Sports Media Canada presented its 22nd annual SMC Achievement Awards on Nov. 8, celebrating excellence in sports journalism. Longtime Hockey Night In Canada play-by-play man and CBC Sports broadcaster Steve Armitage was presented with the award for Career Achievement. Sportsnet host Arash Madani was recognized for Broadcasting, while TSN’s Rick Westhead took home the honour for Sportswriting for his investigative work with tsn.ca. You can view the full list of winners here.
Sports Page, the Vancouver TV sports highlight show that launched the careers of broadcasters like Scott Rintoul, John Shorthouse, Blake Price, Don Taylor, Barry Macdonald, Paul Carson, Dan Murphy and Dave Randorf, is getting its own exhibit at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Sports Page: The Exhibit celebrates the 40th anniversary of the show’s debut on CKVU-TV (now City Vancouver), starting in 1977, and continuing until 2001 before moving to CHEK-TV Victoria for its final four years. The exhibit, opening Dec. 9, will feature a replica of the Sports Page anchor desk, trivia, anecdotes and memorabilia from the show and events it covered.
Lionsgate reported revenue of $941 million, net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $16 million, or basic EPS of $0.07, and adjusted net income attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $63 million, or adjusted basic EPS of $0.30, for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 (quarter ended Sept. 30). Revenue in the quarter increased 47 per cent year-over-year. With Lionsgate’s acquisition of Starz, results are not directly comparable to prior reporting periods. Media Networks segment revenues increased seven per cent to $393.4 million on higher OTT revenues, lower programming costs and the licensing of Power. Motion Pictures segment revenues declined 24 per cent to $385.7 million primarily driven by fewer wide releases in the quarter. Television Production segment revenues declined 4.7 per cent to $168.7 million due to the timing of episodic deliveries of Orange is the New Black.
Discovery premieres the latest instalment in its “Drain” Series Drain Alcatraz on Dec. 3. The show uses computer technology to virtually drain the waters around Alcatraz Island and the surrounding bay. Viewers are taken to the island and inside the prison, exploring the chronology of human settlement on Alcatraz from Sioux Tribes and Spanish and Mexican explorers, to American soldiers, and eventually its most infamous residents Californian convicts.
Food Spin with Chef Aleem, a 13-episode documentary series following the life of Toronto food truck owner Aleem Syed, premieres Nov. 29 on AMI-tv (Accessible Media Inc.). A professionally trained chef, Syed was involved in a 2008 shooting accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, but he persevered making it his mission to open a halal and fully wheelchair accessible food truck called the Holy Grill. To be accessible for those with sight loss, Syed describes his actions and surroundings during the series, eliminating the need for a secondary audio track. Full episodes will be available online after the initial broadcast.
Jay Baruchel is joining CraveTV comedy Letterkenny in a feature role as Hard Right Jay, a Tiki Torch-carrying out-of-towner, who stirs things up, in a new six-pack episodic instalment. Also featured is social media star Evan Breen as Baruchel’s sidekick and Sarah Gadon (Alias Grace), who reprises her role as Gae. Returning to direct is Jacob Tierney, who also reprises his role as Christian leader, Glen. Currently in production in Sudbury, ON, the new episodes are set to launch in 2018.
TSN airs a CFL Playoff doubleheader Sunday, Nov. 19 with the Toronto Argonauts hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Eastern Final, followed by an all-Alberta clash with the Calgary Stampeders hosting the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Final. TSN says Eastern and Western Semi-Finals broadcasts have been the most-watched in three years averaging 1 million viewers overall and up +7% with total viewers over 2016. Overall, 4.3 million Canadians watched some or all of the Eastern and Western Semi-Final games.
