Hull, Que.: Canada’s production industry wants more rather than fewer licences for new specialty channels, but producers are also saying they want those services delivered as part of variable discretionary packages, and at the lowest possible price….

By the time this issue of Playback reaches most of its readers, the members of the Canadian Independent Film Caucus will be reflecting on films seen, issues raised, agencies probed and awards won at its first awards show-cum-convention Feb. 24-27. The…

Dr. Robert Garner is professor of media writing at the School of Radio and Television Arts, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto….

The CRTC has renewed the CTV Television Network’s licence for five years. In making its decision, the crtc stated ‘it was not satisfied with the reduced level of expenditures in the important areas of Canadian drama and entertainment programming that ctv…

Izzy Asper, CanWest Global Communications chairman and ceo, says he would like to forge at least one new international broadcasting deal in 1994. In a recent interview, Asper said his team is currently examining the Hispanic market ‘because it’s a rather…

The Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, a federal non-theatrical program, is running out of money. Its Dec. 10, 1993 adjudication deadline may well have been its last unless the its board can find some additional sources of financing, according to…

Vancouver: Producer Nick Orchard is about to become the sole owner of Soapbox Productions, producer of the teen dramatic series Northwood. By month’s end, a deal will be finalized which allows Orchard to buy out his partner in the five-year-old company,…

As Canadian broadcasters limit post-production spending and observers predict software developers will siphon dollars from hardware manufacturers, Ampex Systems Corporation of Redwood, Calif. has closed its direct sales offices in Canada, parts of Europe and Asia….

The following is a list of box office receipts for Canadian films that were in release in 1993. The figures were supplied by Cineplex Odeon Corporation and Canadian distributors. Famous Players declined to participate….

Good for us…

Robert Levings of ATI Technologies has peered into his crystal ball to make the following predictions about multimedia in the 1990s:…

The Red Green Show was building momentum at NATPE, the syndication market held Jan. 24-27 in Miami. The sketch comedy series, which is currently shown in 25 markets in the U.S., may be picked up by five new stations, according to…