Ferns back in the game

After keeping a low profile since the near collapse of the Banff Television Festival and his resignation as president and CEO of the foundation that runs it, Pat Ferns has reemerged with a new production company based out of Victoria, BC.

While full details are pending an announcement to be made during MIPCOM, Playback has learned that the new prodco, Ferns Productions, will focus on the financing of international and Canadian productions in addition to presenting media events, including pitching sessions. So far, Ferns has a deal in place with Chicago-based Towers Productions, a U.S. supplier of nonfiction programming, to help Towers expand its business into the world market. A source close to the new company says that Ferns is also looking at developing similar partnerships within the Canadian market.

CBC ices 50 jobs

The NHL lockout has cost 50 people their jobs at CBC, which on Sept. 16 laid off staffers from several departments and put its flagship sportscast, Hockey Night in Canada, on hold. Of those positions, 36 are in sports. The net says its freelancers will also be affected

‘Like so many organizations affiliated with hockey, today’s announcement has a serious impact on CBC,’ said Nancy Less, exec director of TV network sports. It is the third time in its 50-year history that HNIC has not aired, the last being during the hockey strike of 1994, during which CBC reran old games.