The CRTC has released its three-year plan with among its objectives for 2017-18 to renew the licences of CBC/Radio Canada

GENERAL:

The CRTC has released its three-year plan with among its objectives for 2017-18 to renew the licences of CBC/Radio Canada and determine if the public broadcaster is fulfilling its current regulatory obligations. The commission also has its sights set on establishing a transparent regulatory approach to differential pricing practices related to Internet data plans. You can read the full document here.

The Treasury Board of Canada has approved the new Maison de Radio-Canada (MRC) construction project in Montreal led by Broccolini. Construction of the new facility is set to start this summer with Radio-Canada scheduled to take possession in early 2020 as the sole tenant under a 30-year lease. The site redevelopment project, with the new MRC as its centrepiece, is expected to contribute significantly to the urban renewal of the neighbourhood that Radio-Canada has called home for decades.

Rogers Communications Inc. profits were boosted 28 per cent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2017. Earnings were $294 million or 57 cents per share in the three months ended Mar. 31. Adjusted profit rose 34 per cent to $394 million or 64 cents per share. Wireless revenue grew 7 per cent, with the addition of 60,000 postpaid wireless subscribers. In the Rogers Media division, revenue increased six per cent to $474 million, mainly due to Major League Baseball distribution and higher Sportsnet subscription revenue. The division still lost $28 million, although losses were 43 per cent lower year-over-year.

Keith Leslie, who retired last year after 35 years with the Canadian Press; 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto news director Scott Metcalfe; and CTV Montreal chief anchor Mutsumi Takahashi are this year’s Central Region recipients of the RTDNA Lifetime Achievement award. They’ll be presented during the President’s Reception on May 26 at the 2017 National Conference & Awards Gala.

Stuart McLean will receive the RTDNA’s President’s Award to be presented posthumously to McLean’s sons at the President’s Reception on May 26 during the 2017 RTDNA National Conference & Awards Gala. The President’s Award, the highest honour bestowed by the association, acknowledges an individual who has brought recognition and distinction to the field of electronic and digital journalism.

Mike Cavender will receive the 2017 RTDNA Bill Hutton Award of Excellence. The award is given to individuals or organizations who have shown a true commitment to RTDNA and the betterment of broadcast journalism in Canada. Cavender was named executive director of RTDNA (International) in 2011, after more than 20 years of service in virtually all board positions, including chairman.

Jake Tapper, CNN’s chief Washington correspondent and daily anchor of The Lead with Jake Tapper, will be honoured with this year’s CJF Tribute, which recognizes media luminaries who uphold the highest standards of excellence and inspire working journalists around the world. The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) will present the honour at its annual CJF Awards on June 8 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.

Julian Brave NoiseCat and Lenard Monkman are this year’s recipients of the CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships, established to encourage Indigenous voices and better understanding of Indigenous issues within Canadian media. Brave NoiseCat, a member of Canim Lake Band Tsq’escen in B.C., is a New York-based freelance writer. Monkman, an Anishinaabe journalist from Lake Manitoba First Nation, is co-founder of Red Rising Magazine and an associate producer for CBC’s Indigenous Unit in Winnipeg. The story or series resulting from the fellowship experiences will be considered for publication or broadcast by CBC News.

The Canadian Journalism Foundation presents What To Be or Not To Be: The Public Broadcaster’s Dilemma on Apr. 20 in Toronto. Simon Houpt, senior media writer with The Globe and Mail, will moderate discussion on the challenges faced by British, Canadian and American public broadcasters. The discussion features James Harding, director of news and current affairs for the BBC, Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News and Michael Oreskes, senior VP of news and editorial director for NPR.

Toronto-based developer Canderel has acquired 545 Lake Shore Boulevard West from Rogers Media Inc. for an undisclosed price. No plans have been announced for the 1.8-acre-site that’s currently home to a Rogers Media production complex housing studio and office space for the Biography Channel Canada, OLN and G4 Canada. The building is also home to master control for CityTV. The heritage space has been used as a television studio since 1979 when multicultural station CFMT-TV moved in. It was joined by sister station CJMT-TV in 2002. Both moved to new studio space at Yonge-Dundas Square in 2009.

Primus has renewed its 10+ year partnership with Costco Canada as the exclusive national provider of residential telecommunications services to members. The multi-year renewal also sees Primus offer new Internet speeds of up to 250 Mbps in select Ontario markets in response to growing demand to support more Internet-connected devices within the home and support higher definition digital content.