CBC has unveiled plans to launch streaming service CBC Gem, promising a less commercial, Canadian experience. Speaking at industry event Content Canada in Toronto on Wednesday, CBC/Radio-Canada president & CEO Catherine Tait said the new OTT service will be available before the end of the year on the CBC TV app, which will be rebranded. Subscribers have the option of an ad-supported, free option, or the ad-free version for $4.99 a month. The service mirrors what Radio-Canada has already done in the French market with its ICI TOU.TV streaming service. Telefilm Canada will sponsor the Canadian feature film section of CBC Gem—allowing Canadians to watch upwards of 150 Canadian films on the service commercial free. The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will also contribute titles. Read more here.
Twitter has launched a live audio broadcast feature allowing users to broadcast audio only through the Periscope video platform. Users can also use the chatroom and other interactive features simultaneously while they broadcast. For now, the service is only available to iOS users.
Spotify is adopting Nielsen Brand Effect across its platform in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Mexico, U.K., Spain, France, Netherlands, Japan and Australia allowing advertisers to delve deeper into how their ads are connecting with audiences and examine brand awareness, perception and purchase intent. The integration captures exposure to audio, video, and display formats heard or seen across desktop, mobile and connected devices. Spotify’s adoption of Nielsen Brand Effect marks the latest expansion in the two companies’ collaboration. The company currently provides clients with the ability to use Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings to measure audience reach across campaigns on Spotify. In addition, Spotify uses Nielsen Catalina Solutions to demonstrate offline sales lift and works with Nielsen Media Lab and Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience to capture audience engagement.
The Globe and Mail is testing a new approach to comment moderation on its web stories. Over the month of September, all stories on globeandmail.com are automatically being set to pre-moderation, regardless of topic. Previously, editors decided on a case-by-case basis which articles would be subject to pre-moderation, meaning all comments posted to that article are reviewed by at least one editor before being approved to appear on the site. In addition to pre-moderation, The Globe uses automated filters to help catch toxic language. The Globe says it has also learned which sections and topics lead to the greatest number of reader contributions: “Articles published to our Opinion, Politics, and Canada sections receive the most comments. Topics that draw the most comments include NAFTA, housing affordability, immigration and anything to do with U.S. President Donald Trump.”
AB Today is set to launch ahead of the next Alberta provincial election. The online subscription-based legislative news service is the third offering from publisher Allison Smith, who launched Queen’s Park Today six years ago and its follow-up BC Today last year. The daily newsletters offer news briefs, a detailed account of the previous day’s Question Period, and legislative schedules.
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