Radio / Audio / Podcast
Newfoundland Capital Corporation, owner and operator of Newcap Radio, is reporting higher earnings and profit for the second quarter of the year. Revenue was up 4 per cent to $44.2 million, EBITDA was up 11 per cent, and profit was up 39 per cent, all from the same quarter last year. The company credits growth in Toronto and Ottawa as a result of strong listener ratings in those markets. Newcap owns 95 stations across the country.
The CRTC has approved several asset acquisitions as part of a corporate reorganization of Evanov Communications Inc (ECI), owner of Evanov Radio Group Inc. (ERG), Dufferin Communication Inc., and CFMB Limited. ERG will acquire CHRF Montréal (Radio Fierté) and CHSV-FM Hudson/Saint-Lazare (The Jewel) from Dufferin Communication and CFMB AM 1280 (CFMB-AM) Montréal from CFMB Limited. The transaction will not affect control of the three stations, which will continue to be exercised by Bill Evanov.
NewsTalk 1290 (CJBK-AM) London has signed a rights agreement to broadcast more than 150 live NHL games during the upcoming season. Featured teams will include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres. The Bell Media station’s sports lineup also includes the Western Mustangs, NFL Football, plus live coverage of major sport and championship events including the World Juniors, Grey Cup and Super Bowl.
Corus Radio returned Power 97 (CJKR-FM) to Winnipeg on August 12. The format is modern and mainstream rock and the first song was Give It Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers. Gone is 97.5 BIG FM (CJKR-FM) which had launched in February 2015 as a classic rock format. It’s all-music until the lineup is unveiled in September.
A recent RAB blog tackles the argument that radio station personalities are the single most important differentiator for radio. It also looks at podcasting and social media as outlets allowing the personality to extend their audience connection. A link to the complete article can be found here.
General
Momentum Media Marketing, Inc has entered into an agreement to manage the marketing and affiliate sales for Pat Bohn-owned SparkNetworks – Canada’s independent provider of programming content, tools and services for the broadcast industry. The deal is effective September 1. Hillary Hommy will continue to manage special initiatives for SparkNetworks, as VP Strategic Projects. Shawn Smith, President and Founder of Momentum, said managing SparkNetworks will give current and prospective clients more industry services, programming options and client support. Momentum is the owner and publisher of Broadcast Dialogue. Click here for the full release.
The industry’s biggest players are embracing OTT. Time Warner reached a deal to take a 10 per cent stake in Hulu, joining existing owners Disney, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast. The deal gives Time Warner’s Turner cable networks a spot in Hulu’s live-streaming TV service set to launch in 2017. Disney has announced a $1 billion investment in Major League Baseball’s BAMTech and plans for an ESPN-branded sports-subscription service. The ESPN over-the-top bundle will exclude programming carried on its TV networks.
Sourced: Variety Written: LB Edited: SS
A new CRTC study says Canada ranks within the top three countries when it comes to wireless prices, although cellular plans are cheaper in Canada than in the U.S. and Japan. The annual report compared the prices of internet, wireless and home phone services in eight countries in total. Canada was the second most expensive place to get high speed internet, behind the U.S. Read the details here.
The Canadian Association of Journalists is calling for immediate government action to support public-interest reporting in the wake of 45 newsroom staff layoffs at the Toronto Star last week. The association said the Star is home to one of the few investigative journalism teams in the country and although a panel of MPs is currently studying the state of the Canadian media it’s time for government to move from study to action.
TV / Film / Video
Entertainment One has rejected a takeover bid from British broadcaster ITV. The preliminary proposal of 236 pence a share, which puts the value of the company at around 1.7 billion CAD, was rejected by eOne’s board of directors claiming it fundamentally undervalues the company and its prospects. Entertainment One is one of Canada’s largest independent film and television distributors.
Stingray Digital Group Inc. closed its deal with Bell Media to acquire and rebrand a number of specialty music channels. As of August 12, Much Vibe becomes Stingray Vibe, Much Loud becomes Stingray Loud and Juicebox becomes Stingray Juicebox. The acquisition of a fourth channel, Much Retro, is expected to follow shortly. The programming is expected to remain the same with Stingray Loud catering to fans of alternative, metal and punk music. Stingray Vibe is devoted to hip-hop, R&B, soul and reggae music. Stingray Juicebox is developed for children and features parent-approved and kid-friendly videos.
The CRTC has granted an application by Stornoway Communications to revoke the licence for its last remaining of three specialty channels, iChannel, which was originally authorized as The Issues Channel in 2000. The CRTC previously granted Stornoway’s applications to revoke licenses for bpm:tv (a music channel) in June 2015 and The Pet Network in April 2016.
Groupe V Média inc. is taking MusiMax in a new direction, rebranding the French language station as MAX. Instead of music videos, the station will offer TV series and movies. The new programming begins August 29 with a free preview until September 25. Groupe V Média inc. acquired MusiquePlus and MusiMax in 2014 and the company said there was no place in the Quebec market for two music channels.
Newcap’s CKSA-DT Lloydminster – and its transmitter CKSA-TV-2 Bonnyville – will no longer carry CBC programming as of Aug 31. The public broadcaster informed Newcap back in January 2015 that the relationship would end. The CRTC now makes it official. Newcap will operate the station independently and source programming elsewhere.
Women in Film & Television Vancouver is calling for applications for its Whistler Film Festival mentorship program. The goal is to provide the selected producer, director or writer with experience in preparing her film project for market. The applications are due August 29. Read the details here.
Sign Offs
John Saunders, 61, in New York. The Toronto-born sportscaster joined ESPN in 1986 and hosted “The Sports Reporters” for the last 15 years. The cause of death has not been released. Saunders started as News Director at CKNS Radio in Espanola, Ontario, in 1978. He worked as sports anchor at CKNY-TV in North Bay and at ATV News in Moncton before he became sports anchor for CITY-TV in Toronto from 1980 to 1982. He jumped to the U.S. in 1982, working as a sports anchor at WMAR-TV in Baltimore until 1986 when he joined ESPN. While at ESPN, he doubled as a play-by-play man for the Raptors.
William Kittelberg, known on-air as Bill Rodgers, 64, of a heart attack in Ottawa. Among his on-air stops were CKSL London, CFRB Toronto, and CFTO-TV Toronto. Later, he became a PC strategist, the Parliamentary bureau chief for Sun Media and, later, worked in a communications role for two federal Conservative ministers, Bill Prentice and Peter Kent…
Errol Bruce Knapp, 73, born in Alexandria, Egypt and brought up in Canada. Knapp got his start in broadcasting at pirate Radio Caroline off the UK coast. Afterwards he returned to Canada and worked at CKFH, CHUM-FM, Q107, CBC and TVOntario in Toronto since the late 60s. Knapp was intrigued by UFOs and had a long-running UFO radio programme, Strange Days…Indeed on CFRB. Upon cancellation, he began producing it in weekly podcast form.
David Cassady, 86, on Sunday August 14. Cassady moved to the Vancouver area from San Francisco in the early ‘70’s and immediately made an impact on CKWX 1130 radio where he read news for many years. Cassady later worked in the newsroom of CFAX Victoria before retiring to the Fraser Valley.
Online Channels
Some big television players are resisting striking deals with Facebook for its video features despite a potentially huge audience upside. The social media giant has been trolling premium content owners, tempting them with its Suggested Videos feature and its live-streaming product Facebook Live. But the National Football League, Walt Disney Co and NBCUniversal have all said no, fearing a deal with Facebook would create confusion in the ad sales marketplace and undermine the value of the programming. Another concern is recent algorithm changes that determine how content surfaces in the News Feeds of users.
Twitter is coming out the winner in the race to lock in pro sports live streaming events. Since a $10 million deal was inked with the National Football League in March to stream 10 games, Twitter has signed a series of live-streaming deals, including with Wimbledon, CBSNews, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Pac-12 Networks. Deals with Major League Soccer and the Professional Golfers Association are in the works.
Xbox One owners can now access thousands of hours of CTV and TSN programming directly from their game console. The networks announced August 16 that the CTV GO and TSN GO apps are now available to Canadians via Xbox One. It’s the first time the apps are available on a gaming console.
Bell Media will be broadcasting the Canadian concert in support the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria on September 17 at the Bell Centre in Montréal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Bill Gates will be there and performers include Usher, Half Moon Run, Metric, Grimes, and Charlotte Cardin. The concert will be broadcast live to Bell Fibe TV subscribers, will be the first-ever livestream at iHeartRadio.ca and will be streamed on additional Bell Media Radio websites.
Revolving Door
CBC has replaced the host of q, its flagship music, arts and cultural affairs radio show. Rapper Shad took the helm in March 2015, following Jian Ghomeshi’s high-profile departure, but ratings dropped and did not recover. Shad (Shadrach Kabango) is being replaced by regular guest host Tom Power, who will step away from his current role as presenter of Radio 2 Morning. A new host for that show will be announced later. Power takes over q in October.
102.7 The Peak (CKPK-FM) Vancouver is tweaking its format and has parted ways with morning hosts Kevin Lim and Sonia Sidhu. The station has gone from a Triple A format to Modern Rock. Lim confirmed via Facebook that August 17 was the duo’s final day on the station as well as sister station Q103.1 (CKQQ-FM) Kelowna where they hosted middays. The team joined The Peak in May 2014 from mornings 99.9 Sun-FM (CHSU-FM) Kelowna.
Tarzan Dan (Freeman) is back in Calgary in afternoon drive at Q-107 (CFGQ-FM) as of August 15. Freeman worked in Calgary early in his career and was last there as Kool 101.5 Kool Breakfast Morning show co-host from 2012 to 2015. He is also well-known for hosting YTV’s The Hit List and as a professional photographer.
Virgin Radio London (CIQM-FM) has tweaked its lineup. Sarah Kelly stepped back from the morning show on August 5. Moving from afternoons, Jeff Kelly takes over the morning show with Rachel Ettinger, formerly from The Bounce (now Virgin Radio) (CJCH-FM) Halifax. The new APD/afternoon drive is J Stevens, in from Blackburn Radio’s COOL (CKUE-FM) Windsor.
Virgin Radio 105.3 (CFCA-FM) Kitchener is filling out the lineup. Luke Rodriguez, who was the evening jock and recent morning fill-in with Virgin Radio (CIQM-FM) London, is the new morning show co-host with Lee Haberkorn, in from from Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM) Montreal. Sarah Christie, arrives from CHUM-FM Toronto to take over afternoon drive and music director duties.
Bell Media’s New Country 94 (CKKL-FM) Ottawa has reset mornings. Ryan Lindsay and PJ Ste Marie were let go August 15 and will be replaced by Sophie Moroz and Matt Di Paola. Moroz rejoins New Country 94 after six-months at sister station Majic 100. Di Paola moves to mornings from afternoons. Former morning co-host Mary Anne Ivison goes to afternoons. The station flipped to country in 2014 and says it remains committed to the format.
Bruce Barker has joined The Grand at 101.1 (CICW-FM) Centre Wellington as News/Sports Director and afternoon news anchor. During his 38-year career, Barker has worked in Barrie, Toronto, Calgary, Camrose, Brooks and most recently with My Broadcasting Corporation in Kincardine as News/Sports Director. In addition to his new role at The Grand, Barker is also the “arena voice” of the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock at Air Canada Centre.
Karen Walton has been named as the Executive Producer in Residence of the 2016 Bell Media Prime Time TV Program. Walton, an award-winning creator, screenwriter and executive producer, will lead selected participants through a rigorous mentorship program designed to help them develop their original series concepts and expose them to key industry players through business and marketplace meetings. Program participants will be announced next month. Read more here.
Andrea MacDonald has joined Twitter Canada as Sales Manager. MacDonald’s career stops include GM/GSM Digital for Vista Radio, Director, Digital Sales for Rogers Communications and Account Manager for CBC/Radio-Canada.
Supply Lines
Husam Hassan is back with Rhode & Schwarz and based in Miami. His new position is as Technical Sales Manager, Broadcast for the Latin American market. In June of last year, Hassan, then the manager, marketing and technical sales, transmitter business unit, and based in Munich, left the company. Prior to his R&S Munich transfer he was well-known to broadcasters here after years spent with the company’s Canadian unit.
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