REVOLVING DOOR:
CTV News has announced that longtime Global News journalist Carolyn Jarvis is joining the network as weekday anchor for CTV News Channel, starting Sept. 15. Jarvis will anchor weekdays, beginning at 3 p.m. ET, in addition to helming an all-new weekday program wrapping up the day’s biggest stories at 6 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel. Jarvis has served as Global News’ Chief Investigative Correspondent for the last nine years and been with Global since 2005, initially joining Global Edmonton as a weekend anchor and reporter. From there, she joined Global National in 2008, going on to serve as Chief Correspondent and host of national current affairs show, 16×9. Read more here.
Marc-André Cossette has been named the new face of live French programming on the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC). As the channel’s new French anchor, Cossette will host CPAC’s nightly political news program L’Essentiel. The new role, which he’s set to take up in mid-September, marks a return to CPAC, where he previously was a journalist and producer from 2018-20. He arrives from Global News where he’s most recently been a senior producer in the Parliamentary Bureau. Cossette replaces Esther Bégin, who had been CPAC’s francophone anchor since 2018. Read more here.
CHCH-TV Hamilton has returned to a two-anchor format on its Evening News, at 6 and 11 p.m. As of this week, anchors Taz Boga and Matt Ingram are sharing the desk. Boga has been with CHCH for more than 15 years, while Ingram has been with the station for six years and the face of the Evening News for the past 17 months.
Mary Cranston is moving on from CTV Vancouver. Cranston has been a host and producer with the station since 2021, first on the weekend broadcast and more recently CTV News at 11:30. Cranston, who started her career at 570 NewsRadio (CKGL-AM) Kitchener, has also held roles at CTV in Saint John and Kitchener, and Citytv’s Breakfast Television in Vancouver.
Franca Mignacca has been released by Global News as the network ceases having a reporter dedicated to covering the National Assembly in Quebec City. Mignacca had been with Global for the past two and a half years, previously covering the National Assembly for CBC.
Lisa MacGregor has departed Global Edmonton. MacGregor had been an anchor and reporter on the Global Morning News for the last six years and with the station for 11. She most recently produced “Crown Jewel in Ashes: Jasper One Year After the Fire,” an independent documentary she produced, shot, wrote, and edited.
Ryan Leslie is joining the Toronto Maple Leafs as the club’s new team host. Leslie spent more than a decade with Sportsnet, covering the NHL, where he most recently served as the host and rinkside reporter for Calgary Flames broadcasts.
Natasha Gargiulo has officially joined Claudia Marques and Lee Haberkorn on The Beat Breakfast Club as part of lineup changes at The Beat 92.5 (CKBE-FM) Montreal. Donna Saker’s daytime show also gets extended from 8:20 a.m. – 3 p.m., while Meghan Kelly joins Cat Spencer in afternoon drive. The changes see Mark Bergman shuffled to weekend afternoons.
Mike Richards (aka Rick Hamilton) has retired from CKBW Bridgewater, NS. Richards has been in radio for 50 years, starting in 1975, the last 25 waking up Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Prior to joining CKBW, Richards worked at CJCH, CHNS, 780 CFDR and SUN FM (CKUL-FM) Halifax, in addition to working in radio in Hamilton.
Lisa Brandt has joined MBC (My Broadcasting Corporation) as a freelance morning newscaster with their Tillsonburg stations, Giant FM 101.3 (CKOT-FM) and Tillsonburg’s New Country 107.3 (CJDL-FM), as well as myFM 94.1 (CKZM-FM) St. Thomas. Brandt, who retired after 35 years in radio in 2018 – and stops at 680 News (CFTR-AM) and CHFI, among other stations – says she’s still focused on devoting her time to voice work and writing.
Louanne MacRae has announced her retirement from 105.9 Seaside FM (CFEP-FM) Eastern Passage, NS. MacRae has been a host on the community radio station for the last 13 years, including co-hosting the Rise n’ Shine Weekend Edition.
Blue Ant Media has announced the appointments of Dervla Kelly as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) and Surani Adamesco as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), following the completion of its reverse takeover transaction and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Kelly formerly led Marketing and Digital at Corus Entertainment, overseeing a portfolio of broadcast, streaming, distribution, and digital brands, including creator agency Kin Community and so.da, Corus’ social-first agency. She’ll lead Blue Ant’s corporate, consumer, and trade marketing strategy, and its Communications and Creative Services teams. Adamesco, who previously served as SVP of Information Technology at SiriusXM Canada, will lead Blue Ant’s IT, Media Services, and Channel Playout teams. Read more here.
Charles Tremblay has been tapped as Head of Market for TIFF’s inaugural TIFF: The Market in 2026. Tremblay, who co-founded Metropole Films Distribution with Mongrel Media and acted as its Managing Director for 11 years, went on to launch MK2 | MILE-END with France’s mk2 as a partner. MK2 | MILE END was acquired by Sphere Media in 2022 and became Sphere Films, where Tremblay was president until leaving the company last year. He’s most recently been a Senior Advisor at MUBI.
David Wilcox has been named SVP Sales, EMEA at Fifth Season within its Television Distribution division. Wilcox joins from ITV Studios, where he spent seven years as SVP EMEA, leading the content sales team and pre-sale and co-production strategies. In addition, regional leaders Alistair Jennings and Travis Webb have taken on expanded remits. In his new role as SVP, APAC Sales and Partnerships, Jennings now leads synergy strategy across APAC, acting as the primary liaison between the TV Distribution team, stakeholder partners CJ ENM and Toho, and internal departments. As SVP Sales, Americas, Webb now also oversees Fifth Season’s global home entertainment and digital strategy, driving growth across DVD, aggregation, and streaming platforms.
Donald Tremblay has joined Telesat as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective Oct. 20. Tremblay will succeed Andrew Browne, who announced in March he would be retiring after holding the CFO role since 2019. Most recently, Tremblay served as CFO of Champion Iron, previously holding similar roles at Transalta and Brookfield Renewable.
RADIO & PODCAST:
First Peoples Radio ceased operating 95.7 ELMNT FM (CFPO-FM) Ottawa and 106.5 ELMNT FM (CFPT-FM) Toronto at midnight on Monday, Sept. 1. The stations were launched in the fall of 2018 with a goal to “fill the gap” for urban Indigenous listeners under-represented in the radio landscape. Jean LaRose, Chairman of the Board of FPR and acting General Manager, told Broadcast Dialogue back in May that the future of the stations was in jeopardy. Read more here.
Bell Media has reinstated Alternative Rock format 89X (CIMX-FM) in Windsor after a five-year hiatus. Originally introduced on May 13, 1991, the station was rebranded as Pure Country 89 in November 2020. The “rebirth” of the format is being led by Brad Gibb, Bell Media Regional Program Director, Southwestern Ontario, whose radio career started as an intern on 89X’s “The Morning X” in 1998. Read more here.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has opened applications for the Commercial Radio News Fund. The new initiative, which was granted conditional approval by the CRTC in early August, the fund aims to prop up commercial radio news production outside the country’s biggest markets. The deadline to apply for the initial round of funding is Sept. 15. Read more here.
Triton Digital has released its Canada Podcast Ranker for July 2025 (June 30 – Aug. 3). Once again leading the Top Sales Networks was CBC/Radio-Canada at #1 with 1.9M Average Weekly Downloads, again followed by Audioboom at #2 with 1M Average Weekly Downloads, and NPR at #3 with 742K Average Weekly Downloads. Also holding the leads for another consecutive month in both Top Canada Podcasts and Top Canada-Originated English-Language Podcasts were CBC/Radio-Canada’s Front Burner at #1, The World This Hour at #2, and World Report at #3. Debuts for Canada-Originated English-Language Podcasts included The Hot Tub Podcast (TPX Podcast Network).
MTM Junior’s The Sounds of a Generation explores the evolving online audio habits of Canadian youth. Key highlights from the report include that audio streaming services are a go-to for kids with three in five actively using audio streaming services, far surpassing the one in eight who listen to podcasts. Among kids who stream audio, Spotify is the clear leader, used by over 60% of young listeners, followed by YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Kids who own their own cellphones are 30% more likely to use audio streaming services. Those who consume news and use social media are also more likely to engage with online audio.
Paul Wells has announced he’s ending regular production of his podcast, The Paul Wells Show. Launched in September 2022, Wells says after three seasons, he’s moving away from weekly shows to occasional audio and video “when it suits the material, or on the spur of the moment when news is breaking.” Wells notes that the show has twice lost institutional support from large partnerships with universities and while the audience it reaches in any given month quintupled in the last year, the top posts on the veteran journalist’s Substack remain written material.
The Pro Bono Group has released new creative for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH). “Address” replaces other PSAs stations may be running, until fresh creative is launched in October. Learn more here.
LISTEN: Greg Wasserman from RSS.com is on the Sound Off Podcast to talk podcasting. Having made his way through the media ad buying world, Wasserman spent some time selling for the CBS Radio cluster in L.A. before hooking in to podcasting. He and Matt Cundill discuss the shift from downloads to audience engagement across multiple platforms like YouTube, and new toys in the toy box at RSS.com like their new programmatic ad feature, which allows podcasters to monetize with as few as 10 downloads per month.
SIGN OFFS:
David Keighley, 77, on Aug. 28, after a battle with neuroendocrine prostate cancer. IMAX’s first-ever Chief Quality Officer, Toronto-born Keighley oversaw post-production on more than 500 IMAX films and was a trusted partner to filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan. He entered the giant screen industry in 1972, alongside his wife and business partner Patricia, founding large-format post-production company David Keighley Productions and going on to co-direct the IMAX film “Catch the Sun.” They formed a lasting partnership with IMAX, working on every one of the company’s releases thereafter. In 1988, DKP 70MM was acquired by IMAX, and the Keighleys joined its team, helping cement IMAX’s reputation for technical excellence. In 2015, IMAX’s premiere theatre at its L.A. offices was dedicated as the “David Keighley Theater.” Keighley was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and involved in its Science & Technology Awards Committee, in addition to membership in the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), a Life Fellow of SMPTE, and a recipient of its Herbert T. Kalmus Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Color Motion Pictures. He received the Giant Screen Theater Association’s inaugural Special Achievement in Film Award, and was later honoured alongside his wife with the organization’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
Jonathan Collicott, 52, on Aug. 27, at home in Keswick Ridge, NB. A graduate of St. Thomas University, Collicott had a three-decade career as an independent filmmaker, researching, writing, directing and editing across documentary, drama and corporate work, while also serving as Department Head of the film programs at the Centre for Arts & Technology and daVinci College in Fredericton. He joined CBC New Brunswick in 2018 as a videographer and editor, working on the local evening TV news program, and creating content for TV, web, and social media. He took on many video projects that he shot, produced and edited, including a longform feature where he trained alongside volunteer firefighters. Collicott also worked on many special live programs, including provincial election specials.
Monique Fortier, 97, on Aug. 18. Fortier’s career as an editor and filmmaker spanned more than 40 years at the NFB (National Film Board). Fortier was the first francophone woman to direct a film at the NFB, “The Hour of Independence,” in 1963. The following year, she directed “La beauté même,” starring Monique Miller, one of the first films made by a woman about women. She went on to devote herself to editing, becoming a key figure in the field in Quebec and Canada, working on NFB productions including Denys Arcand’s “The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l’empire américain),” for which she won a Genie Award for Best Editing in 1987. Fortier was the subject of a film portrait in 2014 for NFB’s Making Movie History series.
TV & FILM:
Corus Entertainment says its children’s content division, Nelvana, is not shutting down, but as previously-announced has paused new studio productions for the time being. A Corus spokesperson told Broadcast Dialogue “To confirm, Nelvana is not shutting down,” but said any remaining production activity was completed last week and that “there are no productions underway at this time.” Corus says Nelvana will continue to operate, focusing on distribution, merchandising, and managing existing properties. Read more here.
Veronika Slowikowska, a 2019 alum of the CBC Actors Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), will grace the stage of NBC’s Saturday Night Live when the comedy sketch show returns for a 51st season on Oct. 4. Slowikowska, who hails from Barrie, ON, is among five new cast members joining the show. The 29-year-old previously starred in Amazon Prime’s Davey and Jonesie’s Locker, for which she was recognized with a Canadian Screen Award, and is known for creating viral sketch content with her roommate Kyle Chase.
French Toast Films has officially launched – a Hamilton-based, full-service production company, led by producer Dominic Ewenson, dedicated to developing innovative and meaningful scripted content. Coming off of the heels of its debut project Lice – a service production for U.S.-based ActionPark Media, starring Kevin Connolly, Emile Hirsch, and Justin Long – the company launches with a development slate spanning comedy, romance, and horror, including Christmas comedy feature Carollers’ Crossing; Financially Fabulous, a queer financial advice series following advisor Aman Banwait as he travels across Canada helping young people manage their money; Hebrew School Dropout, a period comedy feature set in the late ‘90s; and Shared Spaces, a French/Italian/English rom-com set on the Mediterranean coast.
MR. X, the Toronto visual effects studio, has officially relaunched, led by its original founder, Dennis Berardi, who first opened its doors in 2001. The studio says the relaunch marks a new chapter for the studio, which was acquired by Technicolor in 2014. Following his time with MR. X, Berardi launched creative production studio Herne Hill Media. With Berardi reacquiring the MR. X name, Herne Hill Media will dissolve into the MR. X banner. The first film released under the relaunch will be Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Rogers has introduced Rogers Xfinity StreamSaver, a new streaming plan that brings together three of the most popular streaming services – Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+. Rogers says the new bundle offers more than 30% in savings a month compared to subscribing to each service separately, with customers able to add Sportsnet+ for additional savings. Rogers Xfinity StreamSaver is now available to customers in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and will be rolling out across the country later this year.
Paramount+ and Piazza Entertainment have started production on Season 4 of SKYMED, the medical rescue drama following young medics and pilots who fly air ambulances across Northern Canada. The eight-episode season is now shooting in North Bay, ON and Manitoba, and will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada, the U.S., Latin America and Brazil, UK, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Additionally, on Oct. 3, Paramount+ in Canada will welcome SKYMED Seasons 1 – 3, ahead of the Season 4 premiere in 2026. New this season, Lauren Lee Smith (Stay Away, Frankie Drake Mysteries) joins in a recurring role. Additional newcomers as series regulars include Shawn Ahmed (The Expanse, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds). Leishe Meyboom (Riding Shot Gun, Locke and Key), Alexander Eling (The Way Home, Cabinet of Curiosities), and Cecilia Lee (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Fear Street: Prom Queen).
Sinking Ship Entertainment (SSE) has announced that principal photography has wrapped on its latest family feature, The First Dinosaur, set to stream on Crave. Production began in July, with a cinematic launch slated for fall 2026. Building on the global success of Sinking Ship’s Dino Kids franchise – which includes Dino Dan, Trek’s Adventures, Dino Dana, Dino Dana The Movie, and Dino Dex – the newest film reunites audiences with cast members, including Michela Luci (Dana), Saara Chaudry (Saara), J.P Romero (Dex), Ana Victoria Dinapo (Kayla), Jason Spevack (Dan), and Trek Buccino (Trek). The project was developed in collaboration with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and Canadian Museum of Nature.
Fifth Season has secured a raft of international pre-sales with Bell Media (Canada), Sky (UK and Ireland), Stan (Australia), Sky (New Zealand) and HBO Max (EMEA) for The Good Daughter, an upcoming limited drama series based on the bestselling novel of the same name. The psychological crime drama is produced by Made Up Stories in partnership with Fifth Season for commissioning broadcaster Peacock in the U.S., where the series will premiere next year. It stars Rose Byrne (Physical, Damages), Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus, The Perfect Couple), Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin), and Harper Steele (Will & Harper).
Run Terry Run, a new feature-length documentary on Canadian icon Terry Fox from filmmaker Sean Menard (299 Queen Street West), will have a one-night-only special screening with a live score performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 10. The film offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Fox’s legendary 1980 Marathon of Hope, drawing from 96 reels of never-before-seen footage and unheard audio interviews that have remained untouched for 45 years. Tickets can be purchased directly through Roy Thomson Hall with proceeds supporting cancer research.
The 8th Budapest Classics Film Marathon (BKFM), organized by the National Film Institute – Hungary, will honour internationally celebrated Canadian-Hungarian film producer Robert Lantos. Fourteen of his most iconic films will be screened as part of a tribute to his contribution to contemporary cinema. Running from September 16–21, Lantos will attend the festival alongside long-time collaborators, David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Yahoo Canada has rolled out a new Yahoo News homepage for Canadian users, highlighted by a personalized feed blending journalism tailored to reader interests with stories “curated by real human beings”; a redesigned carousel; utility bar with weather, sports scores, horoscopes, and stocks; real-time trending searches; and integrated video that plays directly on the page. Yahoo Canada Editor-in-Chief Mary Vallis Cowan wrote in a post to LinkedIn that this “is more than a homepage refresh — it’s part of Yahoo’s broader evolution, combining personalization with human curation to help users discover what matters most. Across Yahoo, every product is being refreshed to better serve our users’ daily lives.”
Village Media’s inaugural Community Impact Protocol has been launched by the publisher’s SooToday team, beginning with asking readers in Sault Ste. Marie to identify the city’s most pressing issue. With the majority choosing opioid addiction and the mental health crisis, Village Media then convened community stakeholders with its reporters now digging into a series of weekly articles to help bring clarity and context to the issue. Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media – which operates 26 local news sites across Ontario, as well as The Trillium at Queen’s Park – says Village Media no longer considers itself a “News” company, but instead a Community Impact Organization.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
The CRTC has released broadcasting sector data for the 2023-24 broadcast year, ended Aug. 31, 2024, highlighted by ongoing declines in radio, discretionary TV and BDU revenues. The commission report says despite those declines, those sectors remained profitable, with the exception of commercial conventional television where revenue was down overall by 8.6%. BDU revenue was down 7.99% for the year, followed by discretionary services (-4.6%) and commercial radio (-0.9%). In total, commercial broadcast revenue was up 0.2% from the 2023 to 2024 broadcast year. Online undertakings were the only sector to significantly increase revenues, generating more revenue than any single sector of the conventional broadcasting system – now accounting for 36% of total broadcasting revenues. Read more here.
Canadian Media Means Business (CMMB) has released a new report it says is a call to action, recognizing the economic value of the sector as it continues to lose advertising revenue to foreign digital platforms. Hailed as the first study of its kind quantifying the sector’s economic impact, based on research led by Nordicity, it finds that the industry supports nearly 170,000 jobs, contributing an estimated $21 billion to Canada’s GDP. Despite its impact, the report emphasizes that the sector is under increasing pressure, losing an estimated $7.5 billion in advertising revenue to foreign digital platforms between 2017 and 2022. CMMB says 92% of digital ad dollars currently flow to non-Canadian platforms, putting the sustainability of Canadian media in jeopardy. Read more here.
Asian Television Network (ATN), Canada’s largest South Asian broadcaster, has announced a strategic review process to evaluate opportunities to enhance shareholder value, including a full or partial sale of the company. ATN says in the meantime, its television operations will continue without disruption. Blair Franklin Capital Partners has been engaged as its financial advisor to evaluate opportunities. ATN operates over 50 specialty television channels, including its flagship ATN-HD general interest service, along with seven other general interest channels, three sports channels, seven news channels, and five Bollywood movie channels. The network is also a pioneer broadcaster of cricket in Canada.
Asian Television Network, meantime, is applauding the recent Ontario court ruling sentencing two individuals to five years in prison for contempt of court after refusing to comply with orders in a long-running digital piracy case. As reported by The National Post, the case involved Antonio Macciacchera of Woodbridge and his son, Marshall of Barrie, who were linked to the operation of a large-scale bootleg streaming service known as Smoothstreams. The illegal platform distributed copyrighted movies and television programs from major studios. In a statement, ATN said the sentence “marks one of the most significant Canadian judicial responses to illegal streaming operations,” coming after years of investigations by broadcasters, global studios, and legal teams determined to protect their intellectual property rights.
Inspirit Foundation has launched the Journalism Futures Fund, a new multi-million-dollar initiative supporting independent journalism. The inaugural round will support small-to-medium organizations that produce impactful journalism, are led by members of communities underserved in Canadian media, and have a strong vision for their future. Successful applicants will receive three-year grants of $50,000 to $200,000 CAD per year, paired with support to increase their operational and financial resilience.
The 2025 Webster Awards, celebrating the best in B.C. journalism, will take place Monday, Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. This year’s event will feature CBC Washington, D.C. correspondent Katie Simpson, as well as hosts Keri Adams, Anchor, CTV Morning Live and Karen So, News Anchor, Cantonese News, OMNI Television. Learn more here.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
Wondershare has launched ToMoviee AI, its all-in-one AI creation platform for web and mobile. The Vancouver-headquartered company says the video creation tool lowers technical barriers while enhancing creative quality, enabling anyone — from aspiring creators and professionals to enterprise teams — to turn ideas into cinematic videos. For visuals, it supports both text-to-image and reference-to-image generation, allowing users to create imagery from scratch or transform existing source material. On the audio side, creators can generate music, sound effects, speech, and auto-BGM (background music) to craft soundscapes and narration.
Register Now for WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference – Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
👉 Click here to register for your free Exhibit Hall Pass, Day Pass, or Full Conference Pass
The WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference is your chance to connect, learn, and see technology that is shaping content creation and distribution in Canada today. This is your once-in-three-years opportunity to attend in Calgary at no cost with a free Exhibit Hall Pass, or by choosing a Day Pass or Full Pass to take in all sessions and networking events.
Kicking Off Bridging the Past and Building the Future with a Celebration
On Sept. 29, we kick off at 6 p.m. with WABE’s 75th celebration that includes a gathering of SAIT Broadcast Systems Technology graduates and staff. Some are flying in from around the country, some are from just down the street, but it’s sure to be a great reunion for all who attend. We also have something special planned on Monday, Sept. 29 before the evening kickoff. If you’re in town, meet us at the reception desk at 4:15 p.m., where Erin Ruttan will lead a walk to the Calgary WAVE Tech Centre. There, you’ll get a personal tour and introduction to how the City is experimenting with ATSC 3.0 as part of its Smart Cities program.
Featured Presentations you don’t want to miss!
Beyond the panels, WABE 2025 is packed with cutting-edge sessions from leaders across broadcast, post-production, radio, and film.
Registration Options
- Exhibit Hall Pass – FREE
- Media Mixer Ticket – $15 (Reunion/Birthday/Awards)
- Day Pass – $90 access to sessions & panels for one day
- Full Conference Pass – $175 (includes all sessions, Media Mixer, and networking opportunities)
👉 Register here today and make your plan to attend. Learn more here.
