Film & TV News – Blue Ant Media appeals to CRTC to reduce PNI quota

Blue Ant Media, which operates specialty channels A.Side, BBC Earth, Cottage Life, HIFI, Love Nature, Makeful, T + E and Smithsonian Channel, is appealing to the CRTC to reduce its Programs of National Interest (PNI) quota from 13.5% of gross annual revenues to 5%. Blue Ant says its PNI requirement shouldn’t be higher than the major broadcasters. Rogers’ requirement is currently set at 5%, Corus 8.5% and Bell 7.5%. Blue Ant’s Canadian content quotas would remain status quo.

Wattpad, the Toronto-headquartered online storytelling community that connects unsigned writers and readers, has signed a first look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Wattpad uses “story DNA” to analyze sentence structure, word use and grammar, with the goal of helping uncover the next bestseller, boasting 70 million monthly users. Netflix optioned last year’s original hit The Kissing Booth from Wattpad, which was read 19 million times worldwide on the platform. Hulu series Light as a Feather, also a Wattpad option, was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy.

Creative Export Canada’s inaugural project funding slate has been revealed with 20 projects sharing a total of nearly $7.8 million in funding. Among them are Quebec’s Squeeze Studio Animation, Toronto’s Guru Studio, international prodco Inner City Releasing, Montreal’s Moment Factory multimedia studio, gaming and digital developer Playmind, and television producer Trio Orange.

The Alliance for Women in Media has recognized Canadians Annie Murphy and Sandra Oh with Gracie Awards. Murphy, one of the stars of Schitt’s Creek, won in the Actress in a Breakthrough Role category, while Oh claimed the award for Actress in a Leading Role – Drama for Killing Eve. Find the full list of winners here. Oh has also been named to the TIME100 list as one of the most influential people of 2019.

Screen Nova Scotia has revealed this year’s award nominees, recognizing Nova Scotia film, television and animation. Among the nominees are Mr. D, Forgive Me, Trailer Park Boys, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes in the Best Television Series category. The Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala will take place Friday, May 3 at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax.

Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, has announced that new four-part docudrama series The Witches of Salem has been greenlit by Travel Channel (U.S.) and T+E (Canada). The series, about the infamous 17th century witch trials, will be produced by Saloon Media in association with Talos Films, Travel Channel, and T+E. International content distributor Blue Ant International has exclusive worldwide rights to the series.

Telefilm Canada has called for entries for Sunny Side of the Doc 2019, taking place in La Rochelle France, June 24-27. Sunny Side of the Doc is an international market dedicated to documentary and factual content where the industry gathers over four days to sell or buy projects and programs, and find partners. The registration deadline is May 15.

CBC has announced the return of Battle of the Blades for a fifth season. From Insight Productions, the series – which combines figure skating and hockey – will return this fall. First launched in 2009, Battle of the Blades was broadcast on CBC from 2009 – 2013. According to Numeris data provided by the public broadcaster, it remains the highest-rated original English-language Canadian format of all time.

Global has announced the first wave of premiere dates for its 2019 summer schedule. Headlining the network’s summer lineup are returning original series Mary Kills People (May 12) and Private Eyes (May 29). New offerings include Royal special Meghan and Harry Plus One, airing May 17, hosted by CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King. Also new to Global’s schedule is action-adventure series Blood & Treasure, premiering with a special two-hour episode May 21. The serialized, globe-trotting drama stars Matt Barr (Sleepy Hollow) and Sofia Pernas (The Brave) as an antiquities expert and art thief, respectively, who team up to catch a ruthless terrorist who funds his attacks through stolen treasure. Also joining the lineup is new series The Inbetween (May 29) which follows a woman born with a rare ability to see and communicate with the dead and now helps detectives solve murder cases. Rounding out the schedule are the final season of Elementary (May 23), Season 2 of Instinct (June 16), and Season 3 of gameshow The Wallhits (June 20).

Global has struck a new multi-year broadcast partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA), starting with the 37th annual CCMA Awards on Sunday, Sept. 8. Set to be broadcast live from Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, ET Canada will produce a live, 30-minute red carpet show that will stream live on multiple platforms. The special will be hosted by ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey and The Morning Show’s Jeff McArthur.

HISTORY, in association with Breakthrough Entertainment and Bonterra Productions, has started production on new Canadian, original series Breaking Wild (10×60). The doc-series follows the efforts of fearless indigenous cowboys in B.C.’s Nemiah Valley as they fight together for the survival of wild Qayus horses who roam in their midst. Breaking Wild is currently slated to premiere in Winter 2020 on HISTORY.

TekSavvy and its affiliate Hastings Cable Vision are continuing the rollout of IPTV service TekSavvy TV, which is now available in the Toronto area. TekSavvy TV offers customers access to over 100 HD channels of sports, movies, series and kids programming including VOD content from selected channels. Currently available as an app for Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire Stick, TekSavvy TV Basic runs $20/month with additional theme packages ranging in price from $6 to $20/month. TekSavvy TV requires a TekSavvy residential Internet subscription with a minimum download speed of 15 Mbps.

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