TORONTO (January 28, 2015) – The most-watched television event in Canada – and the biggest sporting spectacle in North America – touches down on CTV this Sunday, as the network delivers exclusive Canadian coverage of SUPER BOWL XLIX featuring the AFC champion New England Patriots taking on the defending SUPER BOWL champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 1.  Katy Perry lights up the SUPER BOWL festivities during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show, with the pop star rocking out alongside legendary Grammy Award® winner Lenny Kravitz.

CTV’s extensive live coverage of SUPER BOWL XLIX from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona includes six consecutive hours of pre-game programming with coverage beginning at 12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT (see below for details; visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

Immediately following the conclusion of the big game, CTV debuts the Season 2 premiere of hit series MASTERCHEF CANADA, which moves to its regular timeslot of Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning February 8 on CTV and CTV GO.

“There is no bigger platform on Canadian television that transcends sports and pop culture like the SUPER BOWL,” said Phil King, President – CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. “We’re thrilled to have an array of advertisers and sponsors sign on for this annual ratings juggernaut. We’re also proud to continue our tradition of leveraging a captivated SUPER BOWL audience as a launch pad for our upcoming Canadian original programming, with MASTERCHEF CANADA scoring this year’s coveted timeslot.”

In addition to SUPER BOWL XLIX being televised nationally on CTV:
CTV GO allows TV subscribers to enjoy live streaming coverage
RDS has live French-language coverage of SUPER BOWL XLIX starting at 5 p.m. ET 
Live radio coverage is available on TSN Radio stations across the country and nationally online at TSN.ca/Radio
Mobile coverage is available exclusively on Bell Mobile TV

Bell Media’s CTV and TSN are the official broadcasters of the NFL in Canada.

Last year’s SUPER BOWL broadcast on CTV and RDS was the most-watched broadcast of the year in Canada with a combined television audience of 7.9 million viewers.

Sponsors and Advertising

Each year, the SUPER BOWL ranks as the single hottest property for Canadian advertisers, with SUPER BOWL XLIX proving to be a hot commodity as the Bell Media Sales team has once again exceeded all sales objectives.

Labatt Breweries of Canada returns as presenting sponsor of the SUPER BOWL on CTV, with Ford of Canada and Nissan Canada Inc. returning as quarter sponsors.

Other key advertisers for CTV’s SUPER BOWL XLIX coverage include A&W Food Services, Burger King, Dominion Lending Centres, Doritos Canada, Fisherman's Friend, GlaxoSmithKline, Hyundai Canada, KIT KAT, Loblaws, Manulife Financial, Mazda, Mondelez Canada, President’s Choice Financial, Reebok Canada, Sun Life Financial, and Volkswagen Canada.

Bell Media Promotional Campaign

Bell Media will launch a multi-platform campaign during SUPER BOWL XLIX for CraveTV’s exclusive series MANHATTAN, currently featured on Bell Media’s recently launched premium TV streaming service. The acclaimed series follows one of the best-kept secrets of all time – the mission to build the world’s first atomic bomb.

Bell Media will also leverage the most-coveted platform in television with a slate of more than 20 new promotional spots supporting its marquee programming, including CTV’s MASTERCHEF CANADA, Space’s BITTEN, Bravo’s 19-2, and TSN’s TRADECENTRE, as well as the first on-air promo for Hubub, the digital startup that Bell Media partnered with last year.

All original promotions were created in-house by the award-winning Bell Media Agency.

Toronto, January 28, 2015 – Disney XD Canada announced today a season two order for its innovative original series Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) from Banger Films’ kids division, B-Minors. Ten new 30-minute episodes of the Canadian Screen Award nominated, live-action show brings the series total to 20, with production set to begin in Toronto next month. The series, which debuted in November with a six-episode run, currently ranks as the network’s #1 series for boys aged 6-12.1

The commissioning decision comes as the remaining new episodes from Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage)’s first season bow in its new timeslot Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET, starting February 8. Among the four all-new episodes are special appearances by Raptors’ NBA baller Jonas Valanciunas, Billy Talent’s Ian D’Sa and Aaron Solowoniuk, and Olympian Patrick Chan. In addition to the series return, new TV and online content will be available weekly leading up to season two’s launch, which is slated for summer 2015.

“The format of Gaming Show is unique to television and compelling to kids because it operates across multiple platforms, giving us the ability to remain current and keep up with the rapidly changing trends in the gaming world,” said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Programming, DHX Television. “Using the series’ dynamic and relatable hosts, we are able to expose our audience to the industry’s leading companies and products, delivering a firsthand experience that illuminates the offerings of today’s highly competitive video game market.”

“It’s exciting to be continuing our relationship with DHX and expanding what is quickly becoming the go-to gaming series for kids,” said Scot McFadyen, Co-Founder of Banger Films and B-Minors.

Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) stars newcomers and real-life video game addicts Jesse Sukunda, Julia Schwartz and Ian Duchene, a trio of quirky young teens who aspire to create a popular and inventive YouTube channel devoted to gaming. The series takes place in Jesse’s parents’ tricked out garage; this is where they hang out, debate the virtues of video games and shoot cool and informative field segments. Among those spots are reviews on the latest games, head-to-head competitions and visits to prominent gaming headquarters. Plus, the gang often receives surprise visits from high profile YouTube, sports, music and gaming celebs. Gaming Show has been recognized for its innovative format with a 2015 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Children’s or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series.

Commissioned by Disney XD Canada, Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) is executive produced by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen of Banger Films’ kids division, B-Minors (Big Ticket Summer Concert, Grizzly Cup) and was created by Jesse Shamata (Grizzly Cup, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Long Story Short). Banger Films is an award-winning film and television production company based in Toronto. In its first 10 years, Banger has produced feature documentaries, TV series, live concerts and kids programs, broadcast worldwide.

Source: Numeris(BBM Canada)/Total Canada/Disney XD/AMA(000)/BY14/15 STD: Sep.1/14-Jan.15/15, confirmed up to Jan.4/15, based on 5+ airings.

(Toronto, Canada) On Thursday, February 5, Corus Radio’s news-talk stations will broadcast the seventh show in its Canadians Talk series with Canadians Talk: Freedom of Speech, with Vancouver’s CKNW News-Talk host Mike Eckford. Listeners are encouraged to join the live discussion on the importance of freedom of speech and its limitations, in light of recent world events.

Airing on Corus Radio’s news-talk network, Canadians Talk: Freedom of Speech will broadcast across Canada on the following stations:
CKNW News-Talk 980 (Vancouver) at 4 p.m. PT
News Talk 770 (Calgary) at 5 p.m. MT
630 CHED (Edmonton) at 5 p.m. MT
680 CJOB (Winnipeg) at 6 p.m. CT
AM 900 CHML (Hamilton) at 7 p.m. ET
AM980 (London) at 7 p.m. ET
Talk Radio AM640 (Toronto) at 7 p.m. ET

Listeners can visit the above stations’ websites to participate in an online poll asking listeners if freedom of speech is under attack in Canada. The poll is open until 5 a.m. ET on Friday, February 6, after which the results will be announced. Canadians can also follow the national conversation and share their views online via the radio stations’ website or on Twitter using #canadianstalk. 

Canadians Talk is a live interactive series featuring debate, discussion and insight on timely issues that affect Canadians. Each program features high-profile Corus talk radio personalities interacting and engaging with Canadians on important issues that shape our nation. During the broadcast, listeners from across the country can be part of the conversation on-air, on Twitter at #canadianstalk or directly through Corus Radio’s mobile-friendly, news-talk websites listed above.

TORONTO (January 27, 2015) – Canadian tennis star Genie Bouchard had the full support of the Genie Army last night, as more than 1 million viewers on TSN (720,000) and RDS (304,000) tuned in to watch Bouchard’s AUSTRALIAN OPEN quarter-final showdown with Maria Sharapova. Overnight data from Numeris confirms that Bouchard’s loss to the world #2-ranked Sharapova is the the most-watched AUSTRALIAN OPEN quarter-final on record, with audiences peaking at 1.3 million viewers in the final moments of the match.

Overall, more than 2.7 million unique viewers tuned in to TSN and RDS to watch Bouchard’s second consecutive trip to the AUSTRALIAN OPEN quarter-finals.

The audience marks an 80% increase compared to Bouchard’s AUSTRALIAN OPEN quarter-final appearance last year on TSN and RDS2.

Canadians can follow Milos Raonic in his quest for Grand Slam glory during his AUSTRALIAN OPEN quarter-final airing tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 28) at 12:30 a.m. PT/3:30 a.m. ET live across the TSN Network and on TSN GO.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jan. 27, 2015) - Quebecor Media Sales announces a new organizational structure of its sales and marketing team with the objective of maximizing the value of consulting services offered to corporate clients and allowing them to take full advantage of their advertising investment.

Consequently, national sales are now divided into five sectors: automotive, consumer products, retail, telecommunications and financial services, and entertainment and recreation. The company wants to allow its teams to further deepen their knowledge of their clients' business sectors and thus promote a more strategic and productive collaboration with the external advertising teams involved in clients' marketing strategies. Quebecor Media Sales clients will be offered business solutions with high added value, fully in line with their sales targets.

Quebecor Media Sales has two offices, in Montreal and Toronto, to serve its clients and improve their experience. Presence in two markets allows the company to remain closer to advertisers' specific realities and, as a result, to better focus on trends in consumer behaviour, as well as in sales and marketing.

"While initially focused on meeting our clients' needs, this restructuring also aims to allow Quebecor Media Sales to consolidate its leadership in a changing environment. With an extensive range of products, we believe we are best positioned to deliver multi-platform for all our media support that include newspapers, television, magazines, digital and out-of-home. This reorganization will allow our media, marketing, advertising and production experts to maximize their work together to support agencies and advertisers, and offer solutions that will help clients achieve their goals," says Donald Lizotte, Executive Vice-President, Quebecor Media Advertising Sales and Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, TVA Group.

The Comedy Network steps into the end zone this Super Bowl weekend and scores the premiere of the KEY & PEELE SUPER BOWL SPECIAL, Friday Jan. 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy. Airing two days before CTV’s broadcast of SUPER BOWL XLIX on Sunday Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. ET, the one-hour sketch comedy special is set to feature new vignettes from the hilarious duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, and special guest appearances from soon-to-be announced NFL stars.

Using the ever-so-popular sports news-desk format, Key & Peele are set to make this Super Bowl less deflated than ever before with a reunion of Craig Robinson & the Nasty Delicious as the halftime entertainment, and a special edition of the famous “East-West Bowl” sketch.

Viewers can chime in on all of the #football #excitement on Twitter with the hashtag #KeyAndPeele. The KEY & PEELE SUPER BOWL SPECIAL encores Saturday, Jan. 31 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy. 

TORONTO (January 27, 2015) – At today’s press conference announcing the nominations for THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS, CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) revealed that two-time JUNO Award-winning Hamilton band Arkells are confirmed to grace “The Ambitious City” stage during CTV’s March 15 JUNO broadcast from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre. Arkells, who gave a surprise performance at today’s press conference, join previously announced performers Hedley, Kiesza, MAGIC!, and Shawn Mendes.

CTV also announced today the nationwide broadcast details for the THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS. Canada’s preeminent music awards airs live from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre on CTV and CTV GO at 7 p.m. ET/8 p.m. AT and at 7 p.m. in all other markets. Check local listings to confirm broadcast times and stations.

Tickets are currently on sale for THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS. Tickets range from $39 to $149 (plus service charges) and are available through the FirstOntario Centre Box Office, by phone at 1-855-872-5000, and online at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Additional performer and presenter announcements will be released in the coming weeks.

THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS is produced by Insight Productions in association with CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). Executive Producers are John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby for Insight Productions, and Allan Reid and Ed Robinson for CARAS. Lindsay Cox is Supervising Producer. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

Sponsors of THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund,” Radio Starmaker Fund, Province of Ontario, Ontario Media Development Corporation, the City of Hamilton, and TD Bank Group.

VANCOUVER, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and Bell today announced a gift of $1 million from Bell Let's Talk to support the new Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre. When it opens in Spring 2017, the Centre will be the largest purpose-built mental health facility in British Columbia and one of the largest inCanada.

"The Bell Let's Talk commitment to mental health in Canada is nothing short of inspiring," said Barbara Grantham, Foundation President and CEO. "This $1 million gift will enable us to transform the way we treat patients suffering from mental illness and/or addiction, and for that, we are very grateful."

With Bell's donation, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation has reached its fundraising goal for construction of this innovative mental health centre. The new state-of-the-art mental health building will consolidate mental health inpatient and outpatient programs into one facility, increasing capacity and access to care for people living with mental illness.

"We're grateful to have the opportunity to put the finishing touch to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation's fundraising campaign for the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre. The campaign's great success proves the commitment of British Columbians to good mental health and improved access to care," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "Bell Let's Talk is proud to support the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre alongside other leading hospitals and other institutions across Canada that are expanding care options and driving new research in mental health care."

With 100 private rooms, the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre's mental health program will be the largest hospital-based program for people with serious mental health issues in the province and will have the largest inpatient and outpatient population of any other hospital in the region. It is anticipated that the centre will treat up to 1,900 people in the inpatient program and as many as 30,000 people in the outpatient program annually.

Designed to aid recovery with natural light, calming colours and textures to create healing environments, each floor will have quiet spaces for reading and meditating. Patients will have access to nature - outdoor gardens and courtyards - as well as exercise facilities, TV and Internet. The second-floor entrance will lead to the Bell Outpatient Reception & Waiting Area, a welcoming space featuring a built-in aquarium providing a calm and colourful environment. All of these elements, combined with the extensive mental health expertise that exists in Vancouver, will make this new facility a model of mental health care.

"Bell's gift will help us increase access to mental health services," adds Dr. Soma Ganesan, VGH Medical Director of Psychiatry. "One in five Canadians is diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime. This new facility is designed to provide an appropriate environment for patients to heal, for families to receive the best support, and will allow staff to provide care in a safe environment. Our goal is to give every patient  the tools they need to manage their illness and live in the community with dignity and respect."

With a prominent location in the heart of the VGH campus, fronted by a new pedestrian park, the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre will also reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The way patients with acute mental illness will receive treatment will be transformed from the moment they step into the building. Patients will get the right care, at the right time, in the right place, by the right person in the best possible environment, including an entire floor dedicated to outpatient programs to help those discharged from hospitals and others who come directly from the community. These important programs help patients to integrate and live independently in their own communities. With over 30,000 annual patient visits to mental health outpatient clinics, this floor will be a hub of activity - both from a patient treatment perspective and a research stand point.

Construction has already begun on the $82 million LEED Gold building which opens in 2017. In addition to support from Bell, the Government of British Columbia and many VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation corporate and private donors have supported the campaign, including Vancouver philanthropists Joseph and Rosalie Segal with a lead gift of$12 million - one of the largest personal gifts ever given to support mental health care in Canada.

To donate or learn more about the centre, please visit vghfoundation.ca/mentalhealth.

Bell Let's Talk Day is January 28
On January 28, for every text message, wireless and long distance call made by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of that day's Bell Let's Talk Day image atFacebook.com/BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

In 2014, Canadians answered the call with a total of 109,451,718 messages including texts, wireless and long distance calls, tweets and Facebook shares, meaning Bell added another $5,472,585.90 to its Bell Let's Talk funding commitment. Based on its original $50 million donation and the results of the last 4 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell has now committed more than $67.5 million to Canadian mental health.

Bell's donations are made at no extra charge to Bell Let's Talk Day participants, though normal long distance or text charges, if any, apply.

TORONTO (January 26, 2015)  Rogers Communications announced today that Paul Beeston has signed a contract extension and will remain President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays until the end of the team’s 2015 season, at which time he will retire.

“Paul is one of baseball’s greats, whose passion for – and commitment to – winning is unparalleled. He is a proud Canadian and we’re proud to have him lead Canada’s team for the upcoming season,” said Edward Rogers, Chairman, Toronto Blue Jays.  “We have been in discussions with Paul about his future with the team since his contract expired in October.  There were many rumours flying about, but it would have been inappropriate to comment on such matters publicly.  Make no mistake – we are elated to have Paul continue to lead the team for this season.”

“I love this ball club and the fans.  I wake up every day thinking about the game and bringing another championship north of the border. I’m excited for the season ahead – we’ve got a great group of guys who are fiercely competitive and hope to be playing ball in October,” said Beeston.

Beeston, 69, was the first Toronto Blue Jays employee in 1976 and has been with the ball club for 31 years, winning two World Series titles with the team.  He has served two terms as Toronto Blue Jays president (1989-1997 and 2008-present), and five years as president and COO of Major League Baseball.  A native of Welland, Ont., Beeston is a member of the Order of Canada.  He serves on the executive committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Beeston’s successor will start when he retires. We will not be commenting on the succession process or timing.

The Fraser Institute is pleased to announce it will be holding two Economics for Journalists programs this summer, one in Vancouver on May 28-31, 2015, and one in Toronto on June 4-7, 2015.

Many of today’s issues, such as health care, income inequality, the environment, and foreign aid, have economic implications. Our seminar will equip journalists with the tools needed to decipher today’s economy and become more adept at analyzing the policies put forward by politicians and advocacy groups, and the public’s response to these policies.

In 2012, we successfully launched a revised program that focused on teaching basic economic principles and how they relate to journalism. The feedback from journalists was overwhelmingly positive—for the past three years, 100% of attendees agreed that the program was intellectually stimulating and that they had gathered useful information they would use in their careers.

Both seminars will feature the same content, and will explain common economic terms and highlight the practical application of the "economic way" of thinking throughout the program. Through lectures, simulations, and discussions, two experienced economics professors will demonstrate how economics can be used to better understand the world around us, and provide real, relevant examples from Canadian society.

Topics covered include:
• Labour markets   
• National debt    
• Government budgets/spending       
• Numbers in the newsroom: GDP, CPI, and the unemployment rate 
• Economic freedom   
• International trade   
• Monetary policy

Economic concepts covered include:
• Opportunity costs
• Property rights
• Unintended consequences
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Marginal decision-making
• Supply and demand

This graduate seminar-style program is open to journalists from TV, radio, print and new media, from across Canada. Full bursaries are available to cover all program costs including travel, accommodation, conference tuition, materials, and included meals. The application deadline is February 27, 2015 at 5 pm (PST).

Program information and the application form are available at: www.economicjournalismprogram.org

We hope that you can benefit from this important professional development opportunity. Please feel free to pass this information onto colleagues that may be interested in attending by forwarding this email.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact me at 1-800-665-3558 ext. 526 or claire.jones@fraserinstitute.org.

(January 26, 2015 – Toronto, Canada) Today, Corus Entertainment’s W Network announced additional wives who will be featured in the highly-anticipated eight-part docu-series Hockey Wives, scheduled to premiere Wednesday, March 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Featured along the previously announced cast members, Nicole Brown, wife of Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown and Hollywood star Noureen DeWulf (Anger Management, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), wife of Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller, the complete cast includes:
·         Montreal “it girl” Maripier Morin, girlfriend of Montreal Canadiens winger Brandon Prust
·         Fashion designer Tiffany Parros, married to recently retired George Parros
·         Model and new mom Martine Forget, engaged to Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier
·         Hockey wives’ connector Brijet Whitney, married to recently retired Ray Whitney
·         Social activist Kodette LaBarbera, wife of Anaheim Ducks goalie Jason LaBarbera
·         Former Intelligence Specialist for the U.S. Military Emilie Blum, wife of Minnesota/Iowa Wild defenseman Jonathon Blum
·         Athlete and Communications expert Jenny Scrivens, wife of Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens
·         Arizona real estate maven Wendy Tippett, wife of Arizona Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett

“Hockey Wives will provide our audience with an insider’s look at how exciting and glamorous the lives of these ten independent women can be,” said John MacDonald, Vice President, Television, Head of Corus Women & Family, Corus Entertainment. “It will also show how the many challenges and crises all relationships face are amplified when lives are lived on the front page of the sports section. Through this series, W viewers and hockey fans will have an insider look at how these unique women embrace the game and navigate their relationships, careers and everyday lives.” 

Hockey Wives premieres Wednesday, March 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on W Network. The series delivers a rare opportunity for fans to meet ten sexy, accomplished “captains” off the ice and explores the meaning of being married to the game. With an exclusive look into the high-stakes lives of WAGs (wives and girlfriends) of the NHL®, the series reveals that it takes an incredible woman to manage fulfilling personal careers and stick handle life off of the ice with some of today’s top pro athletes. There are incredible perks to being a hockey wife, but, make no mistake, balancing the pressure of trades, relentless travel, long periods of separation, injury, retirement and living for the game takes an extraordinary and self-sufficient woman. Though they are based in cities all over North America, the wives cross paths throughout the course of the regular NHL season and are deeply affected by one another. From wives who are new to the league, to those whose partners are Stanley Cup winning superstars or entering retirement, these women form a team of their own, supporting and encourage one another through personal and professional highs and lows.

Produced by Bristow Global Media Inc. in association with W Network, the highly-anticipated eight-part series will air on W Network. Executive Producers are Julie Bristow President & CEO Bristow Global Media and Claire Adams, Head of Content, Bristow Global Media and Megan Sanchez-Warner. John MacDonald is the Vice President of Television and Head of Women’s and Family Television for Corus Entertainment.

For more information about the series, please visit wnetwork.com/HockeyWives. 

Everyone knows Marconi was one of the world's most disagreeable scientists. What they don't know is he was surrounded by people nearly as disagreeable as himself. And that a famous demonstration of his "wireless" was taken over by a magician-turned-skeptic-turned-pirate.

Read the article HERE

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Two of Shaw Media's most dynamic hosts are heading across the nation and into Canadians' homes and communities on a revolutionary mission to define, document and celebrate Canadian Cuisine.Shaw Media is proud to announce that celebrity chef Lynn Crawford (Chopped Canada) and funny man Noah Cappe (Carnival Eats) have been named the faces of the colossal multi-phase project, Food Network Canada'sGreat Canadian Cookbook. The multi-platform venture launches later this year with the ultimate online experience for food fans. The website launch will be followed by an explosive four-part docu-series, which starts production today in association with Alibi Entertainment.

"Nothing brings people together quite like food and today we begin our coast-to-coast journey to uncover the heart and soul of Canadian cuisine," said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. "We can't wait for our two brilliant storytellers – Lynn Crawford and Noah Cappe – to chronicle this nation-wide adventure and piece together the beautiful patchwork that is Canada's culinary diversity."

The highly entertaining four-part television series sees Crawford and Cappe travel the country stopping along the way to meet and eat with Canadian food lovers and makers. With a richness in diverse cultures, an abundance of deliciously home-grown ingredients and multi-generations of beloved family recipes to draw from, each episode ofFood Network Canada's Great Canadian Cookbook takes a look at Canada's cultural food mosaic by capturing kitchen conversations and chronicling culinary quests with everyday Canadians.

"We are thrilled to be working on this uniquely Canadian project with Food Network Canada," said James Hyslop, Executive Producer, Alibi Entertainment. "We are looking forward to uncovering the stories and recipes that makeFood Network Canada's Great Canadian Cookbook a drool-worthy venture."

Launching later this year is the monumental online companion. The site is poised to house the leading collection of Canadian-centric food content including recipes, celebrity videos, and how-to's. Intended to spark a meaningful conversation with Canadians, the virtual platform will be a robust database of curated and user-generated content offerings. More details to be released in the coming months.

Food Network Canada's Great Canadian Cookbook four-part television series is an original production produced byAlibi Entertainment for Shaw Media and Food Network Canada. The digital component is designed and produced by Toronto-based agency Digital Howard in collaboration with Alibi Entertainment, Shaw Media and Food Network Canada.

TORONTO, ON (January 26, 2015) – RTR Media is excited to announce the start of production on the new HGTV Canada series OPEN HOUSE OVERHAUL with designer/writer Samantha Pynn (Pure Design, Summer Home).

In Open House Overhaul, Sam and her crew overhaul houses on the real estate market in order to sell them fast and make top dollar. Production on the new 14x30’ series has started in Toronto and will premiere on HGTV Canada this spring. The program will be distributed by Distribution360, making it their first RTR Media property to represent after the recently announced first-look deal.  

"We're thrilled to deliver HGTV viewers a fresh twist on the before and after makeovers they crave," said Jenna Keane, Creative Head for RTR Media. "Sam rescues homeowners from buyers looking for a steal. The show is packed full of ideas for selling your home and stunning designs from the incomparable Samantha Pynn."

Samantha Pynn is a writer, decorator, stylist and TV host.  She's the Contributing Design Editor for Chatelaine magazine and a columnist for the National Post.  Samantha Pynn’s first series with RTR Media was the HGTV Canada hit Summer Home.

“Samantha Pynn is a dynamic, engaging and delightful design and television talent.  RTR is grateful and invigorated to be working with her again on Open House Overhaul,” said Kit Redmond, CEO and Owner RTR Media.

Open House Overhaul is produced by RTR Media in association with Shaw Media, HGTV and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

From co-creators and executive producers Lee Daniels (The Butler, Precious) and Danny Strong (The Butler) comes Empire, the series critics are calling a  “bonifide, big honking hit,” that chronicles the family saga of music legend Lucious Lyon (Oscar® nominee Terrence Howard, The Butler), the head of a music empire who is not only battling a debilitating disease, but also his three sons and ex-wife...who are all vying for his throne.

Following its hotly anticipated series debut on January 7, this season’s most popular and electrifying new drama comes to City next Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), with Episode 4, “False Imposition” in a special television event. The episode will also air in simulcast on OMNI Television.

Episode 4, “False Imposition,” sees Lucious make an attempt to steal a hot artist who's topping the charts from his rival at Safe House Records. Meanwhile, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) struggles with writer's block; and Cookie tries to mend her broken relationship with Hakeem (Bryshere Gray).

Top 10 Reasons to Watch Empire Today!
Lucious’s bad-ass ex-wife Cookie (Oscar® nominee Taraji P. Henson, Person of Interest)
Original and exclusive music produced by hip-hop legend, Timbaland
The most critically acclaimed new drama of the season, and the one everyone is talking about
A-list guest stars like Cuba Gooding Jr. (Selma), Courtney Love (Sons of Anarchy, Hole), and super model Naomi Campbell (New York Undercover)
From the creative minds of critically acclaimed, award-winning Lee Daniels and Danny Strong
Cookie
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) stars as Lucious’s sassy assistant
Secrets….SO many secrets….
Fierce fashions
Did we say Cookie?

Toronto, January 23, 2015-- The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) and the Association Québecoise de la Production Médiatique (AQPM) have reached an agreement in principle with the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) on a new 2015-2017 Independent Production Agreement (IPA).

CMPA Chief Negotiator and Chief Legal Officer Reynolds Mastin says, “This was a tough negotiation but we are happy we were able to reach a deal that recognizes the needs of Canadian producers, yet fairly compensates WGC screenwriters across the country.”

Details of the agreement will be released to the public once the agreement is ratified.

CraveTV’s #iCraveFridays release schedule continues today with the debut of THE ESCAPE ARTIST starring David Tennant. The three-part BBC mini-series is the latest exclusive series added to CraveTV and can be found in the What’s New Collection.

The critically-acclaimed and award-winning mini-series THE ESCAPE ARTIST stars David Tennant (DOCTOR WHO, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) as Will Burton, a brilliant defense lawyer coined “The Escape Artist” for his infamous ability to free criminals. When Burton helps to free an obviously-guilty client based on a technicality, his life takes a dramatic turn: the client begins to stalk Burton’s wife (Ashley Jensen, UGLY BETTY) and young son (Gus Berry), forcing Burton to face the reality that the actions of his morally-questionable career may have devastating consequences.

THE ESCAPE ARTIST will also be available in the British TV and Crime & Mystery collections.

Bell Media brings Canadians exclusive live coverage of THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS nominee press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The nominations, announced from The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto at 11 a.m. ET, will be available for live streaming in their entirety on CTV.ca, CTVNews.ca, and CP24.com. Coverage will also appear on CP24, subject to breaking news.

Currently scheduled to perform on THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS are Hedley, Kiesza, MAGIC!, and Shawn Mendes, with additional talent announcements to be made in the coming weeks.

THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS airs Sunday, March 15 on CTV and CTV GO from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre.

TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Canada's leading independent telecommunications company, Distributel Communications Limited (Distributel), today announces the official launch of Distributel TV. Available in select English and French markets across Ontario and Quebec, Distributel is Canada's first major independent Internet Service Provider (ISP) to offer television services.

"Distributel is once again taking a leadership role in Canadian telecommunications with its launch of its new TV service," says Matt Stein, CEO of Distributel. "Distributel TV means that Canadians finally have a real alternative to the television offerings of the country's big cable and phone companies," Stein adds. "We're constantly looking to evolve our services and offerings in Canada, and working to become the country's leading alternative communications company."

Stein, who joined the company as CEO in 2014, is aggressively looking to build new opportunities for Distributel – a company that has fought for and provided competitive Long Distance and Internet choices to Canadians for more than a quarter of a century.  "Distributel is continuing its tradition of innovation with the launch of this new television service," Stein says.

Distributel TV, offered in conjunction with Distributel partner Zazeen, is now available to more than one third of all Canadians. It boasts value and volume with more than 90 popular television channels included in its base packages. Distributel TV offers various TV Packages, each including Distributel Internet and ranging in price from $99.95/month to $149.95/month. The independent telecommunications leader is also planning to expand its TV offering into additional Canadian markets in the future. With most of its channels available in HD and included for free in every package, Canadians no longer have to pay more to watch their favorite programs in high definition.
For more information, visit: www.distributel.ca

TORONTO (January 22, 2015) – The Movie Network today announced that The Movie Network GO (TMN GO) is now available to Eastern Canadian customers of television providers Shaw Direct and Shaw Cable. The service is available to virtually every TMN subscriber, including those subscribing to Bell Fibe TV, Bell TV, Bell Aliant, Cogeco Cable, Eastlink TV, Rogers Cable, Source Cable, Videotron, as well as many small-to-medium sized independent television providers who are members of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA). In addition to the thousands of hours of programming that were already offered on the service, with HBO Canada’s recently announced expanded multiplatform offering TMN GO is now home to all previous and current seasons of some of HBO’s most popular and acclaimed series, including GAME OF THRONES, GIRLS, TRUE BLOOD, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, THE NEWSROOM, and TREME.

“We are delighted to welcome Shaw subscribers to TMN GO and its unrivalled programming,” said Domenic Vivolo, Executive Vice-President, Content Sales, and Distribution Marketing, Bell Media. “With nearly universal penetration, we’re proud of the leadership role of TMN GO in Canada’s TV Everywhere landscape.”

TMN GO is also available in the Xbox App store on Xbox One and Xbox 360 in Canada, on the Windows App store, as well as Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-Ray players, iOS and Android tablets and phones, and on the web at tmngo.ca.

With a sleek cinematic design and interface that offers superior functionality, TMN GO, HBO GO Canada, and TMN Encore GO are best-in-class services that allow subscribers to engage with more than 1,000 hours of premium content. Programming available on TMN GO includes hit series, movies, sports programming, and documentaries exclusive to The Movie Network, including: new episodes of upcoming new and returning HBO series GIRLS, LOOKING, TOGETHERNESS, BANSHEE, REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, and many more; all previous seasons of HBO series GAME OF THRONES, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, TRUE DETECTIVE, VEEP, THE NEWSROOM, TREME, TRUE BLOOD, EASTBOUND & DOWN, and many more; acclaimed HBO films, miniseries and documentaries like OLIVE KITTERIDGE and TERROR AT THE MALL; the IFC comedy THE BIRTHDAY BOYS; new episodes of upcoming SHOWTIME series HOUSE OF LIES, EPISODES, and SHAMELESS; the latest full seasons of the SHOWTIME series MASTERS OF SEX and NURSE JACKIE; hit Hollywood movies such as August: Osage County, Captain America: Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider Man 2, Last Vegas, Divergent, Muppets Most Wanted, and many more; acclaimed, award-winning Canadian series and movies like SENSITIVE SKIN, 19-2, TRANSPORTER – THE SERIES, LESS THAN KIND, CALL ME FITZ, and many more; and hundreds of classic movies from every genre and era offered by The Movie Network Encore such as Dumb and Dumber, We Are Marshall, Superman Returns, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Meatballs, Stand By Me, Charlie’s Angels, and many more.