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900 jobs gone at Rogers
Rogers Communications is to cut another 900 jobs nationwide to streamline its management and better compete against rivals Bell Canada and Telus Corp., a cut which accounts for around 3% of the company’s 30,000-strong workforce. Rogers did not break out the latest job cuts in terms of geography or division, and only indicated they will fall more heavily on backroom operations as the company continues to hire more ‘customer-facing’ employees, including at call centers.
CRTC okays Al-Jazeera
Three years after its November 2006 launch, Al Jazeera English has received approval from the CRTC for cable and satellite distribution in Canada. The 24-hour international news and current affairs channel is a division of the Qatar-based Arabic-language satellite service and is broadcast in 100 countries to an estimated 180 million households. AJE claims to have nearly 70 bureaus worldwide.
CTV threatens signal pullout
CTVglobemedia threatened to pull its over-the-air signals, block programming it holds the rights to, and shutter stations if it doesn’t receive compensation from Canadian distributors, as the CRTC’s hearings into fee-for-carriage kicked off.
Re-price the channels, says Péladeau
Sounding a more moderate tone than those heard earlier at the hearings in Gatineau, Quebecor Media president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau called for a rebalancing of the TV system that would see some subscriber fees now earmarked for specialty channels diverted to conventional TV. This, said the head of the media conglomerate that owns both TVA and Quebec’s largest cableco, Videotron, would save consumers from rate increases that other distributors insist will follow if fee-for-carriage is introduced.
O’Farrrell plan targets U.S. channels
Former Canadian Association of Broadcasters CEO Glenn O’Farrell has resurfaced with a proposal to sell ad time on U.S. specialty channels’ so-called local avails as an alternative to controversial fees-for-carriage.
Calgary’s new studio – for real, this time?
The Alberta industry is banking on a new Calgary studio, combined with the province’s grant incentive, to boost production – though area producers have heard talk of purpose-built soundstages before, only to be disappointed.
Scavenger hunt for digital dollars
More producers and broadcasters see the need to get into the interactive space, which is good news, but major private and public funders warn that their capacity to assist them is, as a result, becoming increasingly strained.
Douglas calls for star system
Shirley Douglas urged the Canuck film and television industry to build a star system and support its actors as she was feted by Women in Film and Television-Toronto at its 21st annual Crystal Awards. Douglas, whose illustrious 30-plus-year career has spanned roles in Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita and David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers, also paid tribute to producers and creators of screen-based content in her acceptance speech, after picking up WIFT-T’s international achievement award.
More Sanctuary for SyFy
U.S. cable channel renews hit Canuck series for a third season
Glee hot, Criminal Minds hotter
Despite solid showing, Global musical comedy loses Wednesday night to CTV crime drama
History nabs Muse’s Kennedys
U.S. channel buys eight-hour mini, slated for production next spring under Canuck helmer Jon Cassar
TIFF’s Lightbox nearing fundraising goal
Festival headquarters receives additional $5.2 million in donations
Revenues up at CTF
French production funding reaches five-year high according to annual report
Cabinet overturns CRTC on Globalive
Cell phone upstart is Canadian enough, says industry minister. Upset casts doubt on future of foreign ownership rules
Video: Reitman at Whistler
Director looks back on his early days and ahead to the awards prospects of Up in the Air upon taking the fest’s lifetime achievement award
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