the TV property is pulling in 1.3 million viewers (second week of airing average), and that over 1,000 visitors registered in the site’s first two weeks. Reeves Interactive is planning to show it at MIPCOM and MIPTV in Cannes at the end of March. CATA takes over IT users groupThe CATA Alliance has acquired the Society of Collaborative Opportunities and Advancement of Professionals (SCOAP). The group is an information technology users group. CATA officals say they expect the merger to result in a "better fit between users’ needs and product specifications." Further, CATA president John Reid says his organization can help SCOAP expand nationally. LegalPlay proposes merger with GamblingVision GroupVancouver-based LegalPlay Entertainment Inc. has entered into a letter of intent with GamblingVision Group Inc. whereby GamblingVision will merge with one of LegalPlay’s subsidiaries. The all-share deal is subject to LegalPlay completing a private placement of $200,000, of which partial proceeds would be used to operate and develop GamblingVision’s business. ZAQ and École nationale de police enter business dealZAQ Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with the École nationale de police de Québec, which provides basic police training in the province. ZAQ will provide development tools such as its training management platform to which the school will lend its training expertise. Together, the two will provide new e-learning products designed for the commercial sector. Scottish delegation visits T.O.A delegation of Scottish animation companies is in Toronto January 26-27 to meet with local companies and broadcasters. The purpose of their visit is to familiarize themselves with the Canadian market and to investigate co-production opportunities. Hong Kong association and TRLabs sign agreementHong Kong’s Cyberport and Wireless Technology Industry Association and TRLabs have signed an agreement to promote applied research development collaboaration in information and communications technology. A second agreement between TRLabs affiliate NEWT and the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association is intended to support wireless technology and applications development collaboration between the two wireless development centres.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | January 26, 2004

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