CCR Short Takes

Rogers OMNI releases production benefits package detailsRogers OMNI Television has unveiled details of its $950,000 benefits package for independent documentary production in British Columbia and Manitoba over seven years. A maximum of $250,000 will be spent each year, with proposals being reviewed twice a year: January 1 to March 1, and September 1 to November 15. The money will go toward the creation of 30-minute and 60-minute religious and faith-based documentaries. The benefits package relates to Rogers’ purchase of NOWTV (CHNU-TV Fraser Valley), now called OMNI TV BC, and the launch of CIIT-TV Winnipeg, referred to as OMNI TV Manitoba (CCR, June 8/05). More information about applying to the fund is available online at www.omnibc.ca/info/funds/. Rogers adds three new HD sports channelsRogers Cable Communications added three new high-definition (HD) channels to its Super Sports Pak just before Christmas. The new programming includes HD coverage of NCCA college basketball games and NHL hockey. The cableco also announced that it had 100,000 households subscribing to its HD offerings, more than double the number it had in January 2005. Rogers offers a total of 31 HDTV channels. The Rogers Super Pak costs $26.95 a month, with a four-month minimum commitment required. Instant Star gearing up for second season on CTVThe Epitome Pictures-produced Instant Star is gearing up for its second season return to CTV Inc. in 2006. As well, production has started on Instant Star: Backstage Pass, a 30-minute behind-the-scenes special that includes original performance footage, cast and crew interviews and a tour of the Instant Star set. Instant Star: Backstage Pass will air on CTV and US cable TV channel The N in 2006. In its inaugural season, Instant Star became the N’s second-highest rated program, behind the other Epitome Pictures production Degrassi: The Next Generation. Instant Star is aired in 121 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Finland, Venezuela, Swaziland and Macedonia. Astral Media brings HBO series to SVODAstral Media on January 3 began offering HBO series, original movies and specials on its subscription video-on-demand service, The Movie Network on Demand. "We are pleased to be able to continuously evolve and enhance our on-demand offering with the addition of high-profile and popular HBO series, original movies and specials as part of our ongoing commitment to meeting viewer demand and leading the way in television technology," said Kevin Wright, SVP of programming at Astral Television Networks. Alliance Atlantis employees join the Canadian Media GuildEmployees in the operations area of Alliance Atlantis Communications voted last month to be represented by the Canadian Media Guild in their collective bargaining with the company. Reports say the results of the secret vote were that 47 of the 88 employees that cast votes (100 employees were eligible to cast their ballots) voted in favour of joining the Canadian Media Guild. Newfoundland Capital inks deal to acquire second Manitoba radio stationNewfoundland Capital Corp. announced last month that it had signed an agreement to buy CKJS Limited, which holds the CKJS-AM radio broadcast licence in Winnipeg for $1.8 million. It is the company’s second radio acquisition in Manitoba. Parent company Newcap Inc. plans to combine the operations of CKJS and its previously announced acquisition of CHNR-FM under one roof. The two radio stations will also share advertising programs and promotional initiatives. The acquisition of CKJS-AM must still be approved by the CRTC. Ethnics Channels withdraws complaint against WMNB-TVEthnics Channels Group Ltd. has withdrawn its complaint to the CRTC against WMNB-TV: Russian-American Broadcasting Company (Broadcasting Public Notice 2005-122-1). Initially, Ethnic Channels had asked the commission to remove the channel from the list of TV stations eligible for carriage in Canada because it had substantially changed, and was soliciting advertising in Canada. The CRTC has thus cancelled its proceeding that was aimed at further investing the matter. CRTC turns down TELUS on TV requestThe CRTC has denied a request by Telus Communications Inc. to amend its broadcasting licences to allow it to distribute, in its basic TV package, any channel included on the commission’s Part 2 eligible satellite services or any distant Canadian signal that is offered on the basic service of any of its competitors (Broadcasting Decision 2005-570). The regulator further turned down Telus’ proposal to be allowed to carry any Canadian or non-Canadian audio service that is offered by its competitors. The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association (CCTA) and Shaw Communications Inc. opposed these two requests. They argued that "Telus is subject to the same regulatory processes as all other and should not be permitted to avoid the regulatory scrutiny that its competitors face." They further argued that under its first proposal, Telus was seeking "overly broad" authority, particularly in that it would allow Telus to distribute the same Canadian television stations as direct-to-home satellite TV distributors. Telus executive VP of government and regulatory affairs Janet Yale told Canadian Communications Reports last February that the telco has filed an application with the CRTC asking for permission to make changes to its channel lineup without having to go through the existing lengthy regulatory process (CCR, Feb. 14/05). The commission, however, did grant Telus permission to receive distant Canadian signals using its own facilities rather than from a licensed Satellite Relay Distribution Undertaking (SRDU) provided that it does not make those signals available to any other licensees. The CRTC is also allowing Telus to replace, at its option, any of the US 4+1 signals that it is authorized to distribute with the signal of a different affiliate of the same network located in the same time zone as that of the licensed area and received from a licensed SRDU. CanWest Global to unveil new brandingCanWest MediaWorks will reportedly unveil a new branding campaign, which will include a redesigned logo, a new on-air look and new advertising on February 5 during its broadcast of the SuperBowl. Shaw Cable picks up Leafs TVShaw Cable announced last month that it had added the Category 2 specialty TV channel Leafs TV to its digital TV lineup in the Ontario municipalities of Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Dryden, Fort Frances and Atikokan. Shaw did not announce a price or packaging structure for Leafs TV. CRTC allows NTV Bangla into CanadaThe CRTC has approved a request to allow NTV Bangla to be carried in Canada on a digital basis (Broadcasting Public Notice 2005-128). The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association (CCTA) asked for permission for its members to carry the general interest specialty TV channel offering programming primarily in Bengali on May 19, 2005. One individual opposed the entry of the channel on the grounds that it lacked Canadian content, carried religious programming reflecting only the Islamic faith, and that it didn’t meet the needs of Bengalis from India, only those from Bangladesh. The CRTC notes in its decision that only about 8% of the channel’s programming schedule consists of religious programming, which is too little to classify it as a non-Canadian religious channel. Rogers adds RTPi to its lineupRogers Cable Communications Inc. has added the Portuguese-language TV channel RTPi to its lineup in Ontario. It was on free preview until January 4 on channel 648, and is now priced at $14.95 a month. The cableco has also added New Delhi Television on channel 586 in Ontario. The 24-hour news channel from India costs $14.95 a month or $10 per month when ordered with ATN Zee TV. The Israeli Network has also been picked up by Rogers and is available on channel 635 to digital customers in Ontario. The Hebrew-language digital TV channel was also on free preview until January 4. "Rogers has been the leader in bringing multicultural programming to Canada," said David Purdy, VP and general manager of television for Rogers Cable. "As the diversity and size of our multicultural communities expands, there is an ever growing need for programming services in languages other than English and French. Rogers is committed to providing its customers with what they want, when they want with Personal TV." Anime Network available on Shaw Video on DemandShaw Cablesystems has expanded its programming partnership with the Anime Network with the addition of a monthly subscription video-on-demand (VOD) service. Shaw digital TV customers can get up to 20 hours of compelling anime content for $4.99 a month with Shaw Video on Demand. The Anime Network will continue to provide anime features and liveaction Asian films at $4.99 each through Shaw Video On Demand.

CCR Short Takes

News | 01/12/2006 5:00 am EST

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