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Subscriptions up, advertising down
With its easily segmented audience, attractive-to-consumers niche programming and, of course, fee-for-carriage, specialty TV remains a profitable sector of the television industry, according to a new report from the CRTC.
Free rent in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has introduced a new incentive for TV makers – which waives the rent on the government-owned Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios – for a pilot or the first year of a series. But some say it won’t do enough to reverse the province’s crippling production slump.
Relax Cancon, say viewers
Canadians are fairly blasé about the often-contested Cancon broadcast requirements, with over half saying that too much is being made of the issue, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
IMAX to release 20 Warner titles
IMAX will release up to 20 Warner Bros. films in its wide-screen format between now and 2013 under the terms of a new agreement. The deal will see the Toronto- and L.A.-based exhibitor carry major Warner releases including parts one and two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Happy Feet 2 and The Hobbit, a number of which will be offered in 3D. Other titles include a new Superman movie, a third Batman, Gravity and Dark Shadows.
CIS VFX goes Down Under
CIS Visual Effects Group is expanding its business Down Under with the acquisition of Australian visual effects house Postmodern Sydney. The Sydney studio will continue to operate under the Postmodern banner with the same key personnel and out of the same office. CIS, which has studios in Vancouver and Los Angeles, plans to expand the office later this year.
More boys and branding
The success of children’s shows like Degrassi: The Next Generation boils down to context and consequences, according to TeenNick SVP Amy Friedman.
History keeps on truckin’
History Television continues to see first-rate numbers for the third season of reality Ice Road Truckers, the Canwest-owned specialty’s most popular series. The show maintains a loyal audience with an average 470,000 viewers tuning in each Wednesday at 9 p.m. – comparable with its high-flying premiere of 597,000. (All numbers 2+.)
Profits down at TVA Group
French-language broadcaster blames declining ad sales, while layoff rumors continue to swirl around its film distribution unit
D Films takes Winnie
Production on South Africa/Canada copro gets underway on May 31
Playoffs keep Canadians glued
First-rate numbers continue at CBC thanks to the winning ways of Montreal and Vancouver
Johns readies Dolly film
Mongrel Media will distribute the Prairie coming-of-age story from rookie Montreal director
Geminis add digital categories
Academy will recognize cross-platform projects and digital media programs
Hot Docs hotter than ever in 2010
Fest reports 10% increase in box office, names Thunder Soul as audience favorite
Teletoon, Bejuba! join forces on Sherlock
Companies to develop new live-action tween series based on original book
Golick to lead Writers Guild
Instant Star and Blue Murder writer elected for two-year term, looking to focus on digital
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