The government’s lukewarm official response to the Lincoln report on the Canadian broadcasting system has left many in the industry shaking their heads, fearful the two-year, 872-page study will end up a victim of bad political timing.

The CRTC this month shot down controversial proposals put forth by the cable companies and advertising upstart 49th Media, coming down on the side of broadcasters who had vigorously argued that both plans stood to undermine the Canuck TV trade. At the same time, the reg left the door open for 49th Media to reapply.

Vancouver: CHUM Television chopped 34 jobs at its Vancouver and Victoria stations Nov. 12 in a cost-cutting move to merge operations and rationalize news delivery and expenses.

CanWest Global’s Canadian television group had a close to 15% increase in operating profit, moving from $191 million last year to $220 million this year, but according to CFO John Maguire, bottom-line figures for fiscal 2003 are lower than overall strong operating results would suggest.

Montreal: Astral Media Inc. reports net earnings for fiscal 2003, the year ending Aug. 31, increased 42% over last year, rising to $71.3 million or $1.31 per share. Consolidated revenues in ’03 totaled $475.7 million, an increase of 23% over the $386.6 million recorded last year. Q4 revenues were up 27% to $125.2 million.

Quebec City: Just days before the Canadian Association of Broadcasters met in Quebec City for its annual conference, a great triumphant ‘boo-yah!’ went out among its members when the CRTC scuttled two very unpopular plans put forth by the cable companies and advertising upstart 49th Media.

Quebec City: On Nov. 11, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters handed out its Gold Ribbon awards, commending individuals and broadcast outlets for excellence on the airwaves.

Quebec City: The media is not the top priority for Canadians. Nor is it the second, third, fourth or fifth. But according to a new study released by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the Canadian Association of Newspapers, a slim majority of us, 57%, feel that ‘maintaining a strong Canadian media’ should be an important job for the new federal government – after health care, the environment, the budget and a few others.

Quebec City: During the conference of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in Quebec City, the CRTC unveiled its basic rules for the distribution of over-the-air digital signals by cable outfits, DTH and other broadcast distribution undertakings. The new rules are similar to those that govern analog signals.

The Canadian Television Fund announced almost $14 million in funding to documentary and children’s programming from its Licence Fee Program fall envelope on Nov. 14, but requests exceeded available funds by more than $10 million.

The Trailer Park Boys thrilled fans at the closing-night party for the third annual Tidal Wave Film Festival in Fredericton, NB. The party featured a screening of two episodes of the hit Showcase series and appearances by John Dunsworth (Mr. Lahey), Patrick Roach (Randy), Lucy DeCoutere (Lucy) and Sarah Dunsworth (Sarah).

Children will soon get the chance to experience different and exciting cultures through film on a monthly basis. The Sprockets film festival for children is introducing Sprockets Globetrotter, a new year-round subscription series, starting in January.