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CHUM: A half century built on rock
It’s hard to think of CHUM Limited as being as old as 50. The company simply breathes youth. Many of its stations and shows speak primarily to the young, and the company has long been one of Canadian broadcasting’s quickest adopters of cutting-edge technology and approach.
Jump Cuts
Special Geminis for Greene, Robertson
Quebec industry meets to bolster service sector
Quebec’s production sector has announced the establishment of a nonprofit corporation to consolidate services previously done piecemeal by various different agencies and departments, as part of a three-point action plan developed to reverse the slowdown in foreign film production in the province.
The new strategy was mapped out during a full day of meetings of more than 200 members of Quebec’s film industry in downtown Montreal Nov. 29 called the Forum metropolitain de l’industrie cinematographique.
Grande Ourse rules and Fortier falls at Gemeaux
Grande Ourse was the big winner at the 2004 Prix Gemeaux, held in Montreal Nov. 27 and 28 to celebrate the best in French-language television. The drama series from Les Productions Point de mire won 12 of the 15 awards it was nominated for, including best dramatic series.
Film-friendly Toronto mayor launches film board
Toronto Mayor David Miller has stepped up to aid the city’s declining film and television industry with a proposal to streamline and bolster production by creating the Toronto Film Board, which he will head.
CRTC approves CHUM-Craig deal
The CRTC handed almost one million extra dollars to producers in Manitoba and Alberta last month when it approved the sale of Craig Media to CHUM Limited – on the condition that the Toronto media giant put up $21.9 million in funding for independent production, the ‘.9’ of which must be spent in the Prairies.
Sportsnet-TSN Olympic team okayed
CBC suffered a setback in its bid to air the Olympics Games in 2010 and 2012 when the federal Competition Bureau last month rejected its complaint against CTV.
Up close and personal with Jay Switzer
8 p.m., Oct. 12, 1988. Jay Switzer, then-Citytv program manager, is at home in front of his television set, about to watch history in the making.
Fox News to air in Canada
Fox News is coming to Canada and broadcasters are not amused – least of all CTV, which is crying foul over the CRTC’s recent decision to allow the news outlet into Canada as a digital channel, arguing that its own cable news channel can’t compete with the U.S. giant.
CBC scores big with Grey Cup and Greatest Canadian
CBC’s coverage of the Nov. 21 Grey Cup match between the Toronto Argonauts and the B.C. Lions drew an average four million viewers, making it the second most-watched Grey Cup game in the last 10 years, with audiences peaking at 4.5 million in the game’s last half-hour. This marks a 4% audience increase over last year’s Grey Cup match (Edmonton Eskimos vs. Montreal Alouettes), which attracted an average 3.85 million viewers.
Achilles revamps Banff fest
Canada’s premier television event is getting a facelift. Robert Montgomery, CEO of the Banff Television Festival, says producers and broadcasters can expect a more integrated business focus, with increased pitching opportunities, one-on-one sessions, greater participation from emerging talent, and additional screenings for Banff 2005.
From City to global phenom
Hands up, everyone who grew up getting their news from Citytv’s anchor babes trolling the newsroom and Chippendale boys driving round Toronto in branded SUVs with handheld cameras to capture what was hip, hot and happening in Toronto.
Film Centre gets $3M call
The Canadian Film Centre will receive a $3-million donation from Vancouver-based telecommunications company TELUS Corp., a sum outgoing executive director Wayne Clarkson described at a press conference as the ‘largest single gift we’ve ever received.’
Daniel Iannuzzi: 1934-2004
Broadcasting pioneer and publisher Daniel Iannuzzi passed away from a heart attack on Nov. 20 in Rome. Founder of the multilingual station CFMT-TV in Toronto, and an executive at Citytv in the 1970s, he was best known as a champion of multiculturalism. A third-generation Italian-Canadian, Iannuzzi was born in Montreal in 1934, and lived in Toronto for 50 years. In 1954, he founded Corriere Canadese, a newspaper catering to the Italian community.
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