REVOLVING DOOR:
Dina Pugliese, co-host of Breakfast Television Toronto, is now hosting entertainment and lifestyle segments across the BT brand as part of a re-launch of the Citytv morning shows in Vancouver and Calgary. Sarah Freemark, formerly the “On the Go” reporter for CTV Morning Live Ottawa, also joins BT Calgary, alongside traffic and weather reporter Michelle Yi, and national tech expert and live-eye reporter Mike Yawney. The BT Vancouver on-air lineup remains status quo featuring news anchor Mary Cranston, meteorologist Russ Lacate, Thor Diakow providing entertainment and traffic, and news reporter Greg Harper. A new “L-bar” design also sees traffic and weather information remain on-screen throughout the entire show and during commercial breaks. The Sept. 23 re-launch follows layoffs across the network earlier this month that included the cancellation of Breakfast Television Montreal. Read more here.
Gord Gillies has retired from Corus Calgary. Gillies, 58, had been with Global Calgary since 1991, serving as the anchor of the 6 p.m. newscast for much of that time. Since 2017, he’d been host of the morning show on Newstalk 770 (CHQR-AM). Gillies began his career in journalism as a copy boy at the Toronto Star in 1981. In addition to Global, he worked with both CBC and CTV.
Reg Hampton has announced he’s signing off from CTV Calgary. Hampton has been with the station since 2006, holding down the role of assignment editor for the past six years. Hampton hasn’t revealed where he’s headed, but says he’s staying in the industry.
Scott Fox and Kat Callaghan, who have co-hosted mornings at Evanov Radio Group’s Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) Toronto for the last seven years, have announced they’re taking the show to 91.5 The Beat (CKBT-FM) Kitchener-Waterloo. Both hosts hail from the Tri-Cities area. The new show starts airing Monday. Fox had been with Z103.5 for 18 years, Callaghan for seven. Read more here.
Carlos Benevides, who had hosted mornings at 91.5 The Beat (CKBT-FM) for the past decade, has left the station to join the staff at Conestoga College. Prior to joining The Beat, Benevides hosted afternoons at 107.5 DAVE Rocks (CJDV-FM) Kitchener and did a five-year stint with 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) as an announcer and assistant music director.
Leah Johansen has left 570 News (CKGL-AM) Kitchener for Rogers’ sister station 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto. Johansen has been with 570 News since she was a student at Conestoga College, first joining the station’s promotions team in 2014 and then graduating to news anchor/reporter and most recently weekend managing editor.
David Gerhard is joining Atomic Cartoons to lead its Ottawa team as Studio Creative Director, overseeing teams working on projects for NBCUniversal. Most recently, Gerhard was based in L.A. as Creative Director of Alternative Media for Nickelodeon Animation. He was also part of the creative leadership team that developed the virtual reality experience for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and directed Nickelodeon’s first Live 2D Animation stream for Facebook, entitled “Loudhouse Live.” Atomic’s Ottawa production hub officially opened last December and expects to employ 150 people by next June.
CJ Knowles has been promoted to Director of Business Development for Promosuite. In his new role, he’ll focus on new business development and cross-platform partnerships, with continued oversight of PromoSuite’s marketing and branding efforts. Knowles joined PromoSuite in 2008 and has worked across multiple departments, including Operations Coordinator, Digital Brand Strategist, and most recently Business Development Manager.
Scott Garvie, Shaftesbury SVP, has been re-elected as chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), a position he’s held since June 2016. The 2019-21 term will see Kim Todd (Original Pictures) and Erin Haskett (Lark Productions) serve as the CMPA’s co-vice-chairs. Mark Bishop (marblemedia) and Anne Loi (WildBrain) will serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Ira Levy (Breakthrough Entertainment) reassumes the role of Director Emeritus.
Ken Landers, who parted ways with CKBI Prince Albert this summer after three decades, has joined the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. Landers is hosting a nightly show Sunday to Thursday evenings, from 5 to 9 p.m, that’s.airing across MBC’s stations in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Big River, La Ronge and North Battleford, SK, in addition to Flin Flon, MB.
RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:
Sportsnet 590 The Fan (CJCL-AM) has unveiled a new lineup of hosts and shows, following an unspecified number of layoffs at the network over the summer that included longtime Prime Time Sports host Bob McCown, and Hockey Central at Noon contributors Nick Kypreos, Doug Maclean, and John Shannon. Among the highlights is the return of Tim & Sid to radio with a multi-platform version of their TV show and the expansion of Hockey Central to two hours. Starting off the day’s programming, Hugh Burrill will host a new sports update show from 5:30 – 6 a.m. ET that will cover everything that happened the previous night. In the 6 – 9 a.m. timeslot, Scott MacArthur moves from hosting Blue Jays Talk to join Ashley Docking and former NHL‘er Mike Zigomanis on a new morning show. Good Show with Ben Ennis and JD Bunkis moves from its previous 1 p.m. timeslot to mid-mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. From noon to 2 p.m., Hockey Central expands to two hours featuring Jeff Marek four days a week and David Amber in the host’s chair on Wednesdays. They’ll be joined by former NHL’er Anthony Stewart. Jeff Blair, Stephen Brunt and Richard Deitsch move into the 2 to 5 p.m. slot. From 5 to 7 p.m., Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro extend the reach of their popular Sportsnet TV show Tim & Sid back to radio. The show was first established on CJCL-AM back in 2011, before starting its television simulcast on The Score in 2013. Read more here.
Danaye Maier, co-host of the Virgin Radio (CIBK-FM) Calgary morning show, has been recognized as one of three international Virgin Radio Stars of the Year. Maier has been recognized for creating “A Woman a Day YYC,” an Instagram initiative that celebrates a Calgary woman each day of the year. Following its launch on International Women’s Day this year, Maier sparked a movement, organizing meet and greets between nominees and nominators on the account to celebrate the strengths and successes of women in the community. She’ll travel to London on Nov. 18 to join Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, for a celebration of success achieved by Virgin Radio employees worldwide.
Andreas Sanneman, CEO of Benztown, interviews ESPN New York’s Creative Services Director Michael Brownsher in this week’s imaging profile. Read more about imaging for the sports format here.
LISTEN: On this episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, Peter Mansbridge, former CBC chief correspondent, on his new self-produced podcast The Bridge – a nightly look at developments in the ongoing federal election. We talk to Mansbridge about #elxn43, taking the political temperature of Canadians, and the joys of semi-retirement.
Dave Guy, 68, on Sept. 18. Guy started his radio career in 1966, at the age of 15, after begging CKCL-AM Truro, NS program director Frank Harvey, for a shot at announcing. Guy began hosting a weekly, high school program on the station going on to hold roles from morning show host to news director. In more recent years, Guy’s Saturday morning Classic Country program on Cat Country 99.5 (CKTY-FM) gained a following. He also delivered news on both CKTY-FM and its sister station Big Dog 100.9 (CKTO-FM). He retired in Dec. 2013. Beyond radio, Guy sat on the board of directors of both the Children’s Aid Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also served as the master of ceremonies for numerous fundraisers and events over the years including the Miss Nova Scotia Pageant.
TV/FILM/VIDEO:
Antigone, Quebec writer-director Sophie Deraspe’s fifth feature film, will represent Canada in the Best International Feature Film (formerly Best Foreign Language Film) category in the upcoming Oscar race in February. Antigone is a family drama following a teenage girl’s quest for justice as she tries to help her brother escape prison and deportation. Set in contemporary Montreal, the loose adaptation of Sophocles’ Greek tragedy reflects on the justice system and the immigrant experience in North America. The film made its world premiere at TIFF where it won the Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film. It’s set to start its theatrical run in Quebec on Nov. 6. This year’s selection follows an attempt by Telefilm to issue a revised call for entries in late July over concerns that the strongest Canadian contenders aren’t being forward. Read more here.
CBC’s Workin’ Moms has earned its second consecutive International Emmy nomination. The International Emmy Awards, or iEmmys, recognize television programming initially produced and aired outside the United States. Nominated in the Comedy category, Workin’ Moms is the lone Canadian nominee at this year’s awards. Season 2 of the show is in the running against Netflix Brazil’s Especial De Natal Porta Dos Fundos (The Last Hangover), Singapore TV series FAM!, and Israeli production Kupa Rashit (Checkout!). The winners will be announced Nov. 25 at the 47th International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City. Read more here.
Schitt’s Creek co-creator and star Dan Levy has signed a three-year overall deal with Disney’s ABC Studios. Levy will develop and produce scripted projects for the studio.
Sienna Films and Streel Films have announced casting for new CBC original series The Trickster (6×60), which is currently shooting in North Bay, ON. Coming to CBC and CBC Gem in 2020, the drama is described as “Indigenous Gothic” – a coming of age story set against the world of spirits and ancient magic – based on the novel Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson. It will star newcomer Joel Oulette as an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water, Crystle Lightning as his mother Maggie, and Craig Lauzon as unemployable dad, Phil. Additional cast include Kalani Queypo (Jamestown), Anna Lambe (The Grizzlies), Joel Thomas Hynes (Little Dog), Gail Maurice (Cardinal) and Georgina Lightning (Blackstone).
HGTV Canada original series Home to Win is returning Oct. 27 with a festive twist. Home To Win: For the Holidays (8×60) reunites the networks’ top builders, designers, and real estate experts to redesign an aging Victorian property in time for the holidays. HomeToWin.ca is now taking submissions to compete to win the holiday home until Nov. 11. In addition to Bryan Baeumler, Scott McGillivray, Sarah Richardson, Tommy Smythe and host Sangita Patel, HGTV Canada designers Jo Alcorn, Sarah Baeumler, Sarah Keenleyside, Mia Parres, Tiffany Pratt, Samantha Pynn, and Sabrina Smelko also return for Season 4.
The CRTC has approved two Chinese-language channels for addition to the authorized non-Canadian programming services list. Zhejiang International Channel and Great Wall Elite are both described as general interest, 24-hour services. Based in China, they both broadcast 100% in the Mandarin-language.
CTV News anchors, foreign correspondents, news directors, and senior managers – past and present – recently held their annual September gathering in Muskoka. Held now for more than two decades, “CTV News Old Boys” as they’ve dubbed themselves, come from across the country. This year’s attendees included Jeff Hutchison (Canada AM), who came from PEI; Roger Smith (Parliament Hill) who traveled from Ottawa; Tom Kennedy (London correspondent) from Newfoundland; Dan Matheson (Canada AM and CTV News Channel) from Toronto; Mark Sikstrom (Washington and founder of CTVNews.ca) who traveled from Calgary; and Paul Rogers (former CFTO News Director) from Port Sandfield, among others.
ONLINE/DIGITAL:
Samsung Electronics Canada has announced a new content partnership with Canadian artist, director and creator, Director X. Dubbed #PowerUp, the campaign arms up-and-coming talent with the new Galaxy Note10+, challenging them to create a music video with the Samsung product. Launching in partnership with Twitter and so.da, the campaign offers a behind-the-scenes look at three up-and-coming directors being mentored by Director X. Justin Abernethy, Justin Singer, and Kat Webber were handpicked from his production company Popp Rok.
PayPal Canada, Facebook Canada and BDC are backing a new digital, business competition series from AmberMac Media and Pint Glass Productions called HerTurn. For women entrepreneurs, HerTurn is currently accepting applications at HerTurn.ca. Over the course of a month, three finalists will face challenges in small business marketing, public relations, and growth. Female mentors from BDC, PayPal Canada, Facebook Canada, and other experts will provide feedback and insight along the way. At the end of the series, the mentors will pick the winner during a live broadcast on Facebook, with the grand prize valued at $20,000.
GENERAL:
The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) has announced the lineup for this year’s OAB Sales Session at Connection 2019 on Nov. 7. John Perras will open the 2019 session discussing two keys to increasing your sales right away: how to improve prospecting and what to include in a presentation for increased results. Pat Bryson, voted one of Radio Ink’s 2018 Most Influential People in Radio, delivers the feature sales training with the Client Needs Analysis. Also back is the Advertising Panel featuring Laurence Yap, Pfaff Group; Sonia Draper, Sleep Country and Teresa Coulter, OMD. The Sales Session runs from 8 a.m. to noon, immediately followed by the Awards Luncheon, entry to which is included in Sales Session registration. Find more info on Connection 2019 here.
The Jack Webster Foundation has announced Fabian Dawson as the 2019 recipient of the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award. Born and raised in Malaysia, Fabian arrived in Vancouver in 1988 and became deputy editor-in-chief of The Province newspaper and Vancouverdesi.com, then Canada’s largest South Asian news portal. He also serves as an editorial advisor to the Vancouver-based South Asian Post, Asian Pacific Post and Filipino Post newspapers, as well as publications in Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Philippines and England. His work, particularly in India, has led to the creation of four documentary films and a made-for-TV movie. In 2004, The Canadian National Newspaper Awards Board of Governors named Dawson 2004’s Unsung Hero of Canadian Journalism. Megaphone Magazine is the 2019 Bill Good Award Recipient, honouring a B.C. individual or organization that makes significant contributions to the province’s journalism community or to a community’s enrichment via journalism. For more than 10 years, the magazine has been featuring marginalized voices and helped provide extra income to its homeless and low income vendors. Sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria for $2, vendors pocket $1.25 for each issue they sell. Megaphone’s annual Hope in Shadows calendar also showcases the photography of Megaphone vendors who use single-use disposable cameras to capture images in their communities.
SUPPLY LINES:
The 2019 CCBE (Central Canada Broadcast Engineers, Technologists & Technicians) Conference is underway Sept. 26-29 in King City, ON. Broadcast engineers, tech suppliers and other experts are gathering for four days of networking and learning. This year’s conference features a wide-ranging agenda with presentations on everything from HD Radio implementation to media asset security and free apps for broadcasters. Read our interview with Lorne Anderson, CCBE president, here.
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