Rogers profits down 53% in ‘most volatile’ quarter

Rogers Communications Inc. posted a 17 per cent fall in revenue and a 53 per cent drop in profits in the second quarter, numbers that reflected the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns that began in mid-March.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Q3 ‘very tough’ for Corus as ad revenues plummet

The financial impacts of COVID-19 induced lockdowns led to a “very tough quarter” for Corus Entertainment Inc. as advertising revenue dropped dramatically, CEO Doug Murphy told analysts on Friday, with total revenues dropping 24 per cent on the year before to $348.9 million, compared to $458.4 million in 2019.  This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Advertising market in ‘modest recovery’: Corus

Canada’s television advertising market has moved to a stage of “modest recovery” after chapters of COVID-19 pandemic induced “shock and awe,” followed by a stabilisation period, Corus Entertainment Inc. CEO Doug Murphy told Wednesday’s TD Securities Telecom and Media Conference. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Calm before the COVID storm in Corus Q2

Corus Entertainment Inc. has deferred the declaration of its dividends in response to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic and its effect on the broadcasting industry, but the company has a “pretty good muscle memory on expense control,” according to Doug Murphy, the company’s CEO. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

SCC simsub ban rejection a boon for Canadian performers: ACTRA

The nation’s highest court has quashed a 2016 decision by the CRTC to ban the substitution of Canadian advertising on American networks for the Super Bowl, which will mean more work opportunities for Canadian performers, a labour union says. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Twitter lobbying on feds’ internet ad policy

Twitter Inc. has registered to lobby the federal government on its internet advertising policy, following the social media company’s ban on political ads on its platform globally. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Quebec news funding will help with Google, Facebook dominance: Le Devoir

As the Canada Revenue Agency considers how to administer $595-million worth of tax credits it pledged to news media, the Quebec government has unveiled a newspaper assistance strategy that some say will help digital media navigate an environment dominated by foreign technology giants.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bell and Stingray partner on targeted ads for radio, audio streaming

BCE Inc. and Stingray Group Inc. have launched a targeted advertising platform that allows ads to be placed on their radio stations, audio streaming apps and podcasts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Patrick Jutras in new role at Quebecor

Quebecor Inc. announced in a release Tuesday that Patrick Jutras would take over as senior vice-president and chief advertising officer of Quebecor and its TVA Group subsidiary.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Corus separately lobbied gov’t on journalism tax credits

Corus Entertainment Inc. registered to lobby the government to promote the eligibility of broadcasters for a new journalism tax initiative announced by the federal government late last year.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Twitter bans pre-election political advertising

Ending several months of uncertainty and speculations, Twitter Inc. has declared that it will join Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Microsoft Corp.’s Bing search engine in not selling any political advertisements in Canada in the run-up to the federal election, though it will resume selling such ads once the election begins.  This content is available to …

Junk food bill S-228 left to die on order paper

A bill aimed at improving children’s health by limiting the advertising of unhealthy foods to them, which was opposed by major Canadian broadcasters, has been left for dead on the order paper as the Senate adjourned for the summer last week.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Facebook sets higher standards in guidelines than laws: Chan

OTTAWA — Facebook Inc.’s head of public policy in Canada said Friday the platform’s community guidelines, “in many respects,” go above what is currently prescribed in Canadian law, as the company works on making those guidelines more transparent. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Ethics committee grills Google over political ads decision

OTTAWA — In an at-times tense hearing of the House of Commons ethics committee, executives from the Canada office of Alphabet Inc.’s Google made the case that the company was technologically unable to sell political advertisements on its platforms in a way that would comply with Bill C-76. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …

Corus’ turnaround partly propelled by ads returning to linear

Corus Entertainment Inc. said it will see TV ad growth in the third quarter thanks in part to a cohort of 50 traditionally digital advertisers adding linear TV to their investments. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

Facebook forms team for advice on ad registry

Facebook Inc. will solicit the advice of an advisory group as part of its effort to ensure its ad registry captures key issues leading to the 2019 federal election. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Bell launches system for targeted TV ads

BCE Inc.’s media division has launched a tool allowing its TV advertising clients to more specifically target audiences. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

MPs onside with alcohol ad standards

An industry group has created a code of conduct governing the content and application of beer advertising, which will affect how beer is advertised on TV, radio and online. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Accurate audience measurements for radio lacking, conference hears

TORONTO —  The radio industry has a “big problem” with a lack of advanced measurement capabilities to capture devices such as headphones, an industry conference heard Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Corus expecting TV ad revenue to stabilize in a ‘handful’ of years

Corus Entertainment Inc.’s wild ride through the unpredictable TV ad market is expected to become more stable as its long-term strategy sets in, its CEO Doug Murphy said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Ad sales up 6%, but CBC still wants out of ‘softening’ ad market

CBC/Radio-Canada saw a nearly six per cent boost in its total ad revenue over the past year, bringing it up to $318 million across English and French markets which, in turn, drove up its total self-generated revenue, according to the Crown corporation’s annual report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Broadcasters’ association, Corus, add new lobby registrations

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters registered to lobby the federal government on its review of the Copyright Act in July, which was otherwise a sleepy month in telecom and media government relations. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Senate committee calls for study of online ad tax deductibility

The Senate transport and communications committee said Tuesday the government should hold a full study into the issue of taxing advertising on foreign online platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

Stingray buys digital media producer

Stingray Digital Group Inc. has acquired digital media company Novramedia Inc., it said in a release on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. …

Numeris’ new digital measurement a ‘necessary step’: expert

Broadcasters with multiplatform properties are expected to benefit from a new video audience measurement (VAM) system from Numeris, which announced Thursday that it will begin recruiting viewers to participate as panelists, after recently completing a proof of concept.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Broadcast revenue bleeding got worse in 2017: CRTC

According to the latest data from the CRTC, the Canadian broadcasting and broadcast distribution industry’s loss of revenue continues to accelerate, mostly due to ongoing “significant” declines in TV provider revenue in the broadcast year ending Aug. 31, 2017. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Twitter lobbying on online ads in wake of proposed elections bill

Twitter Inc. wants to make sure the government understands how online advertising works before it considers adopting new elections legislation, said the company’s head of government and public policy Michele Austin, who was approved last week to lobby the government for the social media company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Canadian broadcasters drawn by ‘ton of momentum’ in podcasting

In early May, the Liberal government faced questions in the House of Commons about a Canadian citizen who had returned to the country after participating in the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq on the side of the Islamic State. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Media sector, senator back change to ad tax exemption

OTTAWA — A proposal to eliminate a tax exemption for advertising on foreign digital media received support from the production sector and a senator on Tuesday, though any action on the proposal appears unlikely before the conclusion of the newly-launched review of the Telecom Act and Broadcasting Act. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …

Apple takes aim at targeted ads with browser privacy features

During its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on Monday, Apple Inc. doubled down in its war against personal data tracking for online display advertising. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

Bell to sell ad space for online video company

Online video production and syndication company WatchMojo Inc. has signed an advertising sales deal with BCE Inc., according to a press release on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …

CraveTV price increases to help make up for advertising pressure: analyst

Increasing prices for BCE Inc.’s CraveTV will help improve the performance of Bell’s media division, National Bank analyst Adam Shine said in a Friday note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

Balsillie-led Centre for Digital Rights registers to lobby

A new organization called the Centre for Digital Rights (CDR) that is looking to create a national data strategy has registered to lobby the government after its co-founder Jim Balsillie told a House of Commons ethics committee this month that internet giants are engaging in “surveillance capitalism.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

Optics for gov’t could hamper tax on foreign ads proposal: Friends

OTTAWA — A media advocacy group calling for changes that would upend the ability for Canadian organizations to deduct taxes on foreign digital advertising admitted Tuesday that its proposal could face political challenges considering the government’s sensitivity to tax-related matters. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Rogers, Bell add junk food bill concerns to lobby efforts

Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. have registered to lobby the government on proposed Senate legislation, now moving through the House, to quell the impact of junk food advertising on children, joining critics who lobbied heavily in March about the bill they say will significantly affect the health of traditional TV. This content is available …

Senate committee to look into issue of tax on foreign ads

OTTAWA — The chairman of the Senate transport and communications committee said Tuesday that he will look to hold hearings on the possibility of taxing advertising on non-Canadian internet platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Changes coming to Facebook advertising programs: eMarketer

Advertisers on Facebook Inc. should expect changes — like less reliance on third-party data and better consent tools — to the platform after the privacy breach revelations this spring, says industry group eMarketer Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Corus plans TV ad tech test next month

Corus Entertainment Inc. is “accelerating” its transformation into a more data-centric company, its CEO said Thursday, as the broadcaster looks to begin testing a new platform next month that he says will give advertisers a better way to target ads on traditional television. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Ad complaints on TV highest, despite trust in medium: Ad Standards

Despite the impact of cord-cutting on the conventional television space in recent years, the medium was the source of more complaints about advertisements than any other, according to a year-end report by Advertising Standards Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Treat Facebook as broadcaster in 2019 election: professor

OTTAWA — Treating social media companies, such as Facebook Inc., as broadcasters could help keep them in line with election regulations and curb unwanted influences resulting from unbalanced perspectives, a law professor at the University of Ottawa argued Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Data, programmatic ads benefit in telecoms’ media ownership: Moody’s

Data insights and programmatic advertising that could disrupt digital media’s dominance are factors that could reap longer-term benefits for Canadian telecoms that own media properties, according to a report from Moody’s Corp. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Ad-supported VOD rising as OTT grips TV market

OTTAWA — More competition in the over-the-top (OTT) space is driving a trend of more ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) services, panelists told a media conference on Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …

Canadian media industry still behind on data, conference hears

OTTAWA — The Canadian television industry is behind the curve when it comes to using data to tailor content to audiences and drive ad revenue, panelists at a media conference said Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Supreme Court denies Bell’s request for stay on simsub ban

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has denied BCE Inc.’s request for a stay on the ban of simultaneous substitution of commercials during the 2018 Super Bowl, happening in just a weeks time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bill on junk food ads for kids could do ‘significant damage’: Corus

Proposed legislation intended to combat the marketing of unhealthy food and drink to children will have an adverse effect on broadcasters due to a loss of much-needed advertising revenue at a critical time for traditional TV, broadcaster Corus Entertainment Inc. is arguing.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

As its TV ad revenue drops, Corus says ad tech is the future

Corus Entertainment Inc. executives emphasized their optimism about future plans in the advertising technology and programmatic ad space as the company reported quarterly results Wednesday that showed its television advertising revenues fell to the tune of four per cent in the first quarter of 2018. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

As programmatic ads grow, GDPR could pose a problem: expert

Automatic, data-based advertising has grown significantly over the years and now it’s even making the move to billboards — but it’s a trend that could, in some cases, face challenges due the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), especially should the Canadian government change its privacy laws in response to that legislation. This content …

Automated advertising set to grow in Canada: report

Canadian programmatic digital ad spending will account for two-thirds of display advertising by 2018, says a recent report from market research company eMarketer Inc. released on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Tech giants increasing grip on advertising in Canada: report

While the total amount of advertising money flowing to Canadian media has largely sustained a flat trajectory over the years, internet giants Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. have increased their share of internet ads — and consequently the overall  advertising market in the country, according to a new estimate. This content is available to …

Potential described video costs ‘exorbitant’: TVA Group

Quebecor Inc.’s TVA Group has requested the modification of a condition of license requiring it to provide a certain amount of described video by Sept. 2019, according to a new Part 1 application. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Facebook to test more transparent ads in Canada

Canada will be the testbed for Facebook Inc.’s new advertising transparency policies, according to a blog post on Oct. 27. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

Rory Capern hired at Pelmorex

In a press release on Wednesday, Pelmorex Corp. announced that Rory Capern will join the company as vice-president of partnerships, starting Nov. 7. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

Facebook to hand over Russia ads to Congress

Facebook Inc. will cooperate with the U.S. Congress on its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 United States election by handing over advertisements and related information linked to a Russian entity. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

Bell Media promotes Stewart Johnston as Stuart Garvie departs

BCE Inc.’s media division announced Thursday three of its executives have been named to new positions, as well as the departure of Stuart Garvie. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Facebook to penalize false news disseminators

Facebook Inc. is escalating its war against false news by banning the purchase of advertisements by publishers who “repeatedly” share news that has been marked as false by third party fact-checking organizations. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

Bell files Part 1 against Super Bowl simsub order

With six months until kick off, BCE Inc. and its supporters are asking the CRTC to put a freeze on its decision to ban simultaneous substitution of American commercials on Canadian feeds of the National Football League’s championship game. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Gerry MacKrell to head Canadian Broadcast Sales

Gerry MacKrell will be the new head of the country’s biggest radio sales company as of Sept. 1, Canadian Broadcast Sales announced in a press release Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

TNW Wireless, iFramed sold to U.S. company

Investel Capital Corp.’s TNW Wireless Inc. has been sold to an American holding and management company, United American Corp., the Florida-based company announced in a Wednesday press release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Corus sees revenue, profit boost in Q3

Corus Entertainment Inc. reported increases in both revenues and profit Tuesday, numbers that reflected its purchase of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division last year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

‘Level playing field’ for foreign digital news services: committee

OTTAWA — After a year of study and hearing from 131 witnesses, some of them multiple times, the House of Commons’ heritage committee delivered a report aiming to tackle a rapidly changing media environment that included a call for foreign digital companies like Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google to pay the same taxes. This content is available …

ISED suspends CASL lawsuit rules

The federal government is suspending rules in Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL) that would make it possible to for lawsuits to be filed against individuals and organizations for breaking the rules. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Rogers Media Sales signs with weather, food brands

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday its media sales division had signed two deals that “expand reach and deliver brand-safe, premium-content environments to advertisers.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

CBC privatization bill dies in House

A private member’s bill to privatize CBC/Radio-Canada met a decisive defeat Wednesday night, after members of Parliament voted 260-6 to send it to the legislation graveyard.

Digital ads only in their infancy, Google’s Gingras says

MONTREAL — Digital advertising will continue to evolve into new forms we can’t yet predict, Richard Gingras, vice-president of Alphabet Inc.’s Google News, said Thursday as he spoke about criticisms by media outlets that Google is taking ad revenue away from their platforms.

Mobile ad spending on the rise: report

Canadian advertisers are catching up to their American counterparts, with the market share of digital ad spending on mobile platforms forecast to hit 77.6 per cent by 2021, according to research firm eMarketer Inc.

Bell says retroactive regulation can’t be basis for simsub ban

The CRTC can’t retroactively apply regulations established almost a year after the fact to justify its prohibition simultaneous substitution during the broadcast of the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl, BCE Inc. argued in court documents filed in its joint appeal of the decision.

Ad pulls from YouTube show money shift to TV: Corus CEO

The fallout from Alphabet Inc.’s placing of advertisements next to unfavourable content is in line with an ongoing trend of some advertisers shifting money from digital back to traditional television, broadcaster Corus Entertainment Inc.’s president and CEO Doug Murphy said Thursday.

Karine Moses and Debbie Drutz move up at Bell Media

BCE Inc. has announced two new appointments in its Bell Media division. 

Google to change ad policy after U.K. controversy

Alphabet Inc.’s Google will give companies that advertise on its platforms more control over where their ads are placed, the company said in a blog post Tuesday.

“Recently, we had a number of cases where brands’ ads appeared on content that was not aligned with their values. For this, we deeply apologize,” chief business officer Philipp Schindler said in the post.

Corus to sell cookie data to advertisers

Corus Entertainment Inc. is now selling to advertisers users’ cookie data to better target audience members, the company announced Monday.

In a press release, Corus said it’s the “first major Canadian broadcast publisher to offer first-party data to advertisers,” allowing buyers to “target audiences based on anonymous cookie data.”

Facebook, Google not ‘arbiters of truth,’ committee hears

OTTAWA — Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada told members of Parliament Tuesday they don’t see themselves as “arbiters of truth” in the ongoing challenge to address the problem of false news stories being shared via their respective platforms, but that they are increasing the measures they take to stem the flow.

Bell Media cutting jobs

BCE Inc.’s media division is “reducing a number of positions” across the country, spokesman Scott Henderson confirmed Tuesday, though he declined to specify the number of people that will be affected.

The job cuts are part of a “restructuring that includes local radio and TV stations,” he said in an email, adding that the positions affected “are from all areas of the business.”

Bell plans viewer contests, Letterkenny broadcast for Super Bowl

BCE Inc. has given more details about its broadcast plans for the upcoming National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl, including pointing fans to a resource where they can watch American ads in advance of the game.

It said in a press release Thursday that Canadian fans can visit a website that “directs visitors to the best new ads as they are released in advance of the game, as well as fan-favourite ads from previous seasons.”

Reform tax laws, tweak CBC to bolster media landscape: PPF

Phasing out CBC/Radio-Canada’s sale of digital ads and tweaking tax laws to prevent companies from claiming exemptions for advertising on foreign digital platforms are among the recommendations put forward by the Public Policy Forum following a six-month study on the state of Canadian news media.

Tax deduction change would boost ad revenue $250-$450M: Friends

Removing tax deductions for advertising on non-Canadian online media outlets could help the beleaguered local media and news sectors, while saving the government money, according to a new paper from watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Bell, NFL file appeal of Super Bowl simsub rules

BCE Inc. and the National Football League (NFL) have filed appeals in federal court arguing that the CRTC lacks the authority to ban the use of simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl.

Bell asks gov’t for 600 MHz revenue fund for OTA

BCE Inc. is asking the federal government to use part of the proceeds from its upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction for a revenue fund to support local television.

CBC asks for 35% funding boost to go ad-free

CBC/Radio-Canada is asking the federal government for an increase in its funding so that it can eliminate advertising on its platforms.

In a submission made as part of a government review of Canadian content in a digital age, CBC asked for an increase of $12 per person in funding, to $46.

Bernier would streamline CBC’s mandate, remove ads as CPC leader

OTTAWA — Conservative MP Maxime Bernier said Wednesday that if he is selected as the next leader of the federal Conservative Party and the next Canadian prime minister, he would move to make changes to CBC/Radio-Canada that would keep it from competing with the private sector.

Ending CBC’s $25M in digital ads won’t help other media: Lacroix

CBC/Radio-Canada CEO Hubert Lacroix has responded to recent statements by the heads of some Canadian newspapers about the public broadcaster competing in the digital advertising space, writing that “limiting what public broadcasting does will only mean fewer services for Canadians.”

CBC, Facebook digital ad sales hurting newspapers, committee hears

OTTAWA — The Canadian government should review its mandate for CBC/Radio-Canada in light of the national broadcaster and foreign digital competitors taking away ad dollars from local newspapers, individuals representing the latter told the House of Commons standing committee on Canadian Heritage Thursday. 

Google not ‘grabbing’ media revenue, VP tells MPs

OTTAWA — Creating the oft-asked-for level playing field by making foreign digital services subject to Canadian sales tax would hurt smaller companies trying to break into the country’s market, a House of Commons committee heard Tuesday from a representative of Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada.

Media companies looking to MCNs to reach younger audiences

Multi-channel networks (MCNs) have carved out a space in the online video ecosystem in recent years, leading traditional broadcasters to move into MCNs as a relatively low-risk way to reach younger demographics — though there is some question about the ability to monetize such investments.

Bell Media launches new online ad targeting tools

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media has made available to its online advertisers two new services that it says will enable ”expanded and more accurate targeting against Bell Media audiences.”

Advertisers will be able to use Bell’s “first-ever proprietary behavioural targeting product” to choose audiences based on their interests, such as adventure travel or sports, or have “have customized profiles created that are unique to their customers.”

Family Channel advertising OK ‘clearly positive’: Canaccord

DHX Media Ltd. announced Thursday it received approval from the CRTC to allow broadcast advertising on its specialty Family channel, a move that one analyst describes as “clearly positive,” but not a “game changer.” 

Court dismisses Super Bowl simsub appeal, Bell to re-file

The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed BCE Inc.’s appeal of the CRTC’s move to ban simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl, deciding that the case, which was launched before the ban became official policy, was premature.

The company plans to file another appeal, Bell Media spokesman Scott Henderson said in an email Tuesday.

CRTC tells CBC to drop ads on Radio 2, ICI Musique

The end of August also marked the final day CBC/Radio-Canada could broadcast national advertising on its Radio 2 and ICI Musique stations, following a CRTC decision denying a request to extend their ability to air ads for another two years.

In a decision posted to its website and coming into effect on Wednesday, the regulator rejected the public broadcaster’s May application to continue the practice that was initially granted on a three-year temporary basis because it wasn’t spending enough money on radio during its leaner years.

Snapchat facing patent infringement lawsuit

A Canadian company is suing Snapchat Inc. alleging it is infringing on its patented technology. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE …