TSN has unveiled its 2018 MLS ON TSN regular season broadcast schedule, which kicks off Mar. 3. Headlined by 75 games featuring Canadian teams, including every match of defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC, the roster also includes every Vancouver Whitecaps FC match, 12 Montreal Impact matches, and a slate of marquee games featuring U.S.-based teams. CTV will air nine Saturday afternoon games featuring Canadian teams from mid-March until mid-May. Find the complete schedule here.
CTV says the premiere of it’s highly-promoted music competition series The Launch won its time slot among key demos, with artist Logan Staats single The Lucky Ones debuting at #1 on iTunes. The Launch: Director’s Cut also premiered on CraveTV as one of the Top 2 most-streamed series.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has announced the nominees in 30 categories for the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala. The Canadian Screen Awards will be presented over four nights during Canadian Screen Week (Mar. 5-11), culminating with the gala, which will be televised live on CBC. The winners in each of the 30 categories, as well as the Special Award recipients announced last fall (Margaret Atwood, Pat Ellingson, Clark Johnson, Peter Mansbridge, Denis McGrath, Karyn Pugliese, Jay Switzer, Rick Mercer Report, and Bell Let’s Talk) will be honoured. Find the complete list of nominees here.
ACTRA Toronto has announced the nominees for the 16th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto, a celebration of the organization’s 75th anniversary. Happening at The Carlu on Feb. 24, ACTRA Toronto performer Tamara Podemski will present her sister Jennifer Podemski with the Award of Excellence. Colin Mochrie hosts. Following the lead of #TIMESUP, the dress code will be black. Find the full list of nominees here.
9 Story Media Group has acquired NYC-based children’s content creator Out of the Blue Enterprises. Founded in 2005 by Blue’s Clues co-creator Angela Santomero and former Nickelodeon exec Samantha Freeman, Out of the Blue is best known for Super WHY; Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; and interactive art adventure program Creative Galaxy for Amazon Studios. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Out of the Blue will become a wholly owned subsidiary of 9 Story Media Group with Freeman staying on to lead the company and Santomero continuing to serve as creator and executive producer.
DHX Media and Nickelodeon have a new international broadcast agreement for Season One of original DHX Media series Massive Monster Mayhem. Following the show’s successful premiere on Nicktoons in the U.S., Nickelodeon International has picked it up for air across more than 140 territories.
Look Mom! Productions, Blue Ant Media’s Toronto-based animation studio, has started production on comedy Gary & His Demons. Produced in partnership with L.A.-based MONDO, the series is set to premiere on MONDO’s channel on VRV in Spring 2018 and will be offered to buyers worldwide late this year. The series is created by Mark Little, known for his work on Picnicface, Space Riders and Mr. D, who also serves as head writer, co-director and the voice of Gary.
Corus Entertainment has struck a three-year partnership with Royal Bank of Canada and HGTV Canada’s Bryan and Sarah Baeumler. The multi-platform partnership launches Jan. 14 with the RBC Home Someday Contest in tandem with the Season 2 premiere of Bryan Inc. on HGTV Canada. Promotion will be featured on multiple Corus networks including HGTV Canada, Global Television, DIY, and DejaView in broadcast and online.
The CRTC has sided with Bell over Quebecor Media in a dispute over distribution of TVA Sports in the francophone market. The commission says it found no evidence to support the rate increase proposed by Quebecor and that Bell’s offer is therefore more reasonable. In October, Quebecor asked the commission to initiate a final offer arbitration process relating to the distribution of the sports service, stating that despite efforts to reach a mutual agreement, the parties were at an impasse and third-party intervention had become necessary.
Marci Ien will host primetime special In Their Own Words: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special on Jan. 31. The one-hour special, airing on CTV and CTV Two, was filmed in Halifax, Regina, Iqaluit, and Toronto. Ien travels to each city to be welcomed into the homes of Canadians coping with mental illness.
