Postmedia has entered into an agreement with J. D. Irving, Limited (JDI) to purchase Brunswick News. The proposed acquisition includes daily and weekly newspapers, digital properties and its parcel delivery business in exchange for consideration of $7.5M in cash and $8.6M in variable voting shares of Postmedia. Among those papers are the Telegraph-Journal, Times Globe, Times & Transcript, The Daily Gleaner, Miramichi Leader, Woodstock Bugle-Observer, Bathurst Northern Light, Kings County Record, The Campbellton Tribune and The Victoria Star, which will all join the Postmedia network.
TVA Group recorded operating revenues in the amount of $171.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, a year-over-year increase of $24.3 million. Net income attributable to shareholders was $12.1 million for earnings per share of $0.28, compared with net income attributable to shareholders of $27.4 million or $0.63 per share for the same quarter of 2020. $20,502,000 in adjusted EBITDA was recorded in the Broadcasting segment, a 25.9% unfavourable variance, mainly attributable to TVA Sports, which in 2020 saw the start of the NHL 2020-21 season postponed thus achieving significant one-time cost savings. TVA Network posted a 7.7% decrease in its adjusted EBITDA, primarily due to greater spending on content in order to maintain its leadership position in the face of competition on all platforms and thus maximize advertising revenues, which were up 24.7% for the period. $4,812,000 in adjusted EBITDA was recorded in the Film Production & Audiovisual Services segment (MELS), a $2,641,000 unfavourable variance due to decreased profitability of soundstage, mobile and equipment rental activities and visual effects services, partially offset by stronger performance of dubbing. $1,388,000 in adjusted EBITDA was reported in the Production & Distribution segment (Incendo), a $1,757,000 favourable variance generated primarily by the international distribution of films produced by Incendo.
Matt Galloway is set to host the CJF Awards ceremony on June 7 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Presented by the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF), the annual awards celebrate excellence in journalism and emerging talent. Awards to be presented at the ceremony include the CJF Tribute; CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism; CJF Lifetime Achievement Award; The Landsberg Award; CJF Award for Climate Solutions Reporting; and CJF-Meta Journalism Project Digital News Innovation Award.
Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is joining the Daniel Pearl Foundation, on the 20th anniversary of the American journalist’s death, in celebrating his legacy of championing humanity, cultural understanding, and free press. In recognition of the foundation’s $20,000 donation to JHR’s ongoing evacuation effort from Afghanistan, it is sharing the stories of four Daniel Pearl Evacuees – including investigative journalists, women’s rights activists, and employees of civil society organizations – on its Twitter page. Pearl worked as a foreign correspondent with the Wall Street Journal in Washington, DC and London, before serving as South Asia Bureau Chief. His work to cover the ‘war on terrorism’ took him to Karachi, Pakistan, where he was kidnapped on Jan. 23, 2002. Several weeks elapsed before his murder was confirmed on Feb. 21, 2002.
