CCR Short Takes

Film, Video and Audio Post-Production in CanadaA snapshot of the industry from 2001-02 to 2004-05 2001-02 2004-05% change Number of firms 27432719.3Total employment7,2016,820-5.3Total revenue ($ millions)9201,018.7010.7Operating expenses ($ millions)848.5967.814.1Exports ($ millions) 401522.630.3Operating margin (% of operating revenue)7.34.3 SOURCE: Statistics Canada's The Daily, Aug. 22/06 Cogeco upgrades digital servicesCogeco Cable has announced the launch of five new high definition television channels and two new standard definition channels. The HD channels include Mpix HD, SUN TV, and three more Super Sports Pack HD offerings. "Our customers are increasingly interested in our HD television service as they discover the outstanding quality this technology offers," said Ron Perrotta, VP of marketing for Cogeco, in a news release. "As the number of available high definition programs and channels increases, Cogeco Cable strives to continuously provide the best possible HD offering." The majority of Cogeco HD customers in the Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Brockville, Windsor, Lindsay, Smiths Falls and Kingston areas will be able to enjoy the new HD channels free of charge. As well, the Christian Channel and Casino and Gaming Television Canada will be added to the standard definition lineup. Shaw launches RAI in VancouverShaw Cablesystems GP has added RAI International to its digital channel lineup for customers in the Lower Mainland region of BC. Customers who currently subscribe to Telelatino will have the option of subscribing to RAI International, the international service of Italy’s largest television broadcaster. The service broadcasts the best programs from RAI’s domestic channels, including a uniquely Italian perspective on news and current affairs, culture, cooking, sports, films and original programs. The channel will be available to all Shaw customers in the region who have a digital cable terminal at no cost until September 15, after which it will be offered for $2.49 per month. Bell to offer Film Festival content in HDBell Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) have announced they will be teaming up to bring viewers film festival press conferences, red-carpet interviews, exclusive parties and much more in high definition. Running August 28 through September 16 Bell ExpressVu customers will have access to TIFF on FreeVu! Festival Access in HD or standard definition. "We are thrilled to see Bell Canada bring an HD Festival experience into the homes of so many Canadians," said Piers Handling, director and CEO of the TIFF Group, in a news release. "Bell and TIFF are working together to create new opportunities to allow the Festival to reach new audiences and give Festival goers new and exciting ways to experience the event." JumpTV signs agreements with Indian channelsToronto-based JumpTV has signed exclusive Internet-broadcast distribution agreements with four Indian television channels specializing in news, current events, politics and family entertainment. "With more than 15 million people of Indian origin living outside of the sub-continent – more than half of whom live in countries with high broadband penetration such as the UK, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and the UAE – we believe there is a massive global market for these channels," said Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, president and CEO of JumpTV international, in a news release. The channels include: India TV News, a 24-hour Hindi news and current affairs channel; Kairali TV, a Malayalam arts and culture channel; Amrita TV, a family entertainment programmer; and People TV, Kairali TV’s news and current affairs sister channel. CEP cries foul to CRTC on CHUM cutsOn Aug. 15, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) announced it had filed a complaint with the CRTC over CHUM Ltd.’s programming cuts, which were revealed the same day as a proposal from Bell Globemedia to purchase the CHUM empire last month. The union says the Toronto-based network is violating the terms of its broadcast licence by reducing staffing and local programming at its A-Channel stations in Ottawa, Barrie ON, and Victoria, as well as at its CityTV-branded stations in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. CHUM characterized the reductions as necessary due to lower viewership, a statement that drew condemnation from CEP’s Peter Murdoch. "Poor ratings do not permit a broadcaster to abandon its conditions of licence," he said in a media release. Long-form journalism program coming to TVOOn September 25 TVO will launch its new flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. The show will feature what Paikin refers to as "long-form" journalism, with each program tackling no more than two topics, often only one. "We are going to be out there giving people what they’ve been telling us they want: more intelligent analysis, and more robust, thought-provoking debate and discussion among newsmakers and experts," said Paikin in a news release. As well, with TVO embarking on a new digital strategy, more of The Agenda’s content will be available on demand through iPods, PDAs and video-enabled phones. CanWest close to completing sale of TV3 IrelandGranada Media Group Ltd. has agreed to waive its pre-emption right and sell its stake in CanWest Granada Media Holdings Ltd. (CGMH), which owns and operates the TV3 television network in Ireland, to funds managed by Doughty Hanson & Co. CanWest Global Communications Corp. had previously announced the sale of CGMH and its Irish sales arm, CanWest Ireland Sales Ltd., for approximately $382.8 million, of which CanWest expects to receive $192.7 million to use to reduce debt and further strengthen its financial position. The transaction is currently expected to be completed on or about August 31. Qubo programming block to launch on NBC, TelemundoBeginning in September, NBC and Telemundo will premiere the Qubo programming block. Qubo was created in May when NBC Universal, Scholastic, Corus Entertainment Inc. and Classic Media/Big Idea joined forces with the national TV distribution systems of ION Media Networks, NBC and Telemundo. It will focus on inspiring young viewers to realize their full potential while simultaneously promoting literacy and positive values through entertainment. The Qubo broadcast schedule has been developed for children ages four to eight and encourages problem solving on issues such as getting along with friends and family, overcoming fears and mastering new ideas and challenges. Programs on Qubo include Dragon, VeggieTales and Jane and the Dragon. "We are confident that this partnership will deliver a programming service that will delight kids and provide comfort to parents across multiple platforms," said John Cassaday, president and CEO of Corus Entertainment, in a press release. CHUM announces MIPCOM program lineupCHUM International will be brining nine new titles to this year’s MIPCOM, a global content event dedicated to co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. Some highlights of the CHUM lineup include: Nosedive, a look at the beginning of the end in a pop idol’s fame; Cruel and Unusual, "an unflinching look at the lives of transgender women in men’s prisons in the USA"; Much Adrenaline, an hour of extreme sports and the music from the scene; movie news series Cinenews; The Word this Week, news, reviews and information on the latest literary trends; and SexTV Specials, a half-hour covering the range of human passions and reaction to all things sexual. American Movie Classics now on ShawShaw Communications has announced that Rainbow Media’s American Movie Classics, a 24-hour movie-based network, is now available to Shaw customers as part of its traditional analog cable service. The agreement makes Shaw the first Canadian communications company to distribute the popular network outside of the US. "Being able to provide quality programming to our traditional cable lineup is what sets us apart from our competitors," said president of Shaw Communications Peter Bissonnette in a press release. "Adding AMC speaks to Shaw’s commitment to provide the best choice in entertainment for our current and future customers." Shaw also recently added Encore Avenue, a 24/7 movie channel focusing on films from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, to its traditional cable lineup. Cogeco gets OK for second 4+1 setCogeco Cable Québec Inc. has been granted permission to carry a second set of 4+1 US network signals as well as any eligible Canadian services on its BDUs serving various parts of Québec. During the public hearing process earlier this summer, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters urged the CRTC to hold the cable operator to the program deletion requirements laid out in section 43 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations. The commission eventually ruled that Cogeco’s proposal would increase choice for consumers in the regions served by its Class 1, 2 and 3 BDUs and approved the request, subject to the conditions the CAB had asked for.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | August 29, 2006

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