The Canadian film and TV industry is collaborating on an industry-wide response to sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying, and violence. First steps include enacting an industry-wide code of conduct; more effective reporting mechanisms and supports; and the launch of a multi-level education and training program, and industry-wide awareness campaign. Among the initiative’s collaborators are the Association of Canadian Advertisers; Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television; The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA); Canadian Actors Equity Association; Canadian Media Guild (CMG); Casting Directors Society of Canada (CDC); Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA); Director’s Guild of Canada (DGC); Entertainment Industry Coalition (EIC); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA); NABET 700-M Unifor; Talent Agents and Managers Association of Canada (TAMAC); Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF); Writers Guild of Canada (WGC); Women in View.
The CRTC has denied an application by Rogers Media to amend the broadcasting licence for OMNI Regional. Rogers had requested that the condition of licence requiring the Quebec feed of the service to include 14 hours of original, local independently-produced programming each week be amended to 14 hours each month. Rogers argued there was a typo in its original OMNI Regional application when it proposed providing 14 hours of weekly original programming.
A Globe and Mail report says Rogers Media has informed its partner Vice Media Canada Inc. that it no longer plans to financially support the Viceland television channel. Aimed at attracting younger viewers, the channel launched early last year in conjunction with a sister station of the same name in the U.S.
Telefilm Canada is accelerating its five-year-old Talent Fund-supported Micro-Budget program. Renamed the Talent to Watch Program, the number of projects supported each year has been doubled to 50. Short film directors who have won a prize at select international festivals will now have access to automatic funding for the production of their first feature. Automatic second feature financing will also be established for filmmakers who produce an internationally-recognized first feature.
The Global TV Group, an initiative involving broadcasters and trade bodies from around the world, has compiled global figures demonstrating television’s strength as an advertising medium. The Global TV deck includes data from 19 countries, including Canada.
Comcast has lost its patent battle against TiVo, meaning it can’t import or sell X1 set-tops or export to other North American cable providers like Rogers, Shaw or Videotron that license and distribute set-tops with the same patents. The International Trade Commission’s final ruling upholds Rovi Corp.’s claim that Comcast violated patents on technologies that let users schedule set-top DVR recordings remotely via mobile device. Comcast says it will simply remove features related to the patents. The ruling, rendered Nov. 21, has a 60-day presidential review period before it takes a effect.
Animal Planet is debuting new, original Canadian series Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet during its free preview, Dec.1 – Jan. 11. Airing Sunday nights, the series follows Ashern, MB-based travelling vet Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal. Animal Planet’s free preview is available to subscribers of Bell, Bell Aliant, Cogeco, Eastlink, BellMTS, Rogers, SaskTel, Telus, Videotron, and several CCSA partners including Access Communications, Westman Communications, Northwestel Inc., Tbaytel, Novus Entertainment, Wightman Telecom Ltd., and Mitchell Seaforth Cable TV.
Showcase’s two-hour premiere of coming-of-age series Marvel’s Runaways on Nov. 22
claimed top spot as the #1 entertainment specialty program of the night among key demos, including A25-54 and the millennial-skewing A18-49 and A18-34. Looking at all specialty programs, the show also drew more viewers than the NBA Toronto Raptors game amongst M25-54, A25-54, A18-49, and A18-34 audiences. The action series ranks as Showcase’s #1 premiere this fall.
Paul Graham, vice-president and executive producer of Live Events at TSN was honoured with the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award during the Shaw CFL Awards Nov. 23 in Ottawa. The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated strong leadership and made significant contributions to the Canadian Football League. With a resume spanning more than 30 years and upwards of 5,000 major sporting events, including the past nine Grey Cups, Graham pioneered the use of live mics, as well as the expanded use of Cablecams, on-field cameras, and behind-the-scenes access. His working relationship with the CFL dates back to 1980, when he was hired as a spotter by the CBC.
Gusto has unveiled its holiday programming including original special Michael Bonacini’s Christmas At The Farm (Dec. 2); the Canadian premiere of the Eat Well For Less Christmas Special (Dec. 9); and Jamie Oliver’s Italian Christmas (Dec. 19). Starting Dec. 22, Gusto goes into marathon mode starting with its Christmas Specials Marathon, while Jamie Oliver and Martha & Snoop will dominate New Year’s Day. Additionally, special holiday episodes of Gusto’s Dinner And A Movie, hosted by Masterchef Canada Season 3 winner Mary Berg will pair themed recipes with Under The Tuscan Sun (Dec. 1), Elf (Dec. 8) and Deck The Halls (Dec. 15).
Shania Twain will helm the inaugural episode of CTV’s new six-part reality music competition series The Launch on Jan. 10. Twain will be a celebrity mentor alongside award-winning producer busbee, the songwriter behind Pink’s hit single Try, and show co-creator and music mogul Scott Borchetta. The premiere episode is slated to simulcast on CTV Two and Much and will also air in French on VRAK.
Daily Planet takes a look at the latest gadgets during High-Tech Toys Week on Discovery, Dec. 4-8. The annual television event looks at this year’s buzzworthy toys including a levitating Star Wars-inspired aerial vehicle called the Jedivator; JABii, a new game that allows users to punch each other without leaving a bruise; and 3D Selfie, a 72-camera system that captures a person’s body from all angles in less than a second, creating a 3D-printed selfie action figure.
Zone TV is once again offering its Santa Tracker, an interactive experience dedicated to all things Santa, including Christmas-themed videos, Rudolph Radio, and holiday karaoke. Santa Tracker can be enjoyed through the Telus kids’ section of the guide, and on Bell Fibe TV (Central) channel 149/ 540/ 1149/ 1540/ 1212; Bell Fibe TV (Aliant) channel 456/ 513/ 559.
The 105th Grey Cup was the most-watched since 2013, with 10 per cent audience growth over 2016, according to Numeris. An average audience of 4.3 million Canadians tuned in to TSN (4.1 million) and RDS (220,000) to watch the Toronto Argonauts come-from-behind victory over the Calgary Stampeders. Overall, nearly 10 million unique viewers, or almost 30 per cent of Canadians, watched some or all of the game. Livestreaming audiences for the championship game on TSN Digital platforms marked an increase of 22 per cent compared to last year.
Vintage TV Canada has announced a new partnership with Prism Prize, which will see a one-hour Prism Presents segment produced, featuring music video playlists curated by the Prism Prize team and its network of creators. The national, juried award annually compiles a shortlist of the 10 best videos of the year with the winner receiving a $15,000 cash prize.
Hamilton Police have arrested a 24-year-old man after a CHCH-TV news reporter was sexually harassed on the job while conducting an interview outside the police station.. Reporter Britt Dixon was interviewing an officer when a truck drove by with its windows down and a person yelled, “f– k her right in the p—y.” It was the third time Dixon had been yelled at that week after two similar incidents outside Mohawk College before a live hit.
CTV Atlantic airs the 54th Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon on Dec. 2 from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. AT. The holiday event is also available for live streaming online throughout the day.
Cardinal returns to CTV for Season 2 on Jan. 4. Strategically scheduled on Thursday nights following the network’s top-rated shows The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, the original Canadian drama is also set to premiere on Super Écran.
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) will premiere original documentary The Halifax Explosion on Dec. 3. The documentary recounts the event with archival material and an animated recreation of the explosion, which was a catalyst for the creation of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). The full documentary will be available online at AMI.ca after the initial broadcast.
