The Weekly Briefing

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REVOLVING DOOR:

Peter Mansbridge has announced his retirement after 28 years as chief correspondent and desk anchor of CBC’s The National. Mansbridge, 68, told viewers on Sept. 5 that he will step down after anchoring special Canada Day coverage on July 1, 2017. Mansbridge started with the CBC at age 19 at the local CBC radio station in Churchill, Manitoba after the station manager heard his voice over the airport intercom. After a stop at CBC radio in Winnipeg, Mansbridge joined CBC television in 1972, holding posts in Saskatchewan and Ottawa before taking over the anchor chair from Knowlton Nash in 1988.

Kevin Newman has been named host and managing editor of CTV’s W5. Newman, who joined W5 as a correspondent in 2012, begins hosting on Oct. 1 following the program’s 50th anniversary special on Sept. 24. Lloyd Robertson, who has hosted since 2011, will continue as a special correspondent. According to CTV, W5 is North America’s longest-running television documentary series, on-air since 1966.

Jim MacMullin has retired after 15 years as President of Acadia Broadcasting and 43 years in the business. He began with Acadia/(Irving) in 2001 as GM for CHSJ/CHWV (The Wave) Saint John; CHTD (The Tide) St. Stephen; and CKBW Bridgewater. During his time at the helm, MacMullin grew the company from two to 14 stations. Before Acadia, he was GM at CKCW/CFQM/CHOY Moncton and, before that, GM at CJCW Sussex. MacMullin announced his retirement in October 2015 and was celebrated on August 25 at the Union Club in Saint John, NB.

Reza Saiphoo will become director news technology at Corus effective Sept. 15. He will be responsible for support, maintenance, sustainment and lifecycle asset management of the 24/7 news production system within all Global Television production centers, stations and news bureaus. Saiphoo’s background includes being Corus/Shaw Media integrations project manager, senior manager engineering with Dome Productions and director of operations at Bell Media’s Masonic Temple facility Toronto.

Blake Carter, after three years as co-host of Blake & Wylde in the Afternoon at KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM) Toronto is no longer with the station. Her background includes being evening host at 104.5 CHUM FM Toronto, morning show co-host at 90.3 AMP (CKMP-FM) Calgary and morning show co-host at Wired 96.3 (CFWD-FM) Saskatoon.

Eric Stafford, GM at the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group stations in Calgary, is no longer with JPBG. He joined CHUM’s Energy 105.5 (CKCE-FM) Calgary in 2009 after a 12-year run as GM at The Bear Ottawa. The CHUM station was bought by Bell Media, and was later purchased by JPBG as one of the stations Bell Media had to divest in the 2013 Astral/Bell Media deal. Stafford remained with the new owners and, in 2014, saw his duties increase to also include being GM at JPBG’s new Calgary sister station, The Peak (CHPK-FM), now WILD 95.3 (CKWD-FM).

Ben Lucas is now an account manager with Bell Media Calgary as of Aug. 2. Lucas arrived from Rogers Winnipeg where he spent more than 16 years selling A-Channel Manitoba which later became Citytv, under three different owners: Craig, CHUM, and then Rogers.

Jim Toth has joined TSN 1290 (CFRW) Winnipeg on the Big Show weekday mornings as of Tuesday, Sept. 6 with Troy Westwood & Brandon Rewucki. Previous gigs include sports reporter at 680 CJOB Winnipeg and sports reporter/producer at Shaw TV.

Winnipeg’s Power 97 (CJKR-FM) has revealed its on-air lineup after flipping formats from 97.5 BIG FM last month. Starting on Sept. 6 was morning show host Joe Aiello (who had been hosting mornings at 97.5 BIG FM) and newcomer Randy Parker. Mid-days will be handled by Meredith Geddes who comes most recently from CFOX 99.3 FM Vancouver where she’s been mid-day host since 2015. Also from CFOX where he was evening host, Craig Stone takes over the afternoon drive show. Power evenings will be hosted by Fearless Fred Kennedy from 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) in Toronto.

Kevin Becker is the new PD at Newcap’s Up 93.1 (CIHI-FM) Fredericton. Becker moved from Rawlco’s Soft Rock 97.7 (CHUP-FM) Calgary where he was an advertising consultant.

Larry Mellott is now PD at CJOY Guelph while Scot Turner adds PD responsibilities at Magic 106.1 (CIMJ-FM) Guelph. He’s also PD at Corus Kitchener. The appointments follow the end-of-August retirement of Operations Manager Ron Fitzpatrick at the two Guelph stations.

THE PODCAST:

On this week’s Broadcast Dialogue Podcast, we chat with Canadian producer and sound designer Ron Tarrant about his New York City-based position as Head Imaging & Sound Designer/Voice of the Howard Stern Show on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

TV/FILM/VIDEO:

Global Television has increased its footprint across Canada after picking up private affiliates that CBC dropped in several Ontario markets. Three Corus-owned affiliates in eastern Ontario, CHEX-DT in Peterborough, CKWS-DT in Kingston and Channel 12 Durham, are taking on Global’s news programming while maintaining their program supply agreement with CTV. CHEX-DT in Peterborough and CKWS-DT in Kingston will also launch their own versions of Global’s The Morning Show starting in October. As of Sept. 1, Newcap-owned CKSA-DT in Lloydminster changed affiliation from CBC to Global.

CRTC public hearings began Sept. 7 to examine skinny-basic cable packages and how they’ve been offered to consumers by the big four: Bell, Rogers, Shaw and Videotron. The commission intends to judge the distributors’ adherence to new pricing rules laid out March 1 and leverage the pending expiry of broadcast licenses to ensure compliance.

The Consumers’ Association of Canada has registered hundreds of complaints since the CRTC mandated packages rolled out. The Association claims that Canada’s biggest TV service providers have pushed the boundaries, heaping extra fees onto the $25 packages.

Meanwhile, the CRTC is offering a new online tool on its website starting next week to help consumers bargain for better TV deals. This in response to data showing less than 2 per cent of Canadian subscribers have opted for skinny-basic services. The resource is intended to help consumers detail their budgets, understand their viewing preferences and be aware of the types of competing providers in the market.

Shad (Shadrach Kabango), former host of CBC Radio’s q, launched a four-part television docu-series called Hip-Hop Evolution on Sunday Sept. 4 on HBO Canada. Hosted by Shad and written by music historian Rodrigo Bascunan, the program explores the history of hip-hop music, from the 1970s up to the 1992 debut of Dr. Dre’s solo album, The Chronic.

CBC is teaming up with Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) to give Canadian independent television producers an opportunity to get their unscripted show ideas financed and on-air during prime time next year on CBC. This is the second year CBC has offered the Format Incubator, and the first time WBITVP has been involved. Up to three unscripted pilots will be supported from development through to broadcast. Proposals are being accepted until Sept. 28. Full guidelines and details can be found here.

Bell Media’s M3 music television channel was shuttered on Sept. 1 and replaced by Gusto, the food and lifestyle brand for which Bell Media company acquired the rights earlier this year. M3, previously known as Much More Music and More Music, launched in 1998 as an adult contemporary spin-off of MuchMusic.

CTV is asking Canadians to record a portion of their day on Saturday, Sept. 10 for their Canada In a Day project. The video will then combined it into one Canadian story that will air as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. Read about the project here.

Canadian comics Emma Hunter and Miguel Rivas will host The Beaverton, based on the popular satirical website of the same name, which will premiere in November on The Comedy Network. Live studio taping of the 13 half-hour episodes begins in Toronto on Sept. 24.

Bell Media and Canadian producer Michael Cohl’s Entertainment Studios are bringing Bat Out of Hell: The Musical to the stage in the UK. Cohl’s previous stage productions include Spamalot, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, and Rock of Ages: The Musical. The production marks the 40th anniversary of Bat Out of Hell, one of only 11 albums to reach double diamond status (two million copies sold) in Canada. Previews begin in February 2017 at the Manchester Opera House and casting is underway.

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:

92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM) Caledonia, ON launched with a classic hits format on Sept. 1 at 9:29 to Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones. Peter Jaycock, most recently with 1150 CKOC Hamilton, hosts mornings with morning news contributed by Yvonne van de Wiele. After 10 years as CKOC morning host and PD, Ted Yates joins the staff as midday host. Rock N Ray Michaels, also an alumni of CKOC and most recently of online radio station D-Moos.com, will host afternoon drive.

CHCH-TV weather anchor/reporter and former CKOC announcer Shelly Marriage will host evening and weekends. Nicolina Martino will cover events/evenings/weekends as well. Named after the Grand River, the station covers most of the Niagara Peninsula, to Brantford in the west and Burlington to the north.

Rogers’ 107.7 The River (CFRV-FM) Lethbridge rebranded to KiSS 107.7 on Friday Sept. 2 to reflect its more Hot AC sound. The air staff remains with Troy Vincent moving laterally across the hall into KiSS mornings from sister 106.7 Rock (CJRX-FM). Cliff Kriz arrived from Rogers’ 97.7 Rock Grande Prairie to join Rosie for Cliff and Rosie mornings on 106.7 Rock, which debuted Sept. 6. KiSS 107.7 kicked off with commercial free long weekend to celebrate.

The CBC responded to last week’s CRTC ruling against its application to continue placing ads on Radio 2 and ICI Musique, stating the decision shows a lack of understanding about the reality of public broadcasting. According to the CBC, the Aug. 31 decision will mean fewer resources to invest in the programs and services it provides to Canadians. It also says by cutting off a source of revenue, the CRTC is simply ensuring there are fewer resources available to serve Canadians.

Golden West’s Mix 104.9 (CKVX-FM) Kindersley, SK has completed its power boost from 50 watts to 100,000 watts. The CRTC approved the increase in June 2015. The station will now serve a wider swath of west-central Saskatchewan.

The CRTC has approved Blackgold Broadcasting’s application for a radio station in Ponoka, AB. The station will occupy 89.7 FM with 1,000 watts of power and a country format. Blackgold’s 2015 application was rejected because the original 10,000 watt proposal would have resulted in encroachment into the neighbouring Wetaskiwin, Lacombe and Red Deer, AB markets.

Multicultural CHTO AM 1690 Toronto has received the CRTC go ahead to add an AM rebroadcasting transmitter in Mississauga to better serve Brampton, Etobicoke and Mississauga. The rebroadcaster will transmit on 1490 AM with 23 watts daytime and 770 watts at night. The Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio station broadcasts primarily in Greek but features other languages as well.

According to the Infinite Dial 2016 digital media consumer behavior survey from Edison Research and Triton Digital, there’s good news for terrestrial radio. 84% of Adults 18+ (and 77% of Adults 18-34) who had driven/ridden in a car in the past month cited AM/FM radio as their most used in-car device. Read more stats regarding online radio and podcasts as well as the conclusions and observations from the study, here.

GENERAL:

Apple has announced the iPhone 7 and it’s already generating a ton of mixed reactions because the analog headphone jack is a thing of the past. It’s a critical advancement that allows the phone to remain water resistant to a depth of 1m. The iPhones are getting stereo speakers — one on each side of the phone. Other upgrades include a faster single lens camera on the 7, while the 7 Plus has a dual lens camera (wide angle and telephoto). The new phones will ship Sept. 16, with orders to start Friday.

Former CRTC commissioner, Raj Shoan, has had the finding of harassment against him dismissed by Federal Court Judge Russel Zinn. The investigation stemmed from a complaint from Amanda Cliff, an executive director with the CRTC, who accused Shoan of bullying and trying to ruin her career. The judge found in his Sept. 2 ruling that Shoan was treated unfairly by the investigator, saying the investigation “turned into a ‘witch hunt’ where the investigator looked into essentially every detail and interaction Commissioner Shoan had with CRTC staff to try to find harassment.” Shoan was awarded legal costs of $30,000.

ONLINE CHANNELS:

Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) is cracking down on paid social media endorsements with new guidelines for endorsers and influencers coming into effect by early 2017. The new rules will require full disclosure of any paid endorsements or mentions of products and services on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Canada lags behind the United States where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented disclosure rules in 2009. Unlike the FTC, ASC is a self-regulating body and not a government agency so it will not have the ability to issue fines.