CCR Short Takes

Applications for radio licenses in Calgary, Lethbridge being heard nowThe CRTC is holding public hearings in Calgary between February 21 and March 3 to consider applications for radio broadcasting licences in the Calgary area and Lethbridge. The commission is hearing applications from Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc., CHUM Ltd., Evanov Radio Group Inc., Calgary Independent Broadcast Group Inc., Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd., Rawlco Radio Ltd., Harvard Broadcasting Inc., Newcap Inc., Tiessen Media Inc., Golden West Broadcasting Ltd., and Vista Radio Ltd., among others. The hearings are being held at the Metropolitan Conference Centre and can be heard live on the CRTC’s website. Télé-Québec ordered by government to cut workforceThe educational television network Télé-Québec has been ordered by the Quebec government to cut one-third of its workforce and close its Montreal studios to move production to the private sector. The network, which is the Quebec equivalent of TVOntario, is operated and funded primarily by the province, and the cuts are expected to save $10 million out of a total budget of $57 million. "It’s an internal reorganization so that we can reinvest money into programming, into what we see onscreen," said Quebec’s minister for culture and communications, Line Beauchamp, in an interview with the CBC. While the network has produced some of Quebec’s highest-profile educational and cultural programming, it has always struggled financially. Its staff of 600 was cut in half in the late 1990s, and will now be further reduced to 200 within the next two years. CBC lacks Canadian prime time drama: FriendsFriends of Canadian Broadcasting and ACTRA have released data showing that CTV leads CBC by a wide margin in presenting Canadian drama series in prime time. The data, which was assembled by Canadian Media Research Inc., shows that during prime time (7 to 11 p.m.) between September 2003 and August 2005, CTV presented 219 hours of Canadian dramatic series compared to CBC’s 122 hours. "These numbers should embarrass CBC’s management who appear to be ignoring CBC’s mandate to showcase Canadian programs, especially in the powerful drama genre," said Friends spokesperson Ian Morrison in a news release. The figures were released less than a week after the CBC announced it was cancelling three Canadian dramas: Da Vinci’s City Hall, This is Wonderland and The Tournament. Canwest expands global reach through acquisitionsSubsidiaries of Canwest Global Communications Corp.’s Turkish partner, Turkcom Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., have agreed to acquire two Istanbul radio stations. Joy FM and Joy Turk FM, both currently owned by The Turkish Savings and Deposit Insurance Fund, will be purchased for US$5 million, subject to certain regulatory approvals. This increases the number of Turkish radio stations being purchased by companies associated with Canwest and Turkcom to four. "We see this as an opportunity to build further upon our international radio strategy that now includes new radio operations in Turkey and the United Kingdom, as well as our well-established radio operations in New Zealand and Canada," said Tom Strike, president of Canwest Mediaworks International in a news release. Just over a week after the announcement, Canwest once again expanded its global reach when its 70% owned New Zealand media operation, Canwest Mediaworks (NZ) Ltd., agreed to purchase Q92FM serving Queenstown, the Wakatipu Basin and Central Otaga. Added Strike: "This further demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to pursue accretive acquisitions while extending our brands into strategic markets. Q92FM will be combined into the existing radio operations of Canwest Mediaworks." TVA reports large Q4 lossesTVA Group Inc., North America’s largest private producer and distributor of French-language entertainment, information and public affairs programming, released its financial results for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2005, which were down substantially from the previous year. The company recorded net income of $8.7 million for that period as compared to $17.5 million for the same period in 2004. The decline is being attributed to losses sustained by TVA’s new services, significantly lower operating revenues for its publishing business, and the increase of future income taxes by the government of Quebec. Said TVA president and CEO Pierre Dion in a press release: "We are making every effort to alleviate the impact of this competition, while sticking with our strategy. Also, TVA Films has had an excellent year in 2005, despite the operating loss reported for the quarter." Film, TV success propelling Screen DoorScreen Door, the Toronto-based production company formerly known as Tapestry Pictures, is establishing a reputation as one of Canada’s hottest independent producers through its most recent projects. The CBC has ordered two pilot episodes of MVP, a "behind-the-scenes voyeuristic peek into the lives of professional hockey players and the women who love (and lust for) them," according to a press release. The company’s other hot release was Sprit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story, which was developed as a movie-of-the-week for CTV and became the first-ever Canadian film to win the Audience Choice Award at Toronto’s Sprocket Festival. The movie has also been screened at American festivals where it has garnered other awards. Mainframe reports increase in net earnings in Q3 resultsVancouver-based computer generated animation production company Mainframe Entertainment Inc. reported net earnings of $600,000 for the three-month period ended Dec. 31, 2005, up from $100,000 for the same period in the previous year. The company primarily attributes the increase to an improvement in production costs as a percentage of revenues. "During the period we generated revenue from the delivery of our 14th direct-to-video/DVD feature for Mattel as well as from the distribution of our proprietary properties including the second Scary Godmother television special and the ongoing distribution of our library properties," said Mainframe CEO Rick Mischel in a news release. Satellite radio licences amended by CRTCThe CRTC has approved applications by Sirius Canada Inc. and Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. to amend their licences for satellite subscription radio with respect to their Canadian and French-language programming. In both cases the licensees proposed an increase from three to four of the minimum number of Canadian French-language channels that would be offered, with Sirius indicating that three of its four French-language channels would be music channels, while CSR promised at least two of four. While some intervening parties offered that higher levels should be imposed, the commission determined that approving both applications was in the interest of the public. MTV announces new show, Canadian homeMTV Live, an all-Canadian talk show series that will air on MTV from Monday to Friday, will be produced and broadcast from Toronto’s legendary Masonic Temple, the network’s new home in Canada. "The Temple has an incredible history as both a Masonic Lodge that brought people together and a concert hall that promoted creative expression," said Brad Shwartz, MTV senior VP and general manager, in a press release. The show, which will feature interviews, debates, fan involvement, contests and live performances will begin on day one of MTV. The shows hosts, and its launch date have not yet been announced. Three new Russian-language channels available from ExpressVuBell ExpressVu subscribers can now watch NTV Canada, RTVi+ and RTVi, three new award-winning Russian-language channels. NTV broadcasts original Russian and Canadian programming including daily newscasts, films, games shows, Russian and European soccer, and two popular talk shows. RTVi+ features cultural and entertainment programming such as children’s shows, movies and game and talk shows. And RTVi offers news and public affairs programs, live coverage of local and national community events, sports, science, how-to programs and soap operas. "Bell ExpressVu is committed to creating an immersive and varied viewing experience for our customers by offering an increasingly diversified line-up of great international programming," said Pat Button, ExpressVu’s VP marketing, in a news release. CFTPA receives funds from CHUMCHUM Television is committing $175,000 over three years to the Canadian Film and Television Production Association. The money will support up to 12 mentorships as part of a new program for Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities from Alberta and Manitoba. The Chum Cultural Diversity Mentorship Program will place interns with producers for minimum 30-week internships to develop skills and knowledge of the film and TV industries. "As a strong supporter of Canadian independent production, CHUM is pleased to be able to further our investment in Canada’s film and television industries by helping to provide opportunities for learning and skills development to aspiring producers and fostering diversity in television," said Chum’s senior VP, content, Roma Khanna, in a news release. Mentorships will be selected by a panel supervised by the CFTPA and CHUM. Each intern will receive at least $15,000 for their placement with $11,000 coming from the program and $4,000 from the mentor company.

CCR Short Takes

News | 02/24/2006 5:00 am EST

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