JumpTV opts out

Abandoning its original business model, JumpTV has withdrawn its application to the Copyright Board for a retransmission tariff that would have allowed it to transmit off-the-air television over the Internet.

The company says it still intends to retransmit TV signals over the Internet, but quashed its initial plan to derive revenue from selling banner ads. Instead, it will consider other models, such as subscription-based systems.

Meantime, Jump, which was supposed to go to hearing on Dec. 3, has dropped out of the drawn-out process that’s been met with much resistance from broadcasters and producers who dispute Jump’s claimed status as a retransmitter under the Canadian Copyright Act, section 31.

As in the case of iCraveTV, jurisdictional problems remain an issue. Technology doesn’t yet exist to prevent, for example, U.S. users from accessing programming on the Canadian website. (For more on JumpTV, see ‘Binchmarks’, p. 9.)

Emmys rescheduled

AFTER two cancellations, the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place Nov. 4 at the Schubert Theater in Century City, CA, airing live on CBS.

The awards were originally scheduled for Sept. 16, but were postponed to Oct. 7 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. They were postponed a second time after the U.S. retaliated by bombing Afghanistan.

Alliance Atlantis enters the competition with 26 nominations, 13 of which recognize the miniseries Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, a coproduction with IN-Motion AG, in association with Story Line Entertainment.

Broadcasting brass

meet at CAB convention

AS the review of the Canadian broadcasting system is underway and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters celebrates its 75th anniversary, some of Canada’s top decision-makers will join the broadcasting brass (despite the scheduling conflict with the Gemini Awards) to address the issues of the day at Broadcasting 2001: Connection Canadians…Community…Country in Ottawa, Oct. 28-30.

ABC News’ Peter Jennings will return to Canada to make the annual convention’s keynote address.

The CEO panel, Future Visions for the Canadian Broadcasting System, features Andre Bureau, chairman, Astral Media; Ivan Fecan, CEO, CTV; John Cassaday, president and CEO, Corus Entertainment; Michael MacMillan, president and CEO Alliance Atlantis Communications; Gerry Noble, president and CEO, Global Television; Ted Rogers, president and CEO, Rogers Communications; and Jay Switzer, president, Chum Television.

Minister of Industry Brian Tobin and Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, along with CRTC chair David Colville will speak on the priorities and challenges facing the broadcasting industry.

The opening panel is a discussion among the key members of the standing committee on Canadian heritage.

Allan Gregg, chair of Strategic Counsel, will moderate a panel entitled Copyright: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, which will focus on the need for a fair and modern copyright regime.

A special tribute luncheon has also been planned for outgoing CAB president and CEO Michael McCabe, with emcee Lloyd Robertson and former CRTC chair Francoise Bertrand.

Canadian music stars Chantal Kreviazuk and Mario Pelchat will perform at the Gold Ribbon Awards.

Free digi preview extended

ROGERS Cable and Bell ExpressVu have extended the free digital channel preview by one month, giving digital customers free viewing until Jan. 7.

The decision is based on the chaotic broadcast landscape faced by the digital services during their first month, when, beginning only four days after their Sept. 7 launch, they were eclipsed by the extensive ongoing terrorist-attack coverage.

The cost of extending the preview period will fall on the broadcasters.

ExpressVu is offering the extra free month along with a $100 programming credit to new customers.

ACTRA, producers hit

the bargaining table

CONTRACT talks began in mid-October amongst ACTRA and Canadian and U.S. film and TV producers to work out the details of a new Independent Production Agreement.

With the current three-year agreement set to expire Dec. 31, the actors and producers have given themselves until Dec. 21 to avoid a potential strike.

If they don’t come to an agreement by the deadline, ACTRA’s 1,800 members would be in a legal strike position on or after Jan. 16.

The two sides will exchange 10 proposals each, a marked difference from the 111 exchanged in 1997.

Some of the main issues raised by ACTRA are wage parity with U.S. actors working in Canada and rights in new media.

Details for now are subject to a media ban.

CDP money for Distraction

CDP Capital Communications has invested $2 million in Distraction Formats, the first investment by an independent source in a format program company, according to CEO Michel Rodrigue.

Rodrigue says funds will be used to expand the European sales office in London, Eng., but primarily for the acquisition of new format rights for Distraction’s catalogue. The two Paris-based staffers will move to the London office, headed by VP sales Arabelle Pouliot.

Rodrigue says this year’s MIPCOM was ‘a fantastic market,’ with seven Distraction staffers conducting a numbing 330 meetings, a 25% increase over previous years. ‘At a time of recession, people are looking for sure bets, and formats and light entertainment in general are cheaper and also quite secure.’

Distraction has doubled its revenues each year since its launch at MIPCOM in 1997, to more than $5 million this year.

Formats were popular at the market with commentators pointing to a trend in more light-hearted programming for the whole family. As many as 50 companies were brokering format deals this year. Michael Weatherseed, Reed Midem director of TV, announced a dedicated one-day conference on format creation, protection and distribution for MIP-TV 2002.

Info Sports launch delayed

RESEAU des Sports CEO Gerry Frappier has announced digital channel Info Sports’ launch will be rescheduled for fall 2002 due to a ‘revision of RDS’ business plan and in the light of the [current] economic slowdown.’ RDS, a Bell Globemedia sports channel, has completely designed its on-air image and logo.

Reel Asian celebrates 5th

THE Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.

Running Nov. 15-25, the festival, which promotes the diversity of Asian cinematic culture, has grown to two weeks with an expanded program of films, events and festivities.

Highlights include: a spotlight on Japanese cinema; an artist’s spotlight on Japanese Canadian filmmaker Midi Onodera; a showcase of Hong Kong cinema; and an international coproduction seminar, Canada, Hong Kong and Accessing Asia.

The festival’s opening film is Green Dragon, from writer/director Timothy Linh Bui and starring Patrick Swayze and Forest Whitaker.

Changes to TFC

screenwriting program

TELEFILM Canada has announced changes to its Screenwriting Assistance Program applicable to upcoming submissions for the Nov. 5 and Jan. 14, 2002 deadlines.

Two new client groups now eligible for funding include writers and writer/directors credited with two short dramas professionally produced in the past five years and having a combined running time of at least 20 minutes. One of the works must have been selected at a recognized festival or event. The other group is writers and writer/directors with screenwriting credits for one or more POV documentary productions of at least one hour.

Screenwriters may now submit one new project per deadline, even if they have not yet completed another Telefilm-funded project. Telefilm says the modification takes into account writers with multiple concurrent projects.

Guidelines, deadlines and a list of recognized Canadian and international festivals and events are available at the Telefilm website (financing section): www.telefilm.gc.ca.