TORONTO (April 18, 2014) Curling fans, get ready to be swept away!  As announced tonight during Sportsnet’s Players’ Championship broadcast from Summerside, PEI, the Grand Slam of Curling is expanding to five events in 2014-15. Also new for next season, Sportsnet will be welcoming Canadian curling icon Kevin Martin as both a broadcast analyst and official spokesperson for the Grand Slam of Curling series.

The newest event, the Elite 10, joins the Masters, National, Canadian Open and Players’ Championships to round out the Grand Slam of Curling series for 2014-15. Total prize money for the Grand Slam of Curling events will be increasing to a total minimum of $700,000, with the $1 million bonus still available to the men’s team who can win all five Slams in a season. In addition, Sportsnet’s curling broadcast coverage will increase to up to 200 hours for next season.

“When Sportsnet first acquired the Grand Slam of Curling, we made a commitment to curling fans that we would grow the sport in Canada,” said Scott Moore, President, Sportsnet & NHL Properties, Rogers. “I’m thrilled to be delivering on that promise to Canadians. Through adding a fifth event to the Grand Slam series and bringing Kevin Martin on our team, we are finding more ways to grow our coverage and serve fans and communities across the country than ever before.”

Martin will begin his new role with Sportsnet in the coming months, following a tremendous career that includes an Olympic gold medal, a World Curling Championship, four Brier titles and 17 Grand Slam wins. In addition to serving as a broadcast insider and analyst, Martin will help to shape the future of the Grand Slam of Curling, working with the players, communities and sponsors.

“It has been an amazing run.  I am closing the chapter on my playing career in the sport of curling that has been so good to me,” said Martin. “I can't wait for what lies ahead in my new role with Sportsnet as we work together to elevate the sport to new heights, inspiring our curling youth.”

Confirmed venues for the 2014-15 Grand Slam of Curling series include:

• Masters - Selkirk, MB (October 28-November 2 at Selkirk Arena)
• National - Sault Ste. Marie, ON (November 19-23 at Essar Centre)
• Canadian Open - Yorkton, SK (December 10-14 at Gallagher Arena)
• Elite 10 - Fort McMurrary, AB (March 18-22, 2015 at MacDonald Island Park)
• Players’ Championship - Toronto (April 7-15, 2015 at Mattamy Athletic Centre)

*Ticket information for the above events will be announced at a later date

Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women's curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world. In 2014-15, Sportsnet will broadcast up to 200 hours of curling coverage, including all Grand Slam of Curling events, as well as the Alberta, B.C., Manitoba and Ontario Provincial Curling Championships.

The Radio Star National Talent Search is excited to announce St. Catharines' pop group Crystalyne have won the cross-Canada talent competition. Presented by Bell Media in association with Canadian Music Week, the competition received entries from bands and artists representing radio stations from 9 different cities across Canada. Crystalyne represents Toronto's Virgin 99.9 with their song "6 in The Morning." Edmonton band, Pistols at 20 Paces, takes the runner-up spot for The Bear 100.3 with their song, "Till We Meet Again."

The competition is a nationwide initiative to place a spotlight on emerging artists from Canada and showcase them to the public and music industry. Winners and runners-up were determined by a vote from industry professionals - a combination of experienced producers, songwriters and publishers - and an online vote open to the public. As Grand Prize Winners, Crystalyne will receive a cash prize of $10,000, as well

as 30 hours studio time at Metalworks, Canada's top recording studio; a national radio promotion package worth $5,000 from dB Promotions & Publicity Inc; musical instruments and a host of other packages and benefits. The Grand Prize Winner will be provided with an all-expenses-paid trip to Toronto for Canadian Music Week on May 6th to 10th, where they will be able to attend both the music festival and the music conference, as well as have the opportunity to perform as part of the festival.

TORONTO, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Holdings Inc. and its affiliates (collectively,Mobilicity) announced today a proposed going concern transaction in which TELUS Corporation ("TELUS") would acquire Mobilicity for $350 million (the "Transaction"). The proposed Transaction, will be implemented pursuant to a plan of compromise or arrangement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the "Plan").

Mobilicity has been operating under CCAA since late September of 2013, with the completion of a transaction as its key initiative. The sales process has been supervised by the Court appointed Monitor (Ernst & Young Inc.) who supports and recommends the Transaction.

"The Transaction is a good outcome from Mobilicity's restructuring efforts and extensive Sales Process," said William Aziz, Mobilicity's Chief Restructuring Officer. "I am confident the Transaction will serve the best interests of Mobilicity's customers and employees."

The Transaction provides for a complete continuation of Mobilicity's business for the benefit of its stakeholders:

• the vast majority of Mobilicity's one hundred and sixty five thousand active subscribers will be able to seamlessly migrate onto TELUS' advanced HSPA network after the transition.
• no foreseen changes to employee staffing levels as a result of the proposed transaction;
• all of Mobilicity's retail landlords and licensors will have their contracts honoured;
• all of Mobilicity's landlords and licensors who provide space for placement of Mobilicity's dealers and their employees who sell Mobilicity's products will continue to benefit from those arrangements;
• all service agreements with Mobilicity's business partners will continue uninterrupted; and
• the trade claims of Mobilicity's creditors will continue unaffected against the restructured Mobilicity and will be addressed in the ordinary course.

Over the past several months, Mobilicity, with the help of its financial advisors and the independent, Court-appointed Monitor, conducted an exhaustive process to explore all potential sales and other transactions for the company. The Sales Process was a widely advertised, competitive process that provided a fair and equal opportunity for all parties interested in bidding for all or part of Mobilicity's assets. In total, 25 organizations were contacted about submitting bids as part of the Mobilicity Sales Process. Of the 25, six organizations submitted participating materials and five bids were received by the December 16, 2013 extended bid deadline. Of the five bids, only the Transaction with TELUS was determined to be an acceptable transaction. Approximately 95% of the holders of Mobilicity's 15% senior unsecured debentures due 2018 also support the Transaction and have agreed to vote in favour of the Plan.

Since January of this year a number of changes have occurred in the Canadian market for commercial mobile services, including the expiry of the moratorium on the transfer of Mobilicity's spectrum licences, the successful completion of the 700 MHZ spectrum auction by Industry Canada, the announcement by Industry Canada of its 2500 MHz spectrum auction, the completion of Mobilicity's Court-approved Sales Process and the Court-appointed Monitor's support for the Transaction with TELUS.

In addition to being in the best interests of the company and its stakeholders, Mobilicity believes that the Transaction will not affect competition in the Canadian wireless sector, satisfies the criteria considered by Industry Canada in determining whether to approve a transfer of spectrum licences and meets Industry Canada's policy objectives in respect of utilizing spectrum for advancing network expansion into non-urban areas.

The proposed Transaction would be subject to conditions including approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the "Court"), the Competition Bureau, Industry Canada, and Mobilicity's debtholders.

Meeting of the Affected Unsecured Creditors to vote on the Plan

Mobilicity has today filed materials with the Court to seek, on April 23, 2014, an order (the "Meeting Order") permitting Mobilicity to hold a meeting of its Affected Unsecured Creditors on April 30, 2014 to consider and, if appropriate, approve the proposed Plan. A copy of the materials filed with the Court, and provided to the Service List, is available on the Monitor's website at www.ey.com/ca/mobilicity.

The materials made available on the Monitor's website include the proposed Plan, Notice of Meeting and forms of Proxy and Meeting Order. None of the materials have yet been considered or approved by the Court. However, any person who is a creditor of Mobilicity is encouraged to review and consider the materials. To the extent that the Court issues the Meeting Order, Affected Unsecured Creditors will have to submit their proxies to the Monitor by 5 p.m. on April 28, 2014. Please refer to the Monitor's website for more details.

Mobilicity to file for extension, business as usual for wireless customers

On April 23, 2014, Mobilicity will ask the Court for an extension of the current Stay of Proceedings from April 30, 2014until June 30, 2014.

In the meantime, it continues to be business as usual for Mobilicity's wireless customers. There are no changes to Mobilicity's network and Mobilicity continues to honour prepayment plans for its customers. Phones continue to work as they always have and Mobilicity's dealer network is open for business.

"On behalf of our entire organization, I want to thank our valued customers for continuing to stand by us as we progress through this process," said Mr. Aziz. "We have found them a good home with TELUS."

For more information, please visit www.mobilicity.ca/investorrelations or www.ey.com/ca/mobilicity. Creditors can contact the Monitor by email at mobilicity.monitor@ca.ey.com or by phone at 1-855-287-4005.

TORONTO, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - TVO is proud to announce that Woodbridge, Ontario filmmaker Luca Tarantini is the winner of the third annual TVO Doc Studio Short Doc Contest, for his short film, The Middle Way.

After an esteemed jury of Ontario filmmakers led by Emmy Award-winning director Peter Raymont (Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire) selected five finalists, TVO invited the public to choose the winner via online vote. As the winner, Luca will see his film air on TVO on April 30. He will also receive a pass to the Hot Docs Film Festival and participate in a day-long mentorship session with Peter Raymont.

Under the theme "Docs That Matter," entrants submitted films that reflected a broad range of issues they were passionate about, and demonstrated high-caliber filmmaking techniques.

In The Middle Way, Luca follows a young man's struggle to find the balance between his two passions: religion and rock 'n' roll. By day, Jasper Bendici is a theology student at a Greek Orthodox seminary. By night, he's a singer/lead-guitarist for a local rock band, The Shallow Seas. His pursuits seem to conflict on the surface, but Jasper finds qualities that unite them both.

A fan of movies and documentaries and keenly interested in social issues, Luca holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies from York University and is currently enrolled in the Advanced Television and Film program at Sheridan College.

"TVO congratulates Luca on his achievement. We were thrilled by the deep level of engagement we saw from Luca and all the contestants in the Doc Studio Contest," says Jane Jankovic, TVO's commissioning editor. "The films illustrated truly compelling storytelling and gave important insight into the thoughts and ideas on the minds ofOntario's future filmmakers. TVO is proud to have provided Luca and all the entrants a platform for their voices to be heard."

TORONTO, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Telefilm Canada proudly announces three Canadian films in competition at the 67th Festival de Cannes (May 14 to 25, 2014). The films are David Cronenberg's MAPS TO THE STARS, Xavier Dolan's MOMMY and Atom Egoyan's THE CAPTIVE. This marks the most Canadian films that have screened in competition in the same year.

"This year's Cannes festival is truly a monumental occasion for Canadian filmmakers," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "This is the strongest presence we've ever had, and a true testament to the exceptional vision and tremendous artistry of our country's filmmakers. Canadians should feel very proud."

Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

VANCOUVER, CALGARY, TORONTO, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Rogers customers can now access the internet and stream video deep into buildings, basements and elevators thanks to the launch of 700 MHz spectrum in select Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto communities earlier today.

Consumer demand for mobile video is exploding with video consumption on smartphones and tablets growing by more than 700 per cent in the past three years.1 A recent study shows three out of four Canadians stream a video on their smartphone or tablet and almost one in five do it daily.2 While sports represent a significant share, Canadians also love their YouTube videos. Topping the YouTube list of most popular videos in 2013 was Ylvis -The Fox reaching 395 million views.3

"With our beachfront spectrum, we'll deliver the ultimate mobile video experience to our customers in even more places where they couldn't access LTE before," said John Boynton, executive vice president, CMO, Rogers Communications.

The Rogers LTE network currently offers customers the fastest wireless speeds available in Canada. This 700 MHz spectrum makes the Rogers LTE network even better for customers by offering improved signal quality in basements, elevators and in buildings with thick concrete walls. This means customers will have more LTE signal bars on their phones and tablets and will be less likely to drop down to lower speeds.

Rogers is the first to bring 700 MHz and its benefits to these locations, where customers can now stream NHL highlights, watch their favourite YouTube videos and send emails from their mobile phones and tablets deep indoors and underground with minimal delays. Leading up to and throughout the 2014/2015 NHL season, Rogers will continue to roll out 700 MHz in both rural and urban markets from coast to coast so more customers have reliable mobile internet access. The majority of LTE devices that Rogers customers use can take advantage of the 700 MHz spectrum that's live today.

^{1 Ooyala's Q4 2013 Global Video Index}

^{2 Google - Our Mobile Planet: Canada – Understanding the Mobile Consumer May 2013}

^{3 Google Canada Blog: YouTube Rewind: What you watched in 2013}

April 17, 2014 - Ottawa-Gatineau - Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) thanked the Community of Federal Regulators for honouring it with the 2013-14 Regulatory Excellence Awards in the areas of Collaboration, Leadership and Innovation.

The CRTC received the award for Collaboration for the video relay service proceeding, which was launched in March 2013. In partnership with Public Works and Government Services Canada's translation bureau, the CRTC provided unprecedented access for Canadians who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired.

The CRTC was also recognized as an innovator in engaging Canadians in new ways to develop a code of conduct for wireless service providers. The CRTC made extensive use of social media and other technologies to engage Canadians and include the public's views in the discussion at a public hearing.

The CRTC congratulates all of this year's award nominees and recipients for their outstanding contributions to improving the lives of Canadians.

Masters Include Justin Timberlake, Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Tim McGraw, Robin Roberts, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Williams, Billy Bob Thornton and Sharon Stone

(April 17, 2014 – Toronto, Canada) The acclaimed, Emmy award nominated series Oprah's Master Class featuring an unprecedented first-person insight into the brilliant minds of entertainers we love, respect and admire, returns with an all-new season premiering Sunday, May 11 (from 10-11 p.m. ET) on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada).

In making the announcement at the OWN U.S. Upfront presentation, Oprah Winfrey said, “I wanted to create a series where we would be able to offer some of the most iconic artists of our time a chance to share what they know for sure… this Mother’s Day we launch a brand new season and I actually think it’s the best one yet.”

To watch a sneak peak of the all-new season or to share online (with embed code), click here: http://www.oprah.com/own-master-class/First-Look-All-New-Season-of-Oprahs-Master-Class-Video

Sharing the greatest lessons they've learned along the way from triumphs, failures, disappointments and heartbreaks, this all-new season of masters includes:  

Justin Timberlake (May 11) - The brand new season kicks off with one of this generation’s most celebrated entertainers, multiple Grammy and Emmy award-winning actor and musician, Justin Timberlake. The Memphis-born superstar, who appeared most recently in the Coen brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis and is a five-time Saturday Night Live host whose sketches became viral video sensations, now sits down with Oprah for a candid conversation in the midst of a worldwide tour in support of his critically-acclaimed album which has sold more than six million copies to date, The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience. Sharing never-before-told stories about growing up and his musical influences, he lends his most valuable life lessons yet, including: how to find your voice, how to break the mold and how to hold on to your ambition.

Whoopi Goldberg (June 1) - Bona fide comedy legend and among the very few who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award, Whoopi Goldberg has appeared in over 140 movies and is co-host and moderator on The View. Raised by a single mother in New York City, Whoopi talks candidly about her childhood and shares her most valuable life lessons, including personal stories about her iconic roles as Celie in The Color Purple and Oda Mae Brown in Ghost. She also shares how she learned to accept success in all of its forms and open the door to opportunity.

Tim McGraw (June 8) - Multiple Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actor, Tim McGraw, holds the record for the highest grossing tour in country music history and has had eleven consecutive albums debut at No.1 on the Billboard charts. With all his success, he remains a down-to-earth Southern boy at heart. Married to superstar Faith Hill for almost twenty years, the couple is considered country music royalty. Embarking on a multi-city tour for his new album, Sundown Heaven Town, Tim sits down for an emotional conversation about his childhood in a small Louisiana town, the family secret that would change his life forever and what he’s learned as a father of three daughters.

Robin Roberts (June 15) - Good Morning America anchor and Peabody award recipient, Robin Roberts, led GMA to top ratings with three consecutive Emmy awards for outstanding morning program. In this emotional and candid conversation, Robin opens up about her brave battle with breast cancer, how she overcame adversity and shares her most valuable life lessons learned, including how to be true to yourself and listen to your inner voice.

The following episode premiere dates will be announced in the coming weeks:

Lionel Richie - Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning music mastermind, Lionel Richie hasn’t stopped yet since his debut with The Commodores through his smashing success of the global phenomenon We Are The World. With eleven hit albums, over a hundred million records sold and ongoing tours, Lionel opens up about his childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama, the prejudices he endured, and what he learned from his father.

Barbara Walters - Legendary journalist Barbara Walters is a twelve-time Emmy award winner, an Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Famer and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient whose career is unrivaled. In this rare glimpse into Barbara’s personal journey, she details how she got her big break and talks about why she recently chose to step away from the Emmy-winning daytime show she created, The View. Barbara describes her ascent, from being the first woman to co-anchor The Today Show to interviewing every sitting President and First Lady since Richard Nixon. She also offers her most valuable lessons learned from her unparalleled five decades in the business.

Vanessa Williams - Multiple Emmy and NAACP Award-winning singer and actress, Vanessa Williams performed in dozens of hit films and television shows and earned rave reviews for her starring roles on Broadway. Here, Vanessa opens up about being the first African-American to ever win the Miss America title, enduring controversy, coming back with her Grammy-nominated hit single, Save the Best for Last, motherhood and how she believes success comes from ‘giving your whole heart.’

Billy Bob Thornton - Academy Award-winning actor, director, screenwriter and musician, Billy Bob Thornton is a story teller at heart and describes how, in his own words, he’s ‘lived a thousand lifetimes.’  From his humble beginnings growing up in an Arkansas town with a population of 110, Billy Bob opens up about his family, relationships, success, and gives advice on how to keep the artist inside alive.

Sharon Stone - Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress, Sharon Stone, known for her iconic beauty and indelible role in Basic Instinct and Academy Award nomination for “Casino,” shares her story, when at the height of her career, she suffered a brain aneurism and fought to survive. From her childhood growing up in the mountains of Pennsylvania to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, Sharon opens up about the valuable lessons she’s learned from her surroundings and experiences, offering a beautiful example of staying in gratitude and focusing on joy.

TORONTO (April 16, 2014) Sportsnet’s coverage of the 2014 Canadian Hockey League playoffs continues on Friday Night Hockey as the Portland Winterhawks take on the Kelowna Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference championship series on Friday, April 18 at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific.

The second-place Winterhawks head into the series looking to win their fourth consecutive Western Conference championship, but will face tough competition against the league-leading Rockets. The series winner will continue on to compete for WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup against the Eastern Conference champ.

This week’s Friday Night Hockey playoff broadcast features host Jeff Marek in-studio with HOCKEY CENTRAL analyst John Shannon. Live from Prospera Place in Kelowna, RJ Broadhead handles the play-by-play alongside analyst Sam Cosentino.

Throughout the regular season and playoffs, Sportsnet brings fans the biggest and best coverage of the CHL, featuring premier Friday Night Hockey matchups from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League. Sportsnet is also the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup, May 16-25 in London, ON. Sportsnet will announce its Friday Night Hockey playoff broadcast schedule on a week-by-week basis.

TORONTO (April 16, 2014) – Bell Media’s BravoFACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) announced today the 11 BravoFACTUAL award recipients from the April 15 jury meeting. Selected from 126 submitted applications, a total of $473,000 was awarded to Canadian filmmakers for the production of short documentary films.

BravoFACT-funded films continue to enjoy critical success, including the Stage to Screen series that debuted at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival, with The Archivist and Wakening set to screen at the Seattle Film Festival in May, and Silent Garden and Tiny Dancer screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival in April. Five BravoFACT-funded shorts were also selected for the 2014 Yorkton Film Festival: The Golden Ticket; A Mile in These Hooves; Reveille; When it is Dark; and Method. All five are competing for a 2014 Golden Sheaf Award. Last but not least, the short film Role Play has been nominated for a Writers Guild Award in the Shorts & Web Series category.

For aspiring filmmakers looking to land an award to produce a short documentary, BravoFACT is hosting a panel at Toronto’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Monday, April 28 at 1 p.m. ET. In this insiders panel, hosted by pop-culture guru and BravoFACT consultant Richard Crouse, Canadian documentary veteran and BravoFACTUAL consultant, Bob Culbert, offers documentary filmmakers invaluable insights about the fund and tips for putting together a successful BravoFACTUAL proposal.

BravoFACTUAL fund recipients from the April 15, 2014 jury meeting are:
Kubo’s Crickets – Michael Allcock
Red Alert – Barry Avrich
Tennis – Tyson Caron
A.K.A. Batman – Karen Hawes
Prison Fight – Robert Pilichowski
One Wheel Revolution – Neil Rathbone
Word Play – Patrick Reed
Abandoned – David Ridgen
Synapse Dance – Karen Suzuki
Ron Taylor – Drew Taylor
A Lesson to You All – Charlie Tyrell

The next submission deadline for BravoFACTUAL is Sept. 8, 2014.

Deadline for BravoFACT is June 6, 2014.

For information about program requirements and application guidelines visit: http://bravofact.com/.

TORONTO (April 16, 2014) – The Movie Network today announced that The Movie Network GO (TMN GO) is now available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and to television provider Bell Aliant, which services subscribers in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and parts of Ontario.

Released to coincide with the recent premiere of Season 4 of HBO Canada’s most-watched series, GAME OF THRONES, TMN GO is available to subscribers at no additional cost for Xbox Live Gold members and Bell Aliant subscribers to The Movie Network. TMN GO offers instant and unlimited access to more than 1,000 hours of Hollywood hit movies, exclusive series from HBO, CINEMAX, and Showtime, and classics from every era. With this announcement, TMN GO on Xbox 360 is available now in the Xbox Apps store on Xbox 360 in Canada, as well as Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-Ray players, iOS and Android tablets and phones, and on the web at tmngo.ca.

With the addition of Bell Aliant, TMN GO is also now available to nearly 85% of all subscribers to The Movie Network, including those subscribing to Bell FIBE, Bell TV, Cogeco Cable, Eastlink TV, Rogers Cable, Source Cable, and as well as many small- to-medium sized independent television providers who are members of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA).

“We are thrilled to make TMN GO available on Xbox 360 and to TMN subscribers on Bell Aliant’s FibreOP™ service,” said Domenic Vivolo, Executive Vice-President, Content Sales, and Distribution Marketing, Bell Media. “Quick and easy to navigate, Xbox 360 brings TMN GO closer than ever to our subscribers, providing even more value to a subscription to TMN. The TMN GO experience continues to grow and we are committed to extending our reach to even more subscribers across the country.”

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 GAME OF THRONES, SILICON VALLEY, VEEP, GIRLS, TRUE DETECTIVE, and many more; the latest full seasons of HBO series TRUE BLOOD, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and many more; all seasons and episodes of HBO’s genre-defining SIX FEET UNDER, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, and more; HBO Films such as BEHIND THE CANDELABRA; new episodes of CINEMAX’s hit series BANSHEE; IFC comedies THE SPOILS OF BABYLON, MARON, and THE BIRTHDAY BOYS; new episodes of upcoming acclaimed Showtime series PENNY DREADFUL, SHAMELESS, and more; the latest full seasons of Showtime series MASTERS OF SEX, RAY DONOVAN, and more; TMN GO offers hit Hollywood movies and beloved family favourites such as White House Down, This Is The End, Monsters University, and many more; acclaimed, award-winning Canadian series and movies like Antiviral, TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES, CALL ME FITZ, LESS THAN KIND, and many more; and hundreds of classic movies from every genre and era offered by The Movie Network Encore such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Dangerous Liaisons, and many more.

The BCAB is putting a new spin on one of the most popular sessions of the Annual Conference. The Industry Executive Town Hall is a must-see panel session moderated by the legendary Lloyd Robertson and will feature our industry's top Executives! Be sure to join us for this session on Friday, May 30th, where you will have the opportunity to ask the Executives questions and hear first hand their take on today's hot topics and issues that are affecting our industry.

– 13-episode zombie drama series to air Fall 2014 –

− From the producers of juggernaut hit movie, SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE, premiering Wed. July 30 at 9 p.m. ET on Space–

TORONTO (April 15, 2014) – Space announced today that it has acquired the brand-new zombie drama series Z NATION, from The Asylum, producers of the television movie and social media sensation, Sharknado. Expected to air this fall on Space, this 13-episode, one-hour series is the brainchild of Dead Zone Executive Producer and Eureka Co-Executive producer Karl Schaefer, who also serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner. Scheduled to begin production this summer, Z NATION is an action-horror series that depicts the epic struggle to save humanity after a zombie apocalypse. The Asylum’s current project, SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE, premieres Wednesday, July 30 at 9 p.m. ET on Space in Canada and the U.S.

“This is a captivating new addition to our upcoming fall schedule – a terrific series from the trailblazing team that brought viewers SHARKNADO,” said Catherine MacLeod, Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels and Bell Media Production. “Space is always aiming to deliver the most exciting, and out-of-the-box genre programming, and Z NATION fits right in.”

“For us there is no choice in Canada other than Space, which has been home to our slate of outrageous, sci-fi, action-adventure titles since the beginning,” said David Rimawi, partner in The Asylum. “As we prepare to deliver to genre fans the unparalleled experience that will be Z NATION, we are proud to have Space as our partner as we take this exciting, new step into series.”

The deal was completed by David L. Garber, CEO, Lantern Lane Entertainment on behalf of The Asylum, and Brook Peters, Director of Programming, Entertainment Specialty, Bell Media.

Z NATION is an ensemble series taking viewers into a fully imagined post-zombie America. The series is set three years after a mysterious zombie virus has gutted the country and follows a team of everyday heroes tasked with transporting the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood. Although the antibodies he carries are the world’s last hope for a vaccine, he hides a dark secret that threatens them all. With humankind's survival at stake, the ragtag band embarks on a journey of survival across three thousand miles of unexpected terrain. Casting announcements to follow at a later date.

TORONTO (April 15, 2014) – HBO Canada presents LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, a topical half-hour comedy series premiering Sunday, April 27 at 11 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada. Hosted by Emmy®-and Writer’s Guild Award-winning writer and comedian John Oliver (THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART), the new series presents a satirical look at the week in news, politics, and current events. Joining HBO Canada’s powerhouse Sunday night block, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER follows HBO’s Emmy-and Golden Globe® Award-winning series GAME OF THRONES airing at 9 p.m. ET/MT, SILICON VALLEY at 10 p.m. ET/MT, and HBO’s comedy series VEEP airing at 10:30 p.m. ET/MT. All new programming airs day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. HBO Canada is a multiplex channel of Bell Media’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada).

John Oliver was formerly a correspondent for THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, joining the show in 2006. He first gained appeal as a cutting-edge political stand-up performer in the U.K. with a string of TV appearances and sold-out solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival. Oliver received the Breakout Award at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 2007 and went on to write and star in the Comedy Central stand-up special JOHN OLIVER: TERRIFYING TIMES, followed by the series JOHN OLIVER’s NEW YORK STAND UP SHOW, which he has hosted for four seasons. With long-time collaborator Andy Zaltzman (POLITICAL ANIMAL), Oliver co-writes and co-presents the popular weekly satirical podcast THE BUGLE. He also has a recurring role on the comedy series COMMUNITY.

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER is produced by Avalon Television. John Oliver, Tim Carvell (THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART), Grammy Award®-winning singer and songwriter James Taylor, and Jon Thoday (WORKAHOLICS) serve as executive producers with Liz Stanton (THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW) as producer.

All new HBO programming airs day-and-date with HBO in the U.S.

In Eastern Canada, episodes will be available on TMN GO and HBO Canada OnDemand.

In Western Canada, episodes are available on HBO Canada HD, on the go with the Shaw Go Movie Central app, Telus Optik TV and Bell TV Online, and HBO Canada On Demand.

– Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games gold medallists Team Jacobs and Team Jones to compete –

– $100,000 bonus on the line for Masters winner Team Homan, looking to clinch both women’s events of the season -

TORONTO (April 15, 2014) The best curlers in the world are ready to rock one more time, as Sportsnet and the Grand Slam of Curling take fans to picturesque Prince Edward Island this week for the Players’ Championship – the fourth and final event of the 2013-14 season. Sportsnet’s broadcast coverage of the event begins Thursday, April 17 at Noon ET/9 a.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE, live from Eastlink Arena at Credit Union Place in Summerside, PEI (full broadcast details below).

Attracting curling heavyweights from around the world, the Players’ Championship features 24 premier men’s and women’s teams competing in a round robin style bonspiel for a combined purse of $200,000.

Following an outstanding season for Canadian curling, Summerside will welcome fan-favourites and curling icons to the ice, including Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games gold medallists Team Jones and Team Jacobs, the 2013-14 men’s Grand Slam of Curling leader Team Howard, and women’s Masters winner Team Homan - who will look to clinch an additional $100,000 bonus awarded to the women’s team who can win both Grand Slam events of the season.

Sportsnet’s curling experts will be at the heart of the action in Summerside, with Rob Faulds handling the play-by-play alongside 1998 Olympic silver medallists and former teammates Mike Harris and Rich Hart, and 1998 Olympic gold medallist Joan McCusker.

Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women's curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world. In addition to the Players’ Championship, the 2013-14 series also included The Masters (Abbottsford, BC), Canadian Open (Medicine Hat, AB) and the Syncrude National (Fort McMurray, AB). Tickets for the Players’ Championship can be purchased online here.

- International travellers can now get one pack that lets them use data, text and voice or a new data-only rate for$9.99 per day

TORONTO, April 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Bon voyage! From short jaunts to long hauls, Rogers is making it easier for customers to use their smartphones when travelling internationally. Starting today, consumers and small businesses can get international travel packs that come with all the services they need to stay connected including data, talk and text, instead of buying separate service plans. International travellers that only want to go online with their smartphone or tablet now have access to a new data-only rate of $9.99 per day.  

"Our customers have told us they want simpler solutions when travelling, no matter where their travels may take them," said Raj Doshi, senior vice president, products, Rogers Communications. "With these new travel packs and a daily data rate, customers should feel confident they can text, get online, and stay connected while knowing how much their services will cost."

International travel packs are easy to understand and come with more data
A customer who travels to Venice to cruise the canal can choose a new all-inclusive travel pack for $60 to get 40 minutes of talk, 150 texts and 40 MB of data for the month. Voice and text only packs are still available for those customers that don't want data.

Buying a travel pack is also easy; customers can text "TRAVEL" to 7626 for free in Canada or abroad to get an international travel pack or they will receive a text with a link to buy a travel pack right on their phone when they arrive at their destination.

Access the internet for $9.99 per day
This data-only rate is great for shorter trips and the amount of data that comes with the rate depends on the international destination. If the customer is travelling to England, for example, $9.99 will give them access to 20 MB of data per day; letting them send about 400 emails, share selfies on social media, or upload reports and files to work on the go; or visit 80 websites, or access 20 maps. If more than 20 MB are used before 24 hours is up, another 20 MB will be added to their account for $9.99.

Always know how much data you have used
Customers will receive a free text message when they're nearing the end of the data left on either the $9.99 daily rate or travel pack. They can also text "USAGE" to 3330 for free to see how many daily data rates have been used or if they've been charged overage costs on their travel pack. Also, a $100 cap is put on data overage charges if they've purchased a travel pack, or if more than $100 worth of the $9.99 rate have been used.

Visit techessentials.rogers.com to find useful tips on roaming.

For pricing and a complete list of Rogers roaming offers, visit rogers.com/roaming.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 15, 2014) - The growing technology industry in Vancouver will be the focus of conversation April 14-20, 2014 on Vancouver-based Corus Entertainment station, CKNW News Talk AM 980's groundbreaking series, 'Putting BC to Work'. As a part of an overall week of discussion themed around innovation, as it relates to jobs in BC, an impressive lineup of industry experts will shed light on areas of growth within technology, the emerging skill gaps and how job seekers can transition into the field.

"There are few industries in BC that create the buzz that technology does," explains Ian Koenigsfest, Brand Director AM Programming at Corus Radio Vancouver. "Beyond the hype, however, the sector has created an impressive volume of jobs in BC and we are looking to uncover and discuss these opportunities further. As the technology industry continues to grow, it will be important to ensure that our up-and-coming talent here in BC is aware of, and pursues the emerging and exciting jobs available."

The technology sector in BC is synonymous with innovation. Vancouver is known internationally as a city whose technology sector generates business volume and revenues of $18 billion per year, just behind Silicon Valley in California and Silicon Alley in New York. For job seekers, the sector has created more than 84,000 jobs in the province, at more than 8,900 established companies. Through 'Putting BC to Work', CKNW will provide a closer look at what these jobs are and where they can be found.

The 'Putting BC to Work' series focus on innovation and technology will include an impressive line-up of industry experts from the Business Council of BC and Traction on Demand, and some of BC's hottest technology accelerator companies such as Accelerate Okanagan and Metabridge who will be interviewed by renowned CKNW hosts including Bill Good and Simi Sara.

Topics that will be covered, include:

--  Areas of growth in the technology sector

--  Skills gap and educational options for career entry into technology jobs

    in BC

--  A look at regions in BC, such as Kelowna and Vancouver, that are known

    as a hot-bed for start-ups

--  Identifying thought leaders in the technology sector in BC

--  Examples of BC companies that have made an impact on our reputation for

    technology

The 'Putting BC to Work' series is set to develop a dialogue around the employment landscape in our province - focusing both on the current state of affairs, as well as the economic outlook for years to come. 'Putting BC to Work' will run on air March 31 - April 27, 2014 and provide British Columbians and the business community with an unprecedented opportunity to access and engage in conversation about the provincial job market.

For more information on 'Putting BC to Work' or to listen live, visit http://www.cknw.com/putbctowork/. Join the conversation on Twitter using the Hashtag #putbctowork.

TORONTO, April 14, 2014 /CNW/ - It is quite the honour for Groupe Média TFO and its production partners to receive 12 Prix d'excellence of the Youth Media Alliance (YMA) nominations for digital content and shows. Winners will be announced at a gala to be held on May 27, at Maison de Radio-Canada in Montréal.

"Over the last years, TFO has seized every opportunity to offer rich and unique programming for children and youths, making it accessible to consumers wherever and whenever they want. I must give special congratulations to the producers, whose creativity and expertise enrich our programming, a veritable well of high quality educational content for parents and children," said Laurent Guérin, Executive Director of Web and Television Content at Groupe Média TFO.

The productions nominated for a Prix d'excellence include:

• Motel Monstre (Productions Slalom) : Best interactive content - 7 years and up - website and Best television show - Openness and Respect
• Les jumelles (Balestra): Best television show - Acquisition of Knowledge and Critical Thinking Skills
• Sur la piste des jumelles (Balestra Interactif): Best interactive content - 7 years and up - application
• Là est la question ! (Productions La Fête (Cinéastes) / Productions Avenida): Best television show - Acquisition of knowledge and Critical Thinking Skills; Best crossmedia project and Best interactive content - 7 years and up -  website
• MIAM! (Écho Média Productions /Studio Toboggan): Best crossmedia project
• 1,2,3...Géant (Téléfiction Productions): Best television show - Advancement of Personal Growth and Self-Transcendence; Best television show - Openness and Respect and Best interactive content - preschool
• Bookaboo (Productions Les Affranchis / Attraction images): Best interactive content - preschool

"Our programming vision revolves around the educational quality of our content for children and youth, which allows parents and children to come with us, every day and with full confidence, to an intelligent, entertaining, and multiplatform universe," explained Annick Snell, Director of Pre-purchasing and Acquisitions for Child and Youth Programming at Groupe Média TFO.

For more than 40 years, the YMA has recognized the importance of offering quality television shows and interactive content to Canadian children. During its annual gala, the YMA awards its Prix d'excellence to those exceptional productions that have made Canada a leader in the production and broadcasting of screen content designed for young audiences.

Peter W. Singer is a senior fellow and director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institution. His work has focused on the intersection of technology and conflict. His new book, co-authored with Allan Friedman, is Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know, a comprehensive primer and narrative about evolving dynamics in the digital space.

Editor John Wihbey of Journalist’s Resource recently caught up with Singer. The following is an edited transcript

http://journalistsresource.org/skills/research/chat-peter-singer-brookings-cybersecurity-media?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chat-peter-singer-brookings-cybersecurity-media

Twitter is having no trouble signing up users. But some new research provides an update on the size of an ongoing problem: getting people to tweet. Read the article in the Wall Street Journal

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/04/11/new-data-quantifies-dearth-of-tweeters-on-twitter/