The Weekly Briefing

REVOLVING DOOR:

Following Randy Lennox’s promotion to president of Bell Media, the company has redistributed the responsibilities of several executives. Among those with new titles is Mike Cosentino, former SVP of CTV and Specialty. Cosentino is now SVP of content and programming, expanding his role to include development of English-language programming for Bell Media’s conventional, specialty and OTT services. Corrie Coe, former SVP of independent programming, is now SVP original programming, reporting to Cosentino. Nikki Moffat, SVP of finance, adds the title of president, local TV and radio, assuming responsibility for Bell Media’s radio and television stations. Stewart Johnston, who was previously president of TSN, becomes president, Bell Media Studios and TSN.

Toronto Star parent company Torstar Corp. announced Friday that John Boynton will take over as president and chief executive officer. Boynton succeeds David Holland, who has retired after more than 30 years with the company. Boynton, 53, has a background in marketing and data analytics and has been chief marketing officer of the Americas Coalitions business at Montreal-based Aimia Inc., since 2014 which operates Aeroplan and other loyalty programs. Before that, he spent 12 years at Rogers Communications Inc., most recently as chief marketing officer. He also been an executive at Sprint Canada, AT&T Canada, Scott’s Hospitality and Pepsico.

 

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS) has announced that president and CEO Jay Forbes will be leaving the company following the anticipated closing of its pending transaction with BCE Inc. on March 17. Forbes joined MTS in Jan. 2015 and led a significant two-year transformation effort, culminating with the recent sale of the company to BCE for $3.9 billion. He also oversaw the sale of Allstream Inc. to Zayo Group Canada Inc. Forbes’ successor has not been named with the position expected to fall under Bell Mobility’s management.

Marcello Bellisario has been promoted to SVP of Talent & Casting for Lionsgate under a new long-term agreement that extends his responsibilities to include all scripted casting for Lionsgate as well as collaboration with Starz on their original programming. Bellisario holds the distinction of being the first head of Casting & Talent Relations in Lionsgate Television history, a department he created upon joining the company in 2014. Bellisario’s relationship with Lionsgate began as the studio and network executive in charge of overseeing the casting of the pilot for Nashville. Prior to that, he spent four and half years working at ABC and ABC Studios, overseeing the casting of Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, Grey’s Anatomy and Revenge.

Paul Haysom will join the Global BC Morning News team later this month as news anchor. Haysom has been at Global News Calgary for the past few years where he’s anchored Global News at 11. He previously held a number of roles at Global News BC, including reporter and anchor at Global News’ 24-hour news channel BC 1. In addition to his role as morning news anchor, Haysom will anchor Global News BC 1’s 9 a.m. – noon newscast.

Edmonton’s iLink Media Group has announced the addition of Bryan Woodruff as national director, Sales and Business Development. For the past two decades, Woodruff has held senior management positions in broadcast services for Canada NewsWire CCN Matthews, and MarketWire (now MarketWired). Founded in 2012, iLink Media Group provides mobile broadcast & webcast services.

Peggy @ 99-1 (CJGV-FM) Winnipeg, which has been flying without on-air talent since its format flip on Christmas Day, has announced that beginning March 20, Samantha Stevens and Travis Stewart will join the line-up with their new show Feel Good Mornings with Sam and Travis. Stevens has worked in radio for the past two decades, hosting in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg where she spent the last five years at QX Country (CFQX-FM). She’s hosting alongside newcomer Stewart, who joins Peggy @ 99-1 from Yorkton, SK’s FOX FM (CFGW-FM) where he was midday announcer and music director.

Lee Rodgers has assumed production duties at Evanov Halifax. As Broadcast Dialogue reported last month, Mark Doiron has left to pursue an opportunity with the federal government. Rodgers was previously heading production at MBS Radio in Halifax.

Chantal Desjardins has been selected to join the PVN (PokerVision Network) Broadcast Team. Desjardins is a television and radio personality, actor and comedian whose credits include City TV Winnipeg, CTV Montreal, CHOM 97.7 Montreal, Virgin Radio 96 (CJFM-FM) and CJAD 800 (CJAD-AM). Most recently, Chantal hosted Rogers SportsNet’s Montreal Canadiens regional broadcasts. PVN moves toward its full broadcast launch in April on The Action Network in the U.S. and later this year with the major broadcast carriers in Canada.

Kelly Greig is joining CTV Montreal. She’s been Global Montreal’s morning show reporter since 2015. Greig has also done stints with ABC News, Rogers Sportsnet and CBC.

Jesse Modzelewski, known to listeners as Jesse Modz for the past three years on St. Catharines-based radio station HTZ-FM (CHTZ-FM), has left his afternoon drive slot to join the morning show at CJAY 92 (CJAY-FM) Calgary. Modz previously worked at Big 96.3 (CFMK-FM) Kingston, ON, 94X (CIRX-FM) Prince George, BC and Big Dog 103.5 (CILB-FM) Lac La Biche, AB before joining HTZ-FM in 2014.

CBC News has announced a new organizational structure. Brodie Fenlon will take on leadership of Daily News, which will encompass the News Now programs, digital and social, radio hourly newscasts and The World This Hour. Jonathan Whitten takes on management of Depth and Context (including The National, World Report, The World At Six, The World This Weekend, the parliamentary bureau and CBC News Network programs) and has officially been appointed Editor In Chief Jennifer McGuire’s deputy. Steve Ladurantaye is the new managing editor of The National. Postings will be going up for head of Investigative and the new role of Audience and Content Experience. Along with the changes, Andrew Cochran, who has been head of Strategy since 2014, and Chief of Staff Gino Apponi are both transitioning out of the CBC. Cochran will continue to consult for the public broadcaster.

KICX-FM Country Sudbury, ON has juggled its lineup. Trinette and Coop are now hosting the morning show. Trinette Atkinson has been on-air and PD since the station’s launch in 2008, while Bryan Cooper has been working at KICX Country for the past year in news and afternoon drive. Former Q92 (CJRQ-FM) host Lyndsay Moggy will take over mid-days, while Scott Edwards becomes the permanent host of the afternoon drive show after holding down the role of promotions director for the past four years.

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:

Golden West Broadcasting celebrates 60 years on March 13. Golden West took to the airwaves at 8:01 pm on March 13th, 1957 with the launch of CFAM 950 in Altona, MB. At the time, the community had a population of just 1,800 and the entire company a staff of 11. The company now encompasses 41 stations in 25 communities, between southwestern Ontario and Alberta, as well as 18 community websites. The station’s 60th anniversary booklet can be viewed at https://online.flippingbook.com/view/1665/. Of note, Golden West CEO Elmer Hildebrand, one of the company’s original employees, celebrates his 80th birthday on March 10.

TSN Radio Vancouver will continue to be home to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the next three seasons. All 34 matches will be carried on either TSN 1040 (CKST-AM) or TSN 1410 (CFTE-AM), including one-hour pre-game and one-hour post-game shows. Peter Schaad returns to provide play-by-play for Whitecaps FC matches on TSN Radio Vancouver – when not calling matches on the TSN TV broadcast. Spelling Schaad on play-by-play this season is Joey Kenward. Colour commentary will be delivered by former Canadian men’s national team and Vancouver 86ers goalkeeper Paul Dolan, who returns to his original post from 2011. Dolan played 10 seasons with Vancouver and is the club’s all-time leader in goalkeeping appearances and victories.

SIGN-OFFS:

Tom Young, 75, on March 6 following complications after knee surgery. Young’s 50-year career in broadcasting began in 1961 while stationed in West Germany with the Canadian Armed Forces. He was best known as the host of the long-running show ‘Talk of the Town’ on CFBC-AM Saint John, NB. In 2005, Young joined the Rogers Radio network in the Maritimes as host of ‘The Afternoon News’ heard on News 88.9 (CHNI-FM) Saint John, News 91.9 (CKNI-FM) Moncton, and News 95.7 (CJNI-FM) Halifax. He went on to host the program for nearly seven years. Young’s lifelong interest in politics also led him to spend time in municipal government, serving as the mayor of Renforth, NB from 1989 to 1992. He also served several terms as a Rothesay, NB town councillor. Young moved to St. John’s, NL with his wife after signing off from Rogers in 2011 to be closer to their grandchildren.

Grant Ullyot, 81 on March 3 after a brief illness. Ullyot’s radio career started in 1957, while serving in the military and stationed in Germany, He was recruited as a volunteer and did play-by-play for the RCAF Flyers Europe hockey team. Upon his return to Canada, he was posted to Edmonton where his first commercial broadcasting job after leaving the military was with CHCA-TV in Red Deer where he anchored the evening news and sports. Ullyot went on to work at radio and television stations in Saskatoon, Melfort and Prince Albert, SK before he was hired as news director at 1270 CHWK-AM in Chilliwack, BC. He remained at the station for 27 years, and was the play-by-play voice of the Chilliwack Bruins among other on-air duties. After his retirement, Grant wrote for The Westcoast Farmer for the Chilliwack Progress. He passed away one week shy of his 82nd birthday.

Jon Holland, 50, suddenly on Feb. 19. Holland attended the radio broadcasting course at Loyalist College from 1986 to 1988 and went on to work at CHUC-AM in Cobourg as well as The New Classical 103.1 FM (CFMX-FM). Most recently, he was an on-air host at Northumberland 89.7 (CFWN-FM). Holland was an enthusiastic volunteer and tireless champion of local causes.

TV/FILM/VIDEO:

Wendy Mesley took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series at Tuesday night’s gala honouring excellence in non-fiction programming. Among the night’s other big winners were CBC News: The National for Best National Newscast and CBC Newfoundland & Labrador which won Best Local Newscast for CBC News: Here & Now. CTV’s Lisa LaFlamme won Best National News Anchor, while CTV News Edmonton’s Darryl McIntyre took home the award for Best Local News Anchor. You can view the complete list of winners here.

The CRTC has split the difference in a MusiquePlus dispute with Bell over packaging. MusiquePlus and Musimax complained Bell had removed the channels from its first-tier package in Quebec and was only including them in its highest-tier package, violating sections of the code. In its decision, the commission found the proposed repackaging for Max violates section 9 of the Code, but that the proposed repackaging for MusiquePlus does not.

The Arkells and this year’s Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Sarah McLachlan have been added to the lineup of performers confirmed for the 2017 JUNO Awards on April 2. They join previously announced performers A Tribe Called Red, Alessia Cara, Ruth B, Shawn Mendes and The Strumbellas. CTV has also announced it will air the live broadcast in 4K on CTV and CTV GO.

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) will air a 13-part television series this summer focused on home improvement and do-it-yourself projects with an accessibility twist. Produced by Clerisy Entertainment, Eyes for the Job is currently in production in Nova Scotia and will feature hosts Chris Judge and Rebekah Higgs. A lifelong handyman and do-it-yourself enthusiast, Chris brings a unique perspective to the program as he is blind. He’ll work alongside Rebekah, who is fully sighted and runs her own web series DIY MOM.

ONLINE CHANNELS:

RBC is the first Canadian bank to launch Interac e-transfer using Siri. The money transfer solution is now available through an update to the RBC Mobile app for iPhone and iPad. Once you give the voice command, the Siri feature confirms the name from your payee list and the RBC Mobile app automatically debits your chequing account and sends the payment, protected by TouchID.

TVO is partnering with the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) to bring discussions of the latest discoveries in brain science to a wider public via livestreaming on tvo.org. The first live webcast kicked off Tuesday evening with Bruising Your Brain: What Science and Sport Say About Concussions. Speakers included Hockey Hall of Fame honouree Eric Lindros and concussion experts Dr. Carolyn Emery and Dr. Roger Zemek. In the months ahead, OBI plans to hold free public talks in Toronto and around Ontario related to neuroscience and brain health, which will be live-streamed on TVO.

Corus is the first major Canadian broadcast publisher to offer first-party data to advertisers. The standalone data sets will be available for buyers to purchase via their digital programmatic platforms. Through integrations with leading demand-side platforms, Corus is allowing buyers to target audiences based on anonymous cookie data. Corus is currently running data sharing tests with two partners, Amnet and Cadreon. Corus is also exploring other data offerings including cross-platform audience targeting – a combination of TV and digital ad inventory delivered to specific audiences.

Much Digital Studios has announced its first-ever original series Dan For A Week, set to launch on YouTube and Much.com this spring. The six-episode series follows Much Creator Dan James, a.k.a. The Danocracy, as he tries to spend a whole week governed by somewhat unusual conditions. Dan For A Week, which is produced in-house by Bell Media’s digital video team, is currently in production in Toronto. Much Digital Studios’ leap to series production comes as the multi-channel network hits the 6.4 million combined subscriber mark. Much Digital Studios now generates more than 6.8 million combined views weekly.

GENERAL:

The deadline to apply for all four vacant CRTC openings has been extended to March 15. Vacancies include the regional members for Manitoba/Saskatchewan and Ontario, chairperson and vice-chairperson (broadcasting).

The Radio-Canada ombudsman is accusing the ICI RDI channel of breaching its obligations by broadcasting content in English without simultaneous translation. In his decision, Guy Gendron, a former reporter himself, calls on RDI to ensure the practice is minimized. The decision stems from a complaint filed in January by a viewer unhappy about the lack of French translation of portions of interviews broadcast on ICI RDI. RDI says it is reviewing the decision.

The CRTC says Canadian telcos made $37.7 million last year charging customers to unlock their cellphones. That’s a 75 per cent jump over 2014. The CRTC would only reveal that the tally includes up to seven providers and didn’t provide a breakdown. The controversial charge, usually $50, was hotly debated at a CRTC hearing last month with consumer groups arguing customers shouldn’t be charged for the service, especially if they’ve paid off their phone. Telus and Bell argued the practice stops third party dealers from re-selling phones overseas and protects telecoms against customers walking away from their contracts.

Quebecor Media Inc. has struck a partnership with Tuango Inc. that gives the e-commerce/ bulk sales company access to its audience base in return for its email list. The Montreal-based broadcaster and publisher will allow its advertisers to sell products through the group-buying site.

In one of the largest Canadian charitable donations aimed at Indigenous communities, The Slaight Family Foundation will donate more than $12 million to 15 not-for-profit organizations. Among those receiving funding is Indigenous-led registered charity Indspire which works toward the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education.

Lynn Burry, senior producer and co-host of NTV Evening Newshour, and Anthony Germain host of CBC St. John’s Morning Show, will be the Masters of Ceremonies for the Atlantic Journalism Awards. This year’s event happens May 6 at the St. John’s Convention Centre. Finalists for the AJAs will be announced in early April.

SUPPLY LINES:

Burk Technology is introducing a new Captures feature for its ARC Plus Touch and SL remote control systems for the broadcast industry. The new feature stores months of channel readings for later download and analysis, allowing station engineers to track changes in critical site parameters over time. Captures can also be triggered by events, creating a permanent record of site conditions at the time. The company is also introducing a BTU-4D Digital Temperature Unit which connects as many as four digital temperature sensors to the ARC Plus or ARC Solo remote control system.