CCR Short Takes

Corus, Astral confirm radio swap with the CRTCCorus Entertainment filed confirmation on February 4 that it agreed with CRTC conditions surrounding a swap of radio properties with Astral Media. Astral submitted its confirmation of the deal on February 8, the CRTC announced on February 22. (Broadcasting Decision 2005-15-1). The CRTC stated that the two parties had 30 days to confirm the deal, with the CRTC conditions, from the date of the decision on the matter, which was issued on January 21. When the decision was rendered, Corus said that it needed time to evaluate it, but later stated it would agree to the terms, which included higher levels of Canadian content on the radio stations it was acquiring in the transaction (CCR Update, Feb. 7/05, CCR, Jan. 28/05). Headline Media makes name change to Score MediaHeadline Media Group Inc. has changed its name to the Score Media Inc. The company also applied with the Toronto Stock Exchange to change its trading symbol from HMG.sv to SCR.sv. "Over the past 24 months, the corporation has significantly restructured its operations and is now predominantly focused on sports media properties through its main asset – The Score Television Network," said Score Media chair and CEO John Levy. "This new name better reflects the corporation’s business focus, and captures the substantial brand equity of the corporation’s main operating asset." The name change was approved by shareholders at its annual and special meeting of shareholders in Toronto this month. Cogeco teams with TELUS on digital phone serviceCogeco Cable announced February 21 that it had teamed with TELUS Corp. on its residential digital phone service, which it will launch later in 2005. The phone service will also be based on network technology provided by Cisco Systems, including Internet Protocol softswitches and voice gateways. Interconnectivity to the public switched telephone network and long-distance routing will be made possible via TELUS. CHUM reorganizes Alberta television operationsCHUM Ltd. is reorganizing its Alberta television operations, with the Access Media Group’s TV services becoming integrated with its recently acquired A-Channel Edmonton. Access Media consists of ACCESS, Canadian Learning and Television, BookTelevision and CourtTV Canada. All production, programming, operations, creative and educational services, sales, promotion, business administration and other related functions for these channels will join the A-Channel team. Master control for traffic for ACCESS, Canadian Learning Television and BookTelevision will be moved to A-Channel Calgary’s operations center in downtown Calgary. Master control and traffic for MTV2, currently based in Calgary, and CourtTV Canada, currently based in Edmonton, will move to the CHUM’s Toronto television facility. CHUM said the restructuring will result in the addition of four new positions in Calgary, and a reduction of 17 full-time positions between Edmonton and Calgary. "With the acquisition of the A-Channels, it was a logical move to combine and maximize resources in Alberta," said CHUM Ltd. CFO Alan Mayne. The one-time costs associated with the changes are approximately $440,000 and the net annualized operating cost savings are projected at about $900,000. The restructuring is expected to be fully implemented by July 2005. CHUM, Milestone launch FM radio station in EdmontonCHUM Ltd. in conjunction with Milestone Media Broadcasting Ltd. launched a new FM radio station in Edmonton on February 17. The station, 91.7 The Bounce, broadcasts a mix of hot urban rhythmic top-40 music. SaskTel signs VOD deal with Warner Bros.Telco SaskTel has signed a two-year distribution agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for its video-on-demand (VOD) service. SaskTel is the first Canadian VOD service to secure Warner Bros. as a supplier. SaskTel in January inked a VOD distribution deal with Sony Pictures International (CCR, Jan. 28/05) and earlier with Twentieth Century Fox (CCR, Dec. 10/04). Win a trip to Japan in NFB’s digital animated film contestThe National Film Board is giving away a week-long trip for two to Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan in a contest for digital animated films. The animated shorts, which only have to be 30 seconds to 60 seconds long, must be on the theme of the Wisdom of Diversity. The films should be submitted without sound. Five finalists will be selected to work with a professional sound designer and an NFB animation producer. The winning film might also be shown at the Canada Pavilion at the expo. The films will be judged by a jury consisting primarily of professional animators. For competition rules, visit www.nfb.ca/aichi. New Brunswick chosen as location for hockey mini-seriesA made-for-TV mini-series on the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series will begin filming in New Brunswick this spring. The production, which will air on CBC Television, will be shot in Fredericton and Saint John this March. The provincial government will invest $250,000 in the $7.7-million project through New Brunswick Film, a business unit of the province’s Department of Business. The producers are Tim Hogan and Rick LeGuerrier of Moncton’s Dream Street Pictures Inc., and Barrie Dunn and Michael Volpe of Halifax-based Summit Films. Trade mission to Chicago for women in film, TVWomen in Film and Television - Toronto (WIFT-T) has secured funding from Canadian Heritage to subsidize the travel and hotel costs for Canadian women in a variety of knowledge-based sectors to travel to Chicago to develop new contacts, partners and opportunities with the city’s film, television and new media industries. The trade mission will occur from March 10-12. For details, contact Candice Rice, trade commissioner at 416-973-5157, or by email at mailto:rice.candice@ic.gc.ca.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | February 25, 2005

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