✖
Jane Rimer named SVP, Canada at Banijay Rights
The former Insight Productions exec will oversee Canadian sales for the global distribution company as it evolves its international sales structure.
Bell Media specialties Fashion Television and Book Television to shutter
The CRTC has approved an application filed in December, with the channels set to go dark on Feb. 21.
EXCLUSIVE: First projects revealed for Game Theory distribution fund
Titles from producers and filmmakers Anna Fahr, Alexander Lasheras and Nach Dudsdeemaytha are the first to receive support from the initiative for Black, Indigenous and people of colour creatives.
Hot Sheet: Digital Demand for Jan. 12 to 18, 2021
The Mandalorian leads, while Star Trek: Discovery, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Expanse and The Boys all claim spots on the Digital Originals list.
Netflix surpasses 200M subscribers milestone in Q4
Netflix added a record 36.6 million paid memberships during fiscal 2020, with the streamer declaring it no longer needs to borrow cash to fund its growth.
Starting a new chapter: Wattpad’s Allen Lau, Aron Levitz talk post-acquisition plans
“Selling and accelerating the business are not mutually exclusive,” says Lau, as the story-sharing platform prepares to combine with comic publisher Webtoon to form a world-beating IP factory.
In brief: CFC unveils 2021 Film Program participants
Berlinale selects Canadians for its virtual Talents program, WIFT Canada examines barriers for caregivers in the industry, and Shark Teeth gets to work on season two of Secrets In The Ice.
Second round of layoffs hits Bell Media
Updated: Discovery GM Edwina Follows becomes one of the latest senior executives to exit the company, Playback has learned.
Cogeco gets into the IPTV game
Epico gives one of Ontario and Quebec’s biggest cable providers an offering more relevant to today’s connected TV viewers.
Obsidian Theatre, CBC reveal talent for 21 Black Futures project
Set to debut on CBC Gem next month, the anthology of 21 filmed monodramas features 21 playwrights, 21 directors and 21 actors.
Blue Ant sells portion of Enthusiast Gaming stake for $14 million
Blue Ant will continue to hold a minority stake in the Toronto-based esports and gaming company, which has seen record growth in recent months.
Hot Sheet: Top 30 TV programs, Jan. 4 to 10, 2021
The Rookie comes in at #3, while Murdoch Mysteries and Private Eyes make the list.
Korean internet conglomerate Naver to acquire Wattpad for US$600M
The deal brings Wattpad under the same umbrella as the digital comic publisher Webtoon, with the platforms boasting a combined user base of around 160 million. (Wattpad co-founder Allen Lau pictured.)
Paramount+ sets March 4 for international rollout
The rebranded CBS All Access service will launch in Canada in March but the expanded content offering won’t arrive until “later in the year,” said parent company ViacomCBS.
Saloon Media returns to Hotel Paranormal
Season-two production is underway under strict COVID-19 protocols, with Dan Aykroyd set to return as narrator.
The definitive CDN broadcast and production resource.Over 5,000 company listings!
