CCR Short Takes

Four French-language projects receive monies from film fundFour French-language author-driven films are the first to receive funding under the 2004-05 main program of the Canada Feature Film Fund’s selective component. Receiving funding are Robert Morin’s Et que Dieu bénisse l’Amérique, about a serial killer; Bernard Émond’s Jeanne et François, about a doctor and an orphan; Robin Aubert’s Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés, about a journalist investigating a string of mysterious disappearances; and Jean Beaudin’s Sans elle, which focuses on a violinist dealing with her mother’s disappearance. Twelve applications were submitted by the January 19 deadline. The next application deadline is April 13. Shaw inks video-on-demand deal with Lions GateShaw Communications Inc. announced April 1 that it had inked a licensing agreement with Lions Gate Entertainment to provide movies and programming content for its video-on-demand service, Shaw on Demand. "Adding Lions Gate’s leading-edge lineup of current feature films and extensive collection of motion pictures and other content complements the ever-evolving Shaw on Demand library," says Shaw president Peter Bissonnette. Planète to finance documentary of young filmmakerDigital specialty TV channel Planète, in conjunction with Planet Deutschland, will finance the documentary project of a young artist in training or one who has been prac-tising his or her profession for less than five years. The winning documentary will be broadcast on Planète Canada and Planet Deutschland and will be shown at the 2005 Berlinale Talent Campus, an industry event for young filmmakers sponsored by the Berlin film festival. Filmmakers should submit their entries to the Planet Deutschland office by April 15. Applications can be obtained from Planète Canada. TSN to televise 50 Canadian Football League games in 2004CTV Inc.’s specialty TV sports network TSN announced April 2 that it will air 50 Canadian Football League (CFL) games this year on Friday nights. TSN is in the second year of a five-year 250-game broadcast deal with the CFL. Shaw Cablesystems completes acquisition of Monarch assetsShaw Cablesystems announced April 1 that it had completed the purchase of Monarch Cablesystems, which serves about 35,000 customers in Banff, Canmore and Medicine Hat AB, and Kimberley and Hope BC. "Shaw is a company with deep roots in Alberta and British Columbia, and is pleased to be able to extend those roots to our new customers," said Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw. Shaw announced last September that it had reached a deal to purchase the Monarch systems for $90 million (CCR Update, Sept. 10/03). Discovery Kids applies for licence amendmentThe Category 2 digital specialty TV channel Discovery Kids Canada has applied to the CRTC to increase the amount of drama it can broadcast to 15% from the current 10% (Broadcasting Public Notice 2004-22). The channel argues that the just over four hours of drama it is currently allowed to air makes it "difficult to schedule compelling dramatic programming that complements its infotainment offerings" and poses "challenges when broadcasting special event programming blocks." Comments on the matter are due at the CRTC by May 7. CHUM/Milestone Media get FM radio licence for EdmontonCHUM Ltd., in conjunction with Milestone Media Broadcasting Ltd., has been granted an FM radio licence for the Edmonton market. The new station will operate at 91.7 MHz and have an urban music format, targeted at an audience aged 15 to 39 (Broadcasting Decision 2004-133). The application was one of four new FM radio stations approved for Edmonton. There were nine applications in total. The other successful FM radio licences were a new Native Type B FM radio station (Broadcasting Decision 2004-134), O.K. Radio Group Ltd. for a modern rock station (Broadcasting Decision 2004-135) and Rawlco (Edmonton) Ltd. for a smooth jazz specialty station (Broadcasting Decision 2004-136). The applicants who were denied FM radio licences were CKMW Radio Ltd. on behalf of a company to be incorporated, Rogers Broadcasting Ltd., Harvard Broadcasting Inc., Edmonton Radio Ltd., and Global Communications Ltd. (Broadcasting Decision 2004-137). ACTRA denounces secret Telefilm deal with CAAThe Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is "incensed" that Telefilm Canada is using taxpayers’ money to buy Hollywood talent. A memo, signed by Telefilm executive director Richard Stursberg and released to the media, indicates that the government agency will pay Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles to find performers and other talent for Canadian films. "Stursberg’s secret deal is a slap in the face for the talented performers, writers and directors who have chosen to stay and work in their own country," says ACTRA national executive director Stephen Waddell in an April 5 media release. "It’s completely insulting to Canada’s professional creative community - not to mention Canadian taxpayers." Telefilm Canada publicly released information about the one-year deal on April 7. The deal is aimed at encouraging the creation of distinctly Canadian films with the ability to secure U.S. investments and U.S. distribution, according to Telefilm Canada. "And contrary to ACTRA’s fears, this initiative will create exciting new job opportunities for Canadian residents, who will have significant involvement and creative impact in each of the projects in question," said Stursberg in an April 7 media release. "There will be more money in the system to finance the films, and the agreement opens the door to simultaneous distribution of Canadian movies at home and in the U.S." ACTRA countered on April 7, asking why Telefilm Canada called a media conference and failed to provide any substantive details about the deal, including the amount of the retainer. Toronto journalist named winner of diversity internshipToronto journalist Momona HaileMariam has been named the recipient of the first Diversity in Broadcasting Internship, which is being presented by VisionTV and Women in Film and Television - Toronto (WIFT-T). She will work as a paid intern with VisionTV’s production team for six months, starting in September, on the weekly current affairs series 360 Vision. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University, HaileMariam has worked as associate producer on a number of TV and radio programs, including CBC Newsworld’s counterSpin and Newsworld Today. Basic cable subscribers up at Cogeco in second quarterCogeco Cable Inc. announced April 5 that it had a net gain of 1,552 customers subscribing to its basic cable TV service in the second quarter ended February 29. The figure compares to a loss of 4,322 customers in the same quarter last year. It was the company’s first second-quarter customer net gain since 1999. As well, 14,781 more customers subscribed to its digital TV service in the quarter, bringing the total number of digital TV subscribers to 187,261. In the quarter, 12,610 more subscribers signed on for Internet access, bringing the total number to 235,228. CRTC finds Craig in complianceIn an April 6 letter to Craig Media Inc., the CRTC says that it is satisfied with corrective measures taken by the broadcaster to ensure that it is in compliance with its terms of licence for the Category 1 digital specialty TV channel devoted to youth for which it was licensed. "...The commission is satisfied that Craig has addressed the com-mission’s concern about its predominant focus on music. With respect to music video clips, MTV Canada now appears to be in compliance," writes CRTC secretary general Diane Rhéaume in the letter. Craig Media was asked to change the focus of its youth channel, which has been rebranded MTV Canada, following complaints by CHUM Ltd. that the channel had been changed so much that it was competitive with its MuchMusic channel (CCR, Feb. 28/03). Rogers to air Masters Golf in HDRogers Cable Inc. announced April 7 that it would carry the Masters Golf Tournament, running April 8-11, in high definition to its customers in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Customers with HD television sets will need the HD version of Rogers’ digital set-top box. It is priced at $599 or rents for $14.95 a month. Women’s hockey final attracts record audience on TSNA national average minute audience of 745,000 viewers (2+) tuned into TSN for the IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship, which Canada won 2-0 over the United States. TSN noted that its live coverage of the game attracted the largest audience in network’s history for a women’s hockey game. The audience peaked at 1.077 million viewers during the last 30 minutes of the game.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | April 8, 2004

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