Statistics Canada has published 2017 television broadcasting numbers. All revenue categories were down in 2017 with total operating revenue for the sector falling 4.8 per cent from 2016 to $7.1 billion. Profits before interest and taxes rose 10.5 per cent to $940.7 million, as the result of a 6.8 per cent decrease in operating expenses. Air time sales fell 4.9 per cent to $3.0 billion continuing a downward trend that started in 2012, while subscription revenues fell for the first time by 1.3 per cent or $39 million over the same period. Read the full report here.
OMNI Television will start airing Toronto Blue Jays games in Tagalog on OMNI.2, OMNI BC, OMNI Alberta and OMNI Regional. OMNI says it’s hoping to build on the success of the channel’s Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition series to increase its unique programming offerings to Canada’s ethnic and third-language communities. Blue Jays on OMNI will air home and away games live every Saturday, using Sportsnet’s feed.
Bell Media’s new acquisitions for its entertainment specialty channels for the 2018/2019 broadcast year include Bad Boys spinoff series L.A.’s Finest starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba; Deadly Class, based on the popular graphic novel; Chris Pine mystery drama One Day She’ll Darken, directed by Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman); Chris Noth procedural crime drama, Gone; and new late-night series Busy Tonight, hosted by actress Busy Phillipps.
Citytv’s 2018/19 schedule boasts 11 new shows, the return of 16 fan favourites, and three live events and specials. New series include the Boston-set drama A Million Little Things; Manifest, which explores the unsettling lives of the long-missing passengers and crew of Montego Air Flight 828; Marvel family adventure The Gifted; and Citytv original mystery The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco. Returning series include America’s Got Talent, his-and-hers The Bachelor / The Bachelorette franchise, Canadian mob thriller and Citytv original Bad Blood, Black-ish, Bob’s Burgers, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dancing with the Stars, Family Guy, Hell’s Kitchen, Hockey Night in Canada, Lethal Weapon, Life in Pieces, Modern Family, Mom, and The Orville.
CTV is touting new audience data that shows it continues to be the most-watched Canadian television network in primetime for 17 years in a row. CTV ends the 2017/18 season with an overall average audience 48 per cent larger than its closest competitor with A18-34, 43 per cent for A18-49, and 38 per cent with A25-54. The Big Bang Theory was Canada’s most-watched series for the eighth year in a row.
Corus Entertainment has announced its programming lineup of new and returning series for the 2018/2019 schedule. W Network’s lineup includes four highly-anticipated series: drama All American; supernatural series Charmed, based on the original series; Roswell, New Mexico based on the Roswell High book series and the buzzed-about Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Food Network Canada’s schedule includes new series Baked in Vermont, Girl Meets Farm and returning fan-favourite Chopped featuring new resident judge Martha Stewart. On HISTORY, new series In Search Of joins the schedule alongside returning hit Vikings. Three new Canadian original series also join the schedule: Rust Valley Restorers, Big Rig Warriors and History Erased.
Telefilm Canada is inviting producers to submit their feature films to the pan-Canadian selection committee for a chance to represent Canada as a potential nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2019 Oscars. The committee will make a decision in September and announce the results by Oct. 1. Films submitted must be produced outside the U.S. in a language other than English and released commercially in theatres for at least seven consecutive days in Canada between Oct. 1, 2017 and Sept. 30, 2018 in 35 mm, 70 mm or Digital Cinema Package (DCP) format. Eligibility requirements and campaign rules can be found on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science website. Nominated films will be announced on Jan. 22, 2019 with the 91st Academy Awards to be held on Feb. 24, 2019.
Corus and the Banff World Media Festival have announced the recipients of this year’s Corus Writer’s Apprentice Program. Attracting experienced writers from across Canada each year, the 2018 recipients are invited to Banff on a full-access pass to benefit from extensive networking during the festival, as well as participate in a two-week internship opportunity in the writer’s room of a current Canadian series. This year’s recipients are: Laura Good (Vancouver, BC); Elize Morgan (Toronto, ON); Ian MacIntyre (Toronto, ON); Jason Packer (Toronto, ON); and Jennifer Siddle (Toronto, ON). The Banff World Media Festival takes place June 10-13.
DHX Media Ltd. common voting shares and variable voting shares now trade under the single ticker “DHX” on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The consolidation is solely an administrative change for trading purposes, designed to enhance the liquidity and trading volume of DHX Media shares. The company’s shares will continue to trade under the ticker “DHXM” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
CCI Entertainment and Art of Purpose are producing a new docu-series Good Is The New Cool, based on the best-selling book by authors Afdhel Aziz and Bobby Jones. The series will showcase a new wave of world changers and immerse viewers into their life and work, as they attempt to solve some of the world’s most urgent issues.
The 34th annual IWK Telethon for Children on CTV Atlantic stations raised $6.58 million, including the first-ever $1 million donation from Maritime Walmart stores. Telethon proceeds will help purchase priority equipment and fund programs, research and new facilities.
The 31st annual Miracle Weekend, which aired on Global BC and Global Okanagan on June 2-3, raised more than $21 million for BC Children’s Hospital. Since 1987, Miracle Weekend has raised more than $292 million.
