Joly discusses NAFTA with creative sector

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly met Friday with representatives from Canada’s creative industries to talk about the ongoing renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). 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 …

Cultural groups team up in push for Cancon regulations

More than 30 cultural organizations have teamed up to call for the Canadian and Quebec governments to take action to “help the industry overcome the current difficulties” wrought by the digital age. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

CMF drives higher activity despite less funding

Despite a decrease in funding for Canadian television and digital projects over the year, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) managed to generate $1.4 billion worth of production activity over that period, the organization said in its annual report released this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Changes ahead for ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ as terms of trade expires

While online discussion forums are rife with debate — and more often, complaints — about why Canadians can’t access popular American television shows legally online, Canadian content producers are navigating how to ensure their work continues to be seen on digital platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

CMF, Germany partner for coproduction fund

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and a German film funding and media business development body are setting up a fund to encourage coproductions of digital media projects between the two countries. 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 …

‘No compromise’ on NAFTA cultural exemptions: ministers

Canada’s heritage and culture ministers are of one mind when it comes to the ongoing renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the need to ensure cultural exemptions remain in the new agreement, Quebec culture minister Luc Fortin said Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

No immediate impact on Bell, Rogers from decision review: Desjardins

The government’s move to order the CRTC to reconsider its May licence decision should have a neutral effect on BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. in the short to medium term, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Focus on short films, docs, music content as CRTC reconsiders decision

In reviewing its licence-renewal decision for large English- and French-language TV groups, the CRTC has to pay particular attention to funding opportunities for short film, short-form documentary and music programming creators, according to the federal cabinet. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

New OTT offerings pose threat to BDUs, opportunity for producers

A proliferation of new streaming TV competition in Canada is set to benefit content producers even as it causes problems for the country’s broadcasters and TV service providers through fragmented audiences and higher content costs — though it doesn’t yet signal an existential crisis for linear TV, experts said. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Telecom, broadcasting lobbying hits July lag

July lobbying activity was affected by the expected summer slowdown that comes with Parliament not sitting and politicians being spread out across the country in their ridings — but that didn’t mean groups weren’t active. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

CRTC licence decision sent back to drawing board

A controversial CRTC decision that creative groups said would negatively affect the production of Canadian content will be sent back to the CRTC for reconsideration by the federal cabinet, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Cultural protection a NAFTA priority: Freeland

Canada’s continued preservation of the provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that protect Canadian culture is one of the few priorities Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland outlined Monday, as she continued her pre-negotiation blitz ahead of the official start of trilateral talks with Mexico and the United States on Wednesday. This content is available …

Advocacy groups ask CRTC to deny Sirius tangible benefits plan

A proposal by Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. to create a new fund instead of allocating the entirety of its $4.79 million in discretionary tangible benefits to the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF) has the potential to affect the ability of advocacy groups to participate in CRTC proceedings, various groups are telling the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Government consulting on Copyright Board improvements

The federal government is looking for feedback on proposals to help the Copyright Board pick up the pace, launching a consultation on proposals to, among other things, speed up the body’s tariff-setting process. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Extend private copying levy: ACTRA

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is asking the federal government to extend the private copying levy, which is applied to media like blank tapes and CDs. 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 …

Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is disputing arguments made in an open letter published by three of Canada’s biggest private broadcasters that urged the CRTC not to reconsider its decision on Canadian program spending, This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Don’t reconsider CRTC licence decision: Bell, Corus, Rogers

The country’s biggest media companies are publicly firing back against calls from the creative and screen-based industries and politicians who want Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to reconsider the CRTC’s decision to adjust the standards for required spending on Canadian content by TV providers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

YouTube introducing new CanCon channel

In a company first, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube will begin specifically highlighting Canadian content on its website. 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 …

BDU revenue losses accelerate to 2.1%: CRTC

Canadian TV providers’ revenues dropped 2.1 per cent in 2016 — a marked increase from the 0.1 per cent fall a year earlier, which was the first such decline in a decade. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Protect Canadian culture in new NAFTA: Council of Canadians

The government must protect Canadian culture as it renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Council of Canadians is arguing. 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 …

New CRTC vice-chair not afraid of tough issues: ISED PS

The CRTC’s incoming vice-chairwoman of broadcasting, Caroline Simard, has a thorough, analytical mind and is well equipped to tackle the big issues in her new role at the telecom and broadcast regulator, according to the innovation minister’s lieutenant. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Ian Scott ‘collegial’ choice for new CRTC chair: former colleagues

The choice of Ian Scott as the new chairman of the CRTC was greeted positively by former colleagues who praised his experience and collegial style Tuesday, but his background as a telecom industry executive also drew some caution from the cultural sector and consumer advocates. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Split CRTC into two regulators, ISOC tells gov’t

The government should consider dividing the CRTC into separate telecom and broadcast regulators partly to ensure both issues get a fair view, according to a letter from the Internet Society of Canada (ISOC). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell Fund can’t boost limit for interactive content: CRTC

The CRTC has turned down a request by the Bell Fund to be allowed to devote more than 10 per cent of its funding to interactive digital content. 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 …

Ken Whyte appointed fellow at C.D. Howe

Ken Whyte, the former vice-president of public policy at Rogers Communications Inc., is joining the C.D. Howe Institute as a senior fellow. 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 …

AI could help grow Canadian content: CMF

The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute to the discovery and growth of Canadian content, according to a mid-year trend report by the Canada Media Fund (CMF). 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 …

CMF appoints two board members

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has made two new appointments to its board of directors. 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 …

Sirius says new fund proposal to fill gaps in CanCon system

As part of its discretionary tangible benefits proposal, Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. is asking to put in place a new fund that “directly benefits musical and spoken word artists and addresses unfulfilled opportunities” in the existing Canadian content development ecosystem. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

More groups petition Joly to reverse CRTC licence decision

More creative groups are stepping up formal efforts to get the CRTC to reverse its licence renewal decision, which they say will negatively affect the production of Canadian content. 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 …

WGC asks Joly to reverse CRTC licence decision

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) has formalized its complaint against the CRTC’s recent TV licence renewal decision in the form of an appeal to Canadian Heritage asking it to reverse the ruling it says harms the production of Canadian content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

U.S. NAFTA consult targets CanCon, copyright, data rules

American companies and organizations took aim at Canadian cultural protections, the country’s copyright regime and expressed concern over any potential rules requiring domestic storage of data, when given the chance to provide feedback to their government on priorities to tackle in a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Advisory group named to drive CBC board appointments

OTTAWA — A nine-member panel has been charged with vetting potential appointees to the CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors, led by former TV journalist Tom Clark, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced 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 …

Blais evokes praise, criticism as he leaves CRTC

Now that former chairman Jean-Pierre Blais has departed the CRTC after five years at the helm, he leaves behind hundreds of decisions that have shaped the direction of Canada’s telecom and media industries, and a mixed legacy that includes accolades for his focus on broadband and consumer issues and disapproval from the cultural sector. This …

Opposition MPs say conflict of interest in Heritage office

Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada lobbied Leslie Church, its former communications head and now chief of staff to Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, on several occasions this year, meetings that are being criticized by Opposition MPs. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Committee’s ISP tax proposal a non-starter: PM

OTTAWA — A House of Commons committee recommendation to expand the five-per-cent contribution broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs) are required to make to the Canadian Media Fund to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) was dead on arrival Thursday, with both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly roundly denouncing the suggestion shortly after the committee …

Blais pans, prophesizes in end-of-term speech

CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais used what may prove to be his final address as head of the telecom regulator to issue recriminations for past practice and predictions for the future of the country’s cultural industries and the CRTC itself. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

CBC, CRTC still viewed as keepers of Canadian identity: study

Canadians rely heaviest on CBC/Radio-Canada and the CRTC to protect televised Canadian culture and identity, according to a new poll commissioned by the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. 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. …

Indigenous Screen Office coming to Canada

A new office to support indigenous creators will open its doors, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Monday at the Banff World Media Festival. 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 …

Joly notes creator ‘anxiety’ over CRTC licence renewal decision

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly acknowledged the “anxiety” members of the creative community are experiencing following the CRTC’s licence renewal decision, but didn’t give any hints as to if she might ease that discomfort during a Friday afternoon live-streamed interview with Huffington Post Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bloc MPs push heritage minister on CRTC licence decision

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is facing more calls to order the CRTC to review its licence renewal decision, this time from the Bloc Québécois. 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 …

Canadian content finding home in Europe: report

Canada Media Fund (CMF)-supported content has seen a healthy export market in Europe, rivalling Canada’s number one export market in the United States, according to a new report sponsored by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Joly ‘studying’ CRTC licence decision after criticism

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly told a parliamentary committee Tuesday that she hasn’t yet decided whether to take any action regarding the CRTC’s May 15 licence renewal decision, following calls for the government to send it back to the commission. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Few policy details from new CPC leader

Conservatives elected Saskatchewan MP Andrew Scheer as party and official Opposition leader over the weekend, but those interested in his stance on telecom and media issues won’t have much to chew on. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Guylaine Roy changes roles at Heritage

Guylaine Roy has been named associate deputy minister of Canadian Heritage, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office 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 a free trial or …

Joly could reconsider OTT regs over Quebec: Desjardins

Pressure from Quebec could lead Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to consider imposing taxes on foreign over-the-top (OTT) services, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. 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 …

Licence decision could devastate Canadian production: WGC

A day after the CRTC released its decision on broadcast licence renewals for large ownership groups, three organizations representing the country’s production sector said they are concerned the new expenditure minimums could harm production of Canadian content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

David Sparrow elected national president of ACTRA

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has elected David Sparrow as its national president for a two-year term. 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 …

Rogers’ OMNI gets temporary mandatory distribution

Rogers Communications Inc. will get a three-year window to run its new national ethnic channel before having to compete with other proposals for its mandatory carriage, the CRTC announced Monday. 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 …

Mark Slone to head CAFDE

Mark Slone has been elected president of The Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters.

The lobby group announced the election of Slone, who is currently Entertainment One Ltd.’s executive vice-president of theatrical distribution and marketing, in a Thursday press release.

DHX shells out for Peanuts

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Peppermint Patty are joining Halifax-based DHX Media Ltd.’s stable of properties, as the company announced Wednesday its bid to acquire the Peanuts brand from an American management company.

The deal with Iconix Brand Group Inc. includes an 80-per-cent controlling interest in Peanuts and a 100-per-cent stake in Strawberry Shortcake for $345 million US, DHX said in a press release.

Digital platforms open to cultural diversity message: Joly

OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly said she found a receptive audience for her message of cultural diversity on digital platforms among the executives of the digital media giants she met on her recent trip to California.

AI, 5G, rural broadband funding in Ont., N.S. budgets

The Ontario government said it will support the latest technologies in the coming years, with funding for artificial intelligence and 5G networks included in its 2017 budget.

CRTC to launch women-in-production talks

The CRTC will explore the topic of generating more participation of women in media production, according to Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais.

Sirius privatization plan gets final OK from CRTC

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. received the final nod required in its bid to privatize, with the CRTC granting its approval Wednesday for the transaction it said was worth $479 million.

The deal is in the public interest, the CRTC said in its decision, as Sirius provides service to about 2.7 million Canadian subscribers and distributes about 140,000 hours of Canadian programming every year.

Sirius ordered to make up $300K CanCon contribution shortfall

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. has to pony up more than $300,000 to make up a deficit in its Canadian content development contributions, the CRTC said.

CCSA leads March lobbying pack

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) led the telecom field for lobbying the federal government in March, logging 15 communication reports for the month, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry.

Those reports were split between organization president and CEO Jay Thomson and long-time consultant Harris Boyd, as they communicated with a variety of MPs, such as Opposition heritage critic Peter Van Loan, Liberal finance committee chair Wayne Easter and an Innovation Canada policy advisor.

Int’l broadcasters team up for export portal

CBC/Radio-Canada is leading a collaboration between public broadcasters and other media distributors to boost video exports via a new online platform, it said Tuesday.

The platform, called Panora.tv “aims to facilitate and promote the export of video content to emerging markets and digital services providers,” CBC said in a press release, citing participation from Australian, Portuguese, Swiss, Finnish and Spanish broadcasters, along with the National Film Board (NFB) and the distribution arm of the French public broadcaster.

Canada signs coproduction agreement with Luxembourg

The federal government has signed an audiovisual coproduction treaty with Luxembourg.

“This treaty will further position Canada as a partner of choice in audiovisual coproductions, and strengthen our cultural and economic ties with Luxembourg,” said a statement from Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly issued Wednesday.

Under the agreement, coproduced projects will be given national status in both countries, making producers eligible for benefits like funding and tax incentives in their own country, the statement added.

Cathia Badiere joins ACTRA

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has hired Cathia Badiere as its national director of research.

Effective immediately, Badiere will oversee the organization’s collective bargaining, policy and industry research “to support ACTRA’s objective of improving the working lives of Canadian professional performers,” the union said in a Tuesday press release.

Joly to discuss promoting CanCon with Google, Facebook

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to California later this month to meet with representatives from Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc., her office has confirmed.

Spokesman Pierre-Olivier Herbert said the minister will go to San Francisco and Los Angeles next week and will meet with officials from Google, YouTube and Facebook.

Debate resumes on CBC-privatization bill, vote deferred

OTTAWA — A Conservative backbencher’s bill to privatize CBC/Radio-Canada found a little more support from party colleagues in the House of Commons Monday, but it likely won’t be enough to push it to committee stage.

10 web series get $2M from CMF

Canada Media Fund (CMF) is providing $2 million for 10 web series as part of a pilot project.

The organization said in a press release Thursday the funding is “the result of the pilot program the CMF had put in place to exclusively finance Canadian web series in their second or subsequent season.”

All of the 10 series are in the drama genre, and six are in English and four in French.

The press release said the pilot project “was developed to meet the needs in the marketplace for linear content created for online consumption.”

Letter to Joly urges media-production reps in new CRTC posts

Nearly two-dozen representatives from the screen-based media industry, such as the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), and the Writers Guild of Canada have signed a letter urging the Heritage Minister to select new CRTC commissioners that reflect their industry.

The letter, dated March 28, notes the upcoming appointment of four commission positions, including chairperson, and the historical dearth of representatives from the arts and culture sector.

Ken Whyte leaving Rogers

Ken Whyte, Rogers Communications Inc.’s senior vice-president of public policy, is leaving the company effective April 28.

Whyte said in a posting on LinkedIn Monday that he resigned “this morning after 12 happy, fruitful years.”

According to a note from Rogers chief legal officer David Miller posted by Whyte, the public policy team will be rolled into Rogers’ regulatory team upon his departure.

Whyte “decided to leave Rogers to devote more time to other interests,” the note said.

CMF budget down 5.8% due to decline in BDU contributions

The annual program budget for the Canada Media Fund (CMF) for 2017-2018 is smaller than the previous year due to a decrease in contributions from broadcast distribution undertakings (BDUs).

The CMF said in a news release Friday that the budget for the upcoming year will total $349.7 million, which "reflects a stable contribution from the Government of Canada and an expected decline in contributions from Broadcast Distribution Undertakings to the CMF for the year to come."

Canada’s VR industry is nascent, but set for growth

Though virtual reality is still in its early days, it holds promise for Canada’s media industry — including for broadcasters as a new way to draw eyes to live events, such as sports, according to Nordicity’s Kristian Roberts.

For example, it could be used to allow a viewer to watch the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup finals from some of the best seats in the house, he suggested.

Mixed reaction to budget viewed as long on potential, short on details

For all the focus on the digital economy, there was little in Wednesday’s budget for digital content creators, broadband infrastructure enthusiasts or fans of long-term planning, according to consultants and advocacy groups.

“There’s a lot of potential there. But what is lacking right now is the policy and funding framework in the longer term,” Stuart Jack, a partner at Nordicity’s Ottawa office, said in phone interview.

Affordable Internet carrot, legislation review in federal budget

OTTAWA — With a focus on the digital economy, the federal government will start looking beyond geography to bridge the digital divide in Canada, adding new funding to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer affordable Internet packages, to improve digital literacy, and by announcing its intention to modernize the Telecom and Broadcasting Acts in Budget 2017.

Facebook beefs up lobbying squad

Facebook Inc. is increasing its government relations presence in Ottawa, with three new registrations filed with the lobbying commissioner’s office last month.

According to the federal lobbyists’ registry, the social media giant has contracted the services of U.K.-based consulting firm AA Access Partnership Ltd., bringing the number of consultants registered to lobby on behalf of Facebook to nine.

Joly sitting down with foreign digital companies

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is meeting this week with digital platforms, telling a CBC morning radio show Friday that she was in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., region Thursday meeting with Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada and had appointments with Spotify AB and Facebook Inc. that day.

CBC ‘dimmer star’ in media landscape, conservative event hears

OTTAWA — When talking about CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in the media landscape, the public broadcaster is a “pygmy amongst giants,” and more focus should be aimed at large telecom companies, Dwayne Winseck argued Saturday during a debate about whether to “pull the plug” on the CBC.

CRTC should be updated for digital age, DigiCanCon consultation hears

The need to modernize the CRTC was one of the themes raised during Heritage Canada’s review of Canadian content in a digital age, according to a summary report released Tuesday.

“Contributors tended to agree that at a minimum, the CRTC needs to be revisited or re-imagined in order to address the ongoing challenges of the digital marketplace,” said the report, which was prepared by Ipsos Public Affairs.

Most Canadians oppose ISP tax for CanCon: survey

According to a new survey commissioned by Internet advocacy group OpenMedia, while half of Canadians support creating a new revenue source for Canadian content, there is strong opposition to taxing Internet service and more support for extending government taxes on foreign digital operators.

Joly not afraid of change following cultural review

OTTAWA — If Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly was clear about anything during a Thursday afternoon appearance at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) Prime Time in Ottawa conference, it was that the only constant in the country’s cultural toolkit was an adherence to a Canadian social contract.

CMF, Google team up for YouTube CanCon channel

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada will launch a YouTube channel for “iconic Canadian film and television content from years gone by” to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

“The channel will also be an opportunity to test new business models for catalogue content, while generating worldwide exposure and stimulating demand for Canadian content, particularly with young audiences, who access media primarily via connected and mobile devices,” CMF said in a press release Thursday.

Lametti, Casey take on Heritage, ISED roles

The Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Innovation, Science and Economic Development have new understudies.

In a Thursday press release, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a makeover to his roster of parliamentary secretaries — who assist and support ministers in portfolio work and public duties — naming 34 people to new or renewed positions that will take effect on Jan. 30.

Canadians don’t want CanCon funding passed down to subscribers: report

A report prepared for the Privy Council Office found Canadians were generally in favour of increasing contributions to Canadian content, but don’t believe those increases should be passed down to customers.

Cogeco shifting data centre strategy due to Amazon, Microsoft: Audet

MONTREAL — Moves by Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. into the Canadian data centre business won’t compete directly with Cogeco Inc., which is changing its data centre strategy by focusing on a different type of client, CEO Louis Audet told reporters Thursday.

Avoid ISP tax, tweak CanCon rules, companies say in Heritage review

There isn’t much disagreement between some of the country’s biggest media and telecom service providers over whether foreign entities, such as over-the-top providers like Netflix Inc., should be making a contribution to the country’s cultural sector.

Canadians favour funding for international CanCon success: PIAC poll

Canadians are broadly in support of making domestic film and TV productions successful internationally and being provided the funding to do so, but don’t share a consensus on where that money should go, according to a public opinion survey conducted by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).

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.

News, video games, VR should be eligible for CanCon funding: Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc. is proposing a tax credit-based federal program to support Canadian content of all types and on all platforms.

Rescind digital media exemption order: ACTRA

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is asking the government to rescind the digital media exemption order (DMEO) as part of its review of Canadian content in a digital age.

CMPA asks for CanCon contributions from OTT, ISPs

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is asking the federal government to “modernize” and require both over-the-top (OTT) services and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to contribute to the CanCon system.

Netflix tells gov’t it plays positive role in Canadian productions

Canada is one of Netflix Inc.’s top three locations for original productions, and while the company doesn’t play a part in the official Canadian content system, the dollars invested in productions classified as CanCon serve to “multiply the impact of public support,” according to a submission from the company to Canadian Heritage’s sweeping cultural review.

Industry association for CanCon exports formed

An industry association representing Canadian distributors and exporters of TV and digital content has been formed, with the intention of helping develop content at home and export it abroad.  

The Canadian Association of Content Exporters – Association canadienne des exportateurs de contenu (CACE-ACEC) announced its formation and founding members in a Wednesday press release.

ISP tax possible as part of CanCon review, Joly says

OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly said Thursday that imposing a tax on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to fund cultural content remains a possible outcome of her sweeping review of Canadian content in a digital age.

Any CanCon ISP tax should consider ‘economic consequences’: CNOC lawyer

TORONTO — The heritage ministry and the CRTC should engage in a more balanced discussion on what to do about taxes in support of cultural content, as both seem to be moving in different directions, the crowd on the final day of the Canadian ISP Summit in Toronto heard Wednesday.