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Bruce Hamlin has been promoted to VP of sales at Vancouver-based multicultural TV station Channel M. He joined the channel in January 2003 as director of sales. He oversees the station’s sales team as well as national business in conjunction with Airtime Sales in Toronto. Prior to joining Channel M, Hamlin worked as senior account manager for Rogers Media, Greater Vancouver Radio Group.

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Shaw launches new HD plus personal video recorder
Shaw Communications Inc. announced September 1 it was offering a new high-definition (HD) plus personal video recorder (PVR), the Motorola 6208. The new Shaw HD + PVR digital terminal automatically begins saving the channel being watched, storing it for immediate access by the viewer. The built-in hard drive can record up to 60 hours of programming, including high-definition shows. The Shaw HD + PVR costs $798.88. Customers new to Shaw Digital can receive programming credits of up to $159 when they purchase the new terminal. "The traditional model of people organizing their schedules around TV viewing is rapidly disappearing. This new PVR will give Shaw customers the kind of control and convenience they’ve wanted for their personal entertainment," Shaw president Peter Bissonnette said in a media release. "This is one of the most powerful pieces of TV entertainment equipment ever offered. It has features and capabilities that will amaze our customers."

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Pelmorex Communications Inc.’s has worked out an agreement with Star Choice whereby its two weather channels will remain in the direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distributor’s basic package. The latest deal follows a temporary agreement – made after Pelmorex turned to the courts – that guaranteed that The Weather Network and Météo Média would remain on basic until August 15.

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Canadian Heritage minister Liza Frulla sees good news in a recently released Statistics Canada report on culture, despite the report’s evidence of a growing cultural trade deficit and continued reliance in Canadian film and television on imported product. In a September 9 media release, Frulla reacts to the bureau’s findings by stating: "…We can see the value of Canada’s cultural exports was close to $5 billion for the year 2002. The statistics clearly show growth in exports to the European Union and continued growth in exports to the United States. Of course, the Americans are still our main trading partner in the cultural field, but some diversification can be seen in our European markets. We should be pleased with this. It shows that there are potential markets for our cultural services outside the United States."

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While there are a growing number of Canadian households that subscribe to a digital television service, a majority of households, or 60%, that have signed up for a television service still appear to be happy with analog cable service, according to results from the 2004 wave of Decima Research’s syndicated consumer research study on digital TV. When asked why they don’t subscribe to digital TV service, 48% of analog subscribers say that they either do not need the service or are not interested in it.

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The head of Canada’s cable association believes that the CRTC will make a "quick decision" and agree to allow FOX News and NFL Network to be distributed in Canada (CCR, April 22/04). Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) president Michael Hennessy sees little problem with getting the NFL channel admitted because it is "so niche" and there are other similar digital channels, such as the NHL Channel and Raptors TV, already on air.

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Genex Communications president Patrice Demers demanded September 9 that the CRTC move ahead with a review of its radio policy and that it remove strict content quotas so that various formats can survive. The Quebec entrepreneur, currently in a battle with the commission over its CHOI-FM radio licence, told Canadian Communications Reports that stations such as those devoted to alternative rock cannot afford to abide by the onerous French-language quotas imposed on them.

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