CBS Corporation has announced it’s launching CBS All Access internationally. The digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service will launch initially in Canada in the first half of 2018, with other markets to follow. Launched in Oct. 2014, CBS All Access is on track to exceed four million subscribers by the end of 2017. The service is currently available online at CBS.com, on mobile devices via the CBS App for iOS, Android and Windows 10, and on Roku Players, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Fire TV. Pricing for non-U.S. markets will be announced at a future date.
The Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) consultation paper on repurposing spectrum on the 600 MHz band, says TV stations operating in 600 MHz will only be required to change channels if their spectrum is needed for mobile broadband. Urban stations would receive a minimum of one year of notification, while those in other areas would be afforded at least two years notice. You can read more here.
CBC and Netflix have renewed Anne (With An E) for a second season. Produced by Northwood Entertainment, the second season sees an increased order from eight hours to 10 and begins shooting this fall. Season 2 of the series (known as Anne in Canada, and Anne With An E on Netflix) returns in 2018. For Season 2, series creator Moira Walley-Beckett (Breaking Bad) has assembled an all-female writers’ room including Jane Maggs (Bellevue, Cardinal), Shernold Edwards (Haven, Sleepy Hollow), Kathryn Borel (Rush, American Dad), Amanda Fahey (Saving Hope), and Naledi Jackson (21 Thunder, The Detail).
CBC Sports has a broadcast partnership with AFL Canada to stream all 10 International Cup games played by the Canadian National AFL Women’s team Northern Lights and the Canadian National AFL Men’s team Northwind. The International Cup runs August 5-19 in Melbourne Australia. All Northern Lights and Northwind matches will be live streamed and made available on demand at CBCSports.ca, as well as via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices within Canada.
Toronto-based LaRue Entertainment has inked a distribution deal with Vivendi Group’s recently-launched SVoD app Studio+ for its dark political/crime comedy Filth City. The 12-part digital series, inspired by late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, has been available for streaming exclusively on Studio+ in France, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador. A multi-platform launch will happen in Canada later this year.
According to Numeris, average minute audiences during prime time on conventional and specialty channels were down nine per cent between the end of May and mid-July, compared to the same period last year. Canadians are watching HBO’s Game of Thrones, with the Season 7 premiere on July 16 drawing over 1.8 million total viewers. Viewership for America’s Got Talent on City is up slightly over last summer (averaging almost 1.85 million weekly viewers), while The Amazing Race Canada on CTV is drawing almost 1.76 million viewers each week. CBC’s summer ratings are actually up two per cent this summer with ratings up 19 per cent for Season 3 of Still Standing, and Canada Day coverage marking Peter Mansbridge’s final broadcast, drawing just under a million viewers. According to Nielsen, the summer viewership drop-off has been more pronounced in the U.S. where ratings are down 14 per cent at Fox and 25 per cent for CBS, among adults 18-49.
The CRTC has issued a call for comments on measures to provide for dispute resolution between video-on-demand operators and discretionary services. The deadline for filing comments is Sept. 19.
