REVOLVING DOOR:
Scott Moore will step down from his role as president of Sportsnet and NHL Properties at the end of October. During his eight years with the organization, Moore played a key role in helping Rogers secure a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal with the NHL in 2013, in addition to championing the acquisitions of The Score and Grand Slam of Curling. He also brokered the deal that brought the FX brand to Canada, created Rogers Hometown Hockey, and helped launch SN NOW. While Rogers searches for his successor, Rick Brace, president of Rogers Media, will oversee Sportsnet in addition to his current role.
Bob Cole will return to the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast booth for a 50th and final season. Sportsnet says Cole, 85, is scheduled to call 10 games, starting with the Montreal-Pittsburgh matchup Saturday, Oct. 6. The network says the games will all be in the first half of the 2018-19 season. Whether Cole would return at all was in question after the legendary broadcaster was left out of calling any NHL playoff games last season for the first time in five decades. Cole told the Toronto Sun in April, the decision to sideline him wasn’t mutual and that Rogers had decided to go with other broadcast teams. Read more here.
Scott Garvie has been re-elected as the board chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Garvie, EVP, Business & Legal Affairs at Shaftesbury, first assumed the role in 2016. The CMPA executive is rounded out by Anne Loi (DHX Media); Kim Todd (Original Pictures); Mark Bishop (marblemedia); Jennifer Dodge (Spin Master Entertainment); Erin Haskett (LARK Productions); Paul Pope (Pope Productions); Christina Piovesan (First Generation Films); Sari Friedland (Factory Films); Brian Hamilton (Omnifilm Entertainment); Jeremy Spry (DATSIT Sphère Inc.); and Mary Sexton (Rink Rat Productions).
Lucie Lalumière is permanently moving into the role of president & CEO of Interactive Ontario, the not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to growing Ontario’s interactive digital media sector. Lalumière is the founder and principal of Toronto-based consultancy Lalumiere Media, specializing in digital media and emerging technologies. She has over two decades of experience in the digital media sector with past roles at MediaLinx Sympatico (Bell); Radio-Canada and Corus Entertainment Television. She was the winner of the inaugural WIFT-T Digital Trailblazer Crystal Award in 2015.
TELUS has announced the appointment of Zainul Mawji and Jim Senko to the positions of president, Home Solutions and Small Business, and president, Mobility Solutions, respectively. The appointments come as Dave Fuller, executive vice-president and president of Consumer and Small Business announced he’ll be leaving the organization in Jan. 2019 after 14 years at TELUS. Mawji has been at TELUS for 17 years, holding senior leadership positions in broadband, operations and most recently leading the Home Solutions and Complementary Channels team. Senko also joined TELUS 17 years ago and was most recently SVP, Consumer and Small Business Marketing.
John Laberge is retiring from CTV Montreal. Laberge started out in 1977 in commercial production at CJAD-AM Montreal, then CFCF-AM producing Montreal Expos broadcasts. He moved over to CFCF’s television side in 1987 as a videotape operator and has been a video editor with the station for the last 20 years.
TJ Connors is the incoming morning show host at 92.1 CITI-FM Winnipeg, replacing Dave Wheeler who was fired in July and has since filed a $1.4 million lawsuit against Rogers Media. Connors, a native Winnipegger and the son of late shock jock Scruff Connors, will join the station Dec. 3 as part of the new Rena, TJ and Turnbull Show. Connors is currently at 97.7 HTZ-FM (CHTZ-FM) St. Catharines.
Juanita Taylor is the new host of weeknight news show CBC Northbeat, airing in Yukon, the NWT and Nunavut. Taylor rejoins CBC North after leaving in 2017 to host the APTN National News and current affairs show In Focus.
Peter Akman is leaving CTV National News to join investigative program W5. Akman has been a national reporter since 2013 and was with CBC for the seven years before that as a reporter, anchor and VJ.
Tony Grace has joined Star 96.7 (CHVR-FM) in his hometown of Pembroke, ON. Grace left the anchor chair at CTV Barrie in June, after 17 years with the network, to return to the Ottawa Valley.
Victor Young is leaving Global News Radio 980 CFPL London and transitioning to a new role as network producer for Charles Adler on sister station 980 CKNW Vancouver. Young has been producing The Craig Needles Show on CFPL.
Brian Coxford, Bob Price, Jody Vance and Rick Cluff are among the current and former B.C. broadcasters who have signed on as contributors to The Orca, the province’s newest online news site. Helmed by editor-in-chief Maclean Kay, one-time speech writer for former Liberal Premier Christy Clark, the site features commentary and coverage of provincial politics, business, and history.
Russ Byth is returning to Power 104 (CKLZ-FM) and 103.1 Beach Radio (CKQQ-FM) Kelowna. Byth was part of a group of layoffs at the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group stations last fall. He’s returning as the new morning news writer and will also fill-in on-air as needed.
Hance Colburne is leaving CBC Information Morning Saint John after eight years with the show. Colburne joined Information Morning in 2010, first as a news anchor and then co-host. He’s been with the CBC since 2003, with the exception of a year-long stint with Communications Nova Scotia. Colburne Tweeted that he’s “not sure what’s next, but it will be with love for @cbcradio in my heart.”
Ashley Brauweiler is moving from CBC North’s bureau in Yellowknife to continue as a meteorologist for CBC in St. John’s, NL. Brauweiler will be joining Anthony Germain and Debbie Cooper on Here & Now weeknights, in addition to supplying forecasts for CBC Radio and the regional digital platforms. She replaces Ryan Snoddon, who joined CBC Halifax this spring.
Radio-Canada’s first female ombudsman, Julie Miville-Dêchene, is one of Canada’s newest senators. Miville-Dêchene was sworn in on Sept. 18. She joins the Red Chamber after 25 years at Radio-Canada as a public affairs correspondent for the network in Washington, D.C., Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal before serving as ombudsman from 2007 to 2011. She went on to serve as president of the Conseil du statut de la femme and represented Quebec as part of Canada’s delegation to UNESCO.
RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:
CBC Radio One satirical current affairs show This Is That will end its nine-year run following this season. Creators and hosts Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring made the announcement during their Sept. 27 show. New episodes will continue to air Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. (3:30 NT), with the final episode scheduled for Dec. 29. Kelly and Oldring will tour Canada with a live show for the 2018/19 season. Read more here.
The CRTC has issued a call for comments on market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Timmins, ON. The commission has received an application from Vista Radio to establish a new commercial station at 100.3 MHz FM with ERP of 16,400 watts. A call has also been issued for North Bay, ON where Vista has applied to operate a commercial FM at 90.5 MHz with ERP of 45,800 watts. The deadline for interventions is Oct. 29.
The CRTC has approved an application from CBC to install a CBC Radio One rebroadcasting transmitter at Belleville, ON. The new transmitter will operate at 104.7 MHz (channel 284B1) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,020 watts (maximum ERP of 10,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 117.3 metres). The new antenna will be co-located with CJBC-1-FM (ICI Radio‑ Canada Première) to optimize operating costs. There is currently no Radio One service in Belleville.
Jazz.FM (CJRT-FM) Toronto has filed a statement of defence in response to a $420,000 lawsuit from former morning show host Garvia Bailey. Bailey’s suit alleges wrongful and constructive dismissal, claiming she was terminated for joining a group of current and former employees known as “the Collective,” which outlined complaints against former CEO Ross Porter and other senior staffers in a March letter. Bailey had been with the station since 2014 and according to Jazz.FM court filings was making $90,000 when she resigned in April. In its statement of defence, Jazz.FM says Bailey’s morning show was under-performing in the ratings and that management met with the host a number of times to discuss improvements, including the option of pre-recording parts of the show.
Tammy Moyer, the former News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver anchor who died from pancreatic cancer in 2016, is having her memory honoured with the renaming of Metro Vancouver’s Woman of Worth Awards (WOW). The Tammy Moyer Woman of Worth Awards will take place Oct. 27 at the Sheraton Guildford Tynehead. Moyer MC’ed the event for years which annually recognizes women in categories including Leader of the Year; Business Mom of the Year; Business and Prosperity; Health and Wellness; Spirit Success and Soul; and Sustainable Living.
Greg Hetherington, one of the owners of Five Amigos Broadcasting which operates 99.1 CKXS-FM Wallaceburg, ON, plans to seek the Conservative nomination in the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. Before coming on board the independent station in 2009, Hetherington was previously a morning show host with Blackburn Radio in Chatham.
Google’s podcasting app – Google Podcasts – has added Chromecast support. The update allows listeners to enjoy podcasts on their TVs and connected speakers.
Spotify has established a dedicated podcasters portal. The platform now allows content creators to add a podcast, even if they’re not with a partner host. It also offers daily stats on how your podcast is performing. Unlike Apple Podcasts, there is no editorial approval process. Spotify says podcast listening on the platform is growing with global growth rates of 367 per cent year-on-year.
SiriusXM Canada has crowned Winnipeg’s Chanty Marostica as the winner of the ninth annual SiriusXM Top Comic competition at JFL42. Along with receiving the coveted Top Comic title, Marostica took home the grand prize of $25,000; guaranteed performances at four Just For Laughs Festivals; as well as a spot in a Just For Laughs television special to air on a Bell Media property in the 2019/2020 broadcast season. The two runners-up – Sophie Buddle of Vancouver and Nick Reynoldson of Scarborough – each received cash prizes of $2,500. They will also receive TV spots at the 2019 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, as well as a co-headlining show at JFL42. Top Comic is one of SiriusXM Canada’s ongoing initiatives to provide exposure to Canadian talent.
Bruce Ward, 76, on Sept. 27. Ward was born in Saint John, NB with his first radio job at CFBC-AM while he was in Grade 12, in 1960 at Saint John High School. It was in the days when the station went off the air at midnight, so Ward was given the job of getting the station up and running at 6 a.m. Ward attended the University of New Brunswick from 1960-1964 and was heavily involved with Radio UNB. Following graduation, he returned to 93 CFBC and helped launch CFBC-FM. He went on to become the station’s news director up until 1970. Ward then entered the ministry, serving as an Anglican priest at Christ Church Parish in Dartmouth, NS for many years. He returned to broadcasting in 2003, volunteering his time at community station 105.9 Seaside-FM (CFEP-FM) Eastern Passage. Ward hosted popular Friday afternoon program “Bruce’s Choice” and Wednesday night show “You And The Night And The Music.” He also anchored several of the station’s election night broadcasts. Ward’s final broadcast on the station was on June 1, joined by many other members of the Seaside-FM station family. Ward enjoyed being an integral part of the growth of the community station and loved meeting listeners along the way.
Karl Scherer, 87, on Sept. 16. Scherer was born in Leoben, Austria in 1931 and emigrated to Canada in 1958, settling in Toronto. His broadcasting career started at the CBC as a sound technician. He joined IATSE Local 873 in 1964, a proud affiliation that provided him with meaningful work and professional relationships that lasted a lifetime. Often with his wife and his two sons in tow, he traveled the world recording sound on commercials and motion pictures. His work won him much recognition, including a Genie Award for The Changeling in 1980.
Victor Krushell, 78, on Sept. 11. Krushell spent many years at CFRN-TV Edmonton as a studio cameraman. He was with the station from 1967 to 1976, and then part-time up until the early 90s, splitting his time between the family farm in Westlock, AB. Krushell worked on the popular local children’s show Popcorn Playhouse, among other programs. Another of his career highlights was working with the broadcast team for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Krushell was known for his love of practical jokes, even while on the air. His family has created Facebook group “Remembering Vic” and rememberingvic@gmail.com for those who wish to share stories and memories.
TV/FILM/VIDEO
CBC sitcom Workin’ Moms is among five Canadian productions nominated for a 2018 International Emmy Award or iEmmy. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television produced outside of the United States, as well as U.S. primetime programming produced in languages other than English, and excellence in performances, kids programming and digital. Along with Workin’ Moms, which is nominated in the Comedy category, the Academy gave a nod to CTV crime series Cardinal (Sienna Films, Entertainment One) with lead Billy Campbell nominated for Best Performance by an Actor. Two Canadian productions are nominated for Short-Form Series: How to Buy a Baby (LoCo Motion Pictures), which streams at cbc.ca, and L’âge adulte (Productions Pixcom), featured on ICI TOU.TV. Musical documentary Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas (Riddle Films), from Oscar-nominee Larry Weinstein, is nominated in the Arts Programming category. Winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on Nov. 19 at the Hilton New York Hotel.
CBC has announced the broadcast premiere date for Finding The Secret Path, a one-hour documentary featuring never-before-seen footage of the last year of Gord Downie’s life. The third documentary in the public broadcaster’s trilogy on the late The Tragically Hip frontman, the film’s release marks the first anniversary of Downie’s death and 52nd anniversary of the death of Charlie Wenjack, the 12-year-old Anishanaabe boy whose story Downie fought to bring to the national stage. Finding the Secret Path will premiere on Friday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. on CBC (9:30 NT), the CBC TV streaming app and cbc.ca/watch. An encore broadcast of the documentary will air on CBC News Network on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. ET. Read more here.
Marilyn Denis wants you to know she’s not going anywhere. The host of The Marilyn Denis Show on CTV, and co-host of CHUM 104.5 Toronto mornings, continues to dispel retirement rumours after finding herself at the centre of an online scam hijacking her personal brand. Denis’ name and image are being used as click bait for online ads promoting an anti-aging cream that also bill the veteran broadcaster as retired. Denis isn’t the only Bell Media personality to have been targeted. CTV Your Morning and The Social co-host Melissa Grelo and etalk’s Lainey Lui have been featured in similar phishing ads. Read more here.
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has added its AMI-audio morning show Live from Studio 5 to AMI-tv’s morning lineup. Airing weekdays at 9 a.m. ET, Live from Studio 5 in Toronto is a daily look at technology, health and current affairs. Community reporters from across the country join hosts Mike Ross and Joeita Gupta with local stories from the Atlantic, Central, West and Pacific regions.
CraveTV has announced a new original series based on the popular Mike On Much podcast. The eight-episode series is hosted by writer/director Mike Veerman, Arkells’ frontman Max Kerman, and YouTuber and pop culture aficionado Shane Cunningham. Following the podcast format, each episode opens with a roundtable-style talk where the longtime friends share stories from their professional and personal lives and deliver fresh perspectives on music, pop culture, and entertainment. A long-form interview segment anchors each episode, where musicians, comedians, authors, and actors chat with Veerman about their individual creative process. Currently in production in Toronto, the eight-episode series will begin streaming on CraveTV later this year.
Knowledge Network Corporation, a B.C. crown corporation, and BBC Studios have announced that the BBC Kids channel will cease operations in Canada on Dec. 31. The channel was revitalized and re-launched in 2011. In a joint statement Rudy Buttignol, president and CEO of Knowledge Network, and Ann Sarnoff, president BBC Studios – Americas said “After seven successful years of operations, we have made the difficult decision to close the channel. Both companies continue to share a commitment to quality children’s content that educates and entertains. Knowledge Network Corporation and BBC Studios are thankful to their distribution and production partners who contributed to BBC Kids’ achievements.”
DHX Media YouTube network WildBrain has struck a deal with toy manufacturer Just Play to manage a global YouTube channel to support the launch of new doll brand Hairdorables. The Hairdorables’ YouTube series is now live on the WildBrain network and YouTube Kids’ App. The English-language video series consists of animated vlogs to introduce each character, live-action toy play videos and an animated series about the characters’ lives and adventures. Hairdorables arrived at major U.S. retailers in early August with sales exceeding expectations ahead of an international launch.
DHX Media has signed a new agreement providing Amazon Prime Video’s U.S. streaming service with Spanish versions of 10 kids’ shows, including Strawberry Shortcake: Sky’s the Limit, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Busy World of Richard Scarry, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario World, Madeline and more. The new content is expected to launch for U.S. Prime Video members on Oct. 4. 2018.
7-Eleven will serve as the title sponsor of 7-ELEVEN THAT’S HOCKEY, TSN’s longstanding daily hockey news show hosted by Gino Reda. 7-Eleven will also be integrated into show segments and features, including a daily feature to highlight great saves, bloopers, video breakdowns, stats leaderboards, and highlighting storylines for each of the seven Canadian NHL teams in only 11 seconds each.
Network Media Group Inc. and Network Entertainment Inc. are partnering with film and television producer Burt Sugarman to produce a feature documentary that tells the story of iconic 1970s television series The Midnight Special. During its 450-episode run, The Midnight Special showcased live performances from musical icons like James Brown, the Jackson 5, Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Ike & Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Prince, Richard Pryor and George Carlin, among others. Burt Sugarman and Mary Hart will executive produce alongside Network Entertainment’s Derik Murray, Frank Anderson, Paul Gertz and Brian Gersh.
CTV Montreal says its Tuesday night provincial election coverage was the #1 choice with English-language viewers. The primetime election special attracted a rating of 6.1 (A25-54) in the Montreal market, more than five times that of its closest competitor. Hosted by Mutsumi Takahashi and Paul Karwatsky, the special was watched by a total of 339,000 unique viewers. Audiences peaked at 102,400 viewers at 9:02 p.m. ET, after the Coalition Avenir Québec party secured its first-ever majority government.
ONLINE/DIGITAL:
Refinery29 Canada will launch in October with former Chatelaine editor-in-chief Carley Fortune at its helm. The American digital media lifestyle brand, boasting over 1.3 million Twitter followers, will produce its Canadian edition from Toronto. Canada and France are two of the fashion and culture site’s strongest markets.
GENERAL:
The CRTC has revealed the criteria that will be used to evaluate applications for funding from its $750-million Broadband Fund. The fund, to be dispersed over five years, aims to close the gap in connectivity between rural and urban areas. The commission says it will begin the competitive process to evaluate and select projects that build or upgrade infrastructure in underserved areas in 2019.
Nash John Gracie, the man accused of uttering a vulgar statement at a CTV Atlantic reporter during a live broadcast in Halifax last year, will perform community service as part of restorative justice. Reporter Heather Butts was on location at a downtown pub on Dec. 29 filing a report on the World Junior Hockey Championship when Gracie walked into the shot, allegedly made a crude gesture and uttered the offensive statement. The 25-year-old was charged with one count each of public mischief and causing a disturbance. In addition to community service, the restorative justice agreement also required Gracie to issue an apology to Butts. In her own statement, Butts said she’s satisfied Gracie has taken responsibility for his actions.
Bryan Hall is celebrating 65 years in radio and will speak at the Fall Luncheon of the Edmonton Broadcasters Club on Wednesday, Oct. 17. CHED-AM morning man Bruce Bowie will moderate. In addition to his years at CKUA, CJCA and now CHED Edmonton, “Hallsy” also spent time in Toronto in the 1960s as sports director at CHUM and voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs. More info at edmontonbroadcasters.com.
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