Netflix is trying to “set the record straight” surrounding controversy over its commitment to invest half a billion over five years

Netflix is trying to “set the record straight” surrounding controversy over its commitment to invest half a billion over five years in Canadian film and television content. In a blog post Tuesday, Corie Wright, the company’s director of Global Public Policy, asserted that a recent price increase has nothing to do with the announcement; that Netflix has not made any tax deals with the federal government; and that the company follows tax laws wherever it operates. Netflix also says it will invest $25 million in market development activities over five years to host pitch days, recruitment events, and support local cultural events to ensure Netflix Canada reaches Canadian production communities, including the French-language community in Quebec.

Videotron, Rogers and Shaw will kick off the list of licensee presentations on Oct. 16 as the CRTC considers licence renewals for major TV providers. Find the agenda here.

The CRTC has approved the addition of Canal + International to the List of Non-Canadian Programming Services and Stations Approved for Distribution. Applicant THEMA Canada describes Canal + International, as a niche French-language service originating in France, offering general programming for French expats.

Videotron has filed a complaint with the CRTC against Rogers, accusing it of violating the commission’s Wholesale Code. Videotron accuses Rogers of seeking illegal minimum revenue quotas for NHL Centre Ice and NFL Sunday Ticket. The latter is longer available since its broadcast rights were acquired by streaming service DAZN.

Canada’s Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) and Zee Entertainment, one of the world’s largest South Asian Broadcasters, have announced a partnership that will see &TV programming air on ATN HD. &TV is the flagship Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) amongst the ‘&’-branded channels.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and PBS Distribution have inked an expanded multi-year, physical distribution agreement whereby UPHE Canada will exclusively distribute all PBS Distribution Blu-ray and DVD releases across the Canadian retail marketplace. The deal covers a broad range of public television brands including Masterpiece, Nature, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Wild Kratts, as well as other premium content from SkipRope.

Complementing TSN’s already revealed lineup of 41 Toronto Raptors games, the network has announced the addition of over 100 marquee NBA games for the 2017-18 season, headlined by six opening week matchups and including 27 Golden State Warriors games and 22 games featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coverage tips off Oct. 17 with Kyrie Irving’s debut for the Boston Celtics against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The complete 2017-18 NBA ON TSN broadcast schedule is available here. TSN Radio stations will also deliver live coverage of select NBA ON TSN games throughout the season.

True Gravity Productions and Ireland’s Sideline Productions will sign a co-production agreement at MIPCOM in Cannes next week to develop and produce new scripted and non-scripted TV shows for the global market. The first three projects to be developed and pitched are Cemetery Cop – a new ‘spirited’ comedy drama based on the true story of a graveyard shift security officer; factual adventure series Dying to Fly investigating the dangers of early aviation; and Bellevue Country Club – a ’fish out of water’ sitcom following an Irish couple who travel to small town Quebec to manage a run down golf course willed to them.  

Gusto’s #1 series Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party returns to the network’s fall lineup with new episodes on Oct. 16. Among Gusto’s new offerings are Jamie Oliver series Jamie’s Quick And Easy Food, based on his latest cookbook, and new competition series The Chefs’ Line where contestants go up against one chef in each episode. With five back-to-back, 30-minute episodes airing each week, viewers watch as competitors face off against increasingly more experienced chefs. Masterchef Canada winner Mary Berg will host Dinner And A Movie on Friday nights, starting Oct. 27, that will couple a Friday night movie with an aptly-themed recipe.

Global BC anchor Sonia Sunger will cut her hair live on Global News Morning on Oct. 20, so she can donate it to the Canadian Cancer Society’s wig banks program. Sunger, whose mother has successfully battled breast cancer three times, shared her personal motivation on-air. At last word, 19 viewers will join Sunger in donating their hair to the cause.