RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:

Canada 2020, the Ottawa-based think-tank, has launched a new podcast network dedicated to Canadian politics, policy, government affairs, media and big ideas. The 2020 Network presented by Interac will feature multiple shows starting with: Wonk With Mike, hosted by Canada 2020’s Mike Moffatt, a weekly deep-dive into the world of economics, statistics, and policy development; Explain Like I’m Five (ELI5), recorded live in front of a studio audience and hosted by Alex Paterson, asks participants to take a hot, but complex topic like cryptocurrencies or machine learning and “explain it like I’m 5”; /Thread is the network’s weekly Friday wrap-up show on the week in politics, government and policy featuring press gallery pundits, MPs, think-tank friends and family. Listeners can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Newcap Radio Kamloops has announced the launch of the “NL Morning News” with Howie Reimer and Shane Woodford. The show, which officially debuted on June 6, will include breaking local news, talk and commentary. Peter Olsen, who previously hosted the CHNL-AM morning show for 37 years, announced his retirement last month.

The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and radio stations CJAD 800, 95.9 Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM), CHOM 97 7 and TSN Radio 690 (CKGM-AM), raised $1,315,000 during the 2018 Caring for Kids Radiothon, which aired on May 31. Live from the Children’s P.K. Subban four-story Atrium, 19 patients and their families courageously shared how the hospital’s professionals saved their children’s lives. Over a dozen hospital staff also joined CJAD’s Eramelinda Boquer live, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. In 15 years, more than $23 million has been raised for the Healthy Kids Fund, which meets the hospital’s most urgent needs.

The Radio for Cardiology Radiothon on 104.1 The Dock (CICZ-FM) Midland, ON and KICX 106 (CICS-FM) Sudbury raised more than $53,000. The 10th annual event, which has raised about $750,000 to date, supports the cardiac intervention unit and cardiac catheterization lab at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.

The Country 101.1 Country Cares Radiothon saw CKBY-FM station staff spend May 31 broadcasting from CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario). This year’s radiothon raised $40,235.

CFUR-FM Prince George, the campus radio station at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is once again offering a summer teen radio academy. Three 10-day camps will take place for youth ages 14-18 who have an interest in making radio. This is the third year the CFUR radio academy has been held, supported by funding from the Canada Summer Jobs grant.

Joe Bowen, who has served as the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs for 36 years, is set to be honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bowen, who currently calls games on TSN 1050 (CHUM-AM) and Sportsnet The Fan 590 (CJCL-FM), will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. He was selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. Longtime hockey writer Larry Brooks will also be honoured with the Elmer Ferguson Award for excellence in hockey journalism. They’ll receive their awards Nov. 12 at the Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Media Awards luncheon.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has received a complaint after Energie (CKMF-FM) Montreal radio host Jose Gaudet likened singer and entertainer Gregory Charles to fecal matter. On the broadcast in question on May 17, Gaudet was recounting the story of a BC woman caught on video that appeared to show her defecating in a Tim Hortons, then throwing her feces at staff. Gaudet issued an apology the following day. Bell Media says the comments are contrary to the company’s standards and code of conduct and the matter has been dealt with internally.

Cumulus Media, the second largest radio company in the U.S., has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The deal with creditors will allow it to cut its debt to $1.3 billion, down from $2.34 billion. The Atlanta-based company, which owns 446 radio stations in 90 markets, filed for bankruptcy protection in Nov. 2017.

On this week’s Broadcast Dialogue podcast, publisher Shawn Smith talks to JJ Johnston, the man that everybody knows. From his early days as a radio jock town to town and up and down the dial, to his days at the programming helm of CFOX in Vancouver and then running the show at Corus in Toronto, JJ has made friends everywhere he’s been. And for the past five years he’s been the principal of his own company, JJ International Media and Management Solutions.

SIGN-OFFS:

John Ashbridge, 71, on June 5. “Ash” as he was known by colleagues, got his start in broadcasting at the age of 13, when he began hanging around radio station CJVI Victoria and became an unpaid operator. He was hired part-time in 1962 and then moved over to CFAX while he finished high school. In 1964, he was hired in the news department at CJOR Vancouver and then CKNW a year later where he was put to work as relief for the DJs, and handling remotes and news. With the exception of three years as news director at CJCI Prince George and an 18-month stint working in radio in Australia, Ashbridge was an on-air staple at CKNW up until his retirement in 2005. In addition to radio, Ashbridge started as the public address announcer for the Vancouver Canucks in 1987, and joined the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants in the same capacity in 2004, up until recently. He also served as PA announcer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games at Canada Hockey Place. Ashbridge was honoured with the NHL Alumni Association’s “7th Man Award” in 2000. He received the RTDNA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

TV/FILM/VIDEO:

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.

ONLINE/DIGITAL:

Corus Entertainment and Twitter are partnering on a number of new short-form series tailored to millennials. Focusing on food, entertainment and pop culture trends, the series will be produced by so.da, Corus’ in-house social content studio. The Twitter series include #OneDirtyDish, featuring Food Network Canada celebrity chefs creating easy meals all in one pot using ingredients selected by Twitter’s audience; #TrendingTonight featuring the stars of Entertainment Tonight Canada with a twice-weekly roundup of the biggest news in entertainment; and in development #ThisIsViral (working title): a daily live and interactive series that dives into top Twitter trending stories from pop to internet culture.

Sportsnet and Twitter are teaming up on Sportsnet Ice Surfing which will stream weekly during the 2018-19 NHL regular season with live NHL action. Jumping from game to game to follow where the excitement is happening, Sportsnet Ice Surfing will show highlights, up-to-the-minute analysis and immediate reactions to all the evening’s biggest plays. Hosted by Sportsnet on-air personalities, the show will also include special guests, live interviews and real-time interaction with fans watching on their Twitter feed. 

Rogers Media is launching Citytv NOW and FX NOW in September – companion streaming services that will offer current and past seasons of favourite shows on-demand post-broadcast, in addition to sneak peeks of some series. Citytv NOW and FX NOW will be available online (Citytv.com and FXNowCanada.ca), on the Citytv Video and FXNOW Canada apps, TV Everywhere and VOD platforms.

CraveTV’s latest CraveTV Original New Eden is a female-driven mockumentary series from Evany Rosen (Picnicface, Baroness Von Sketch Show) and Kayla Lorette (The Beaverton, Space Riders). Developed in partnership with Peacock Alley Entertainment, the eight-part, half-hour “true crime” anthology is set in an all-female cult and goes into production in Ontario this fall.

Hulu has acquired the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the first two seasons of Letterkenny in a deal executed by series distributor DHX Media. Created by and starring Jared Keeso, the half-hour, small-town comedy is produced by New Metric Media in partnership with DHX Media and Playfun Games. Seasons 1 and 2 will make their debut in the U.S. on July 13. A six-pack of fresh episodes return to Canadian screens on Canada Day weekend, exclusively on CraveTV.

GENERAL:

Numeris data shows that Canadians are choosing Netflix over the country’s major terrestrial television networks. Netflix beat out both CTV and Global for average viewers with English-speaking adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and children ages 2-11. The insight is among those contained in government-commissioned report Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada, published by the CRTC last week. Among the report recommendations are replacing prescriptive licensing with binding service agreements for all video and audio services offered in Canada; and a restructured funding strategy to ensure sustainable support for content production, including the participation of television service providers, radio stations, and wireless and internet service providers.

The Government of Canada has launched a review of the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, in addition to the Radiocommunication Act. The review is aimed at modernizing the legislative framework addressing how to best promote competition and affordability for internet and mobile wireless; and examine how to best support the creation, production and distribution of Canadian content in both French and English. As a response to a unanimously passed motion in the House of Commons, the review will be guided by the principle of net neutrality. It will be led by a panel of external experts, chaired by Janet Yale, current president and CEO of The Arthritis Society, and former executive VP at TELUS,  in addition to having served as a director general at the CRTC and general counsel at the Consumers Association of Canada. The panel’s final report and recommendations are due by Jan. 31, 2020.

Raj Shoan, former CRTC commissioner for Ontario, has filed an appeal of the latest Federal Court decision against him in May which dismissed his application for a judicial review of his second firing from the commission. Shoan’s appeal argues judicial error saying evidence was ignored.

SUPPLY LINES:

Paul Ski Media has announced a partnership with Mike Dorn of Audience Research International (ARI) to provide media research and media strategy services for companies in Canada. Ski is a former president of CHUM Radio and former CEO of Radio and Regional Broadcast Operations for Rogers Media.

PPM Radio Ratings Overview February 2018 to May 2018

By David Bray

In an environment of non-stop corporate cuts, let’s take a look at whose numbers are up … with the release of the latest radio ratings.  The new PPM release from Numeris completes the thirteen week period covering February 26^th, to May 25th, 2018. Let’s take a look at the five PPM markets.

Toronto: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CHFI-FM once again with a 12.2%  share of hours tuned for A12+ (down from 14.6% last time out). BOOM-FM leaps into the #1 spot with the women 25-54 delivering a 15.2% share (up from 8.6%) followed by CHFI-FM with a 14.4% share (down from 17.9%). BOOM-FM also holds the #1 spot for males 25-54, posting an 11.1% share (up from 6.9 % in the last 13 week book). In an unusual twist, CHFI-FM leads the way for M18-34 with a 10.3% share followed by BOOM at 10.2%. For F18-34, CHFI-FM tops the list posting a whopping 23.6% (down from 24.2%).

Vancouver: CBC Radio One grabs the #1 spot for A12+ with an 15.3% share of hours tuned (down from 15.7% ). Taking the top spot for F25-54 was QM-FM, posting a 16.5% share (down from 19.6% last time out). FOX grabs the lead for M25-54 listeners, delivering a 13.8% share (up from 11.4%).  The FOX is out in front for M18-34 with a 22.0% share of hrs. tuned (up from 15.8%). When it comes to Females 18-34, QM-FM takes top spot with a 16.8 % share.

Edmonton: 102.3 NOW Radio rules the roost for A12+ posting a 10.5% share of hours tuned (up from 9.7% last time out). NOW! Radio takes top spot for F25-54, delivering a 19.5% share (up from 15.6%). NOW also tops the list for M25-54 with a 12.5% share (down from 13.1%). For M18-34, NOW leads the way posting a 17.6% (down from 22.1%) followed by the Bear at 11.5%. For a clean sweep NOW also led with F18-34 delivering a 14.7%.

Calgary: CBC Radio One leads the way for A12+ with a 9.1% (up from 8.2% last time out).  Country 105 is popular with the women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 delivering a 10.2% share (down from 10.6%).  For M25-54, X92.9 is #1 with an 11.0% (up from 10.9%). X92.9 takes top spot for M18-34 delivering a 12.1% (down from 12.7%). Country105 is #1 for F18-34 posting a 12.3% share followed closely by WILD 95.3 at 12.2%.

Montreal (Total):  CHMP 98.5FM is #1 for A12+ (Franco) with an 18.3% share (down from 18.5%).  For A12+ (Anglo) CJAD 800 is #1 with a 29.4% (up from 26.3%). CFGL-FM is tops with the women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 (Franco) delivering a 19.3% share (up from 18.4%). For F25-54 (Anglo) The Beat 92.5 is #1 with a 26.2% share. For M25-54 (Franco), CHMP 98.5FM is on top at 17.8% share (down from 20.5%).  For M25-54 (Anglo), CHOM-FM is #1at 24.1% (down from 25.5%)

See summary charts below: A brief overview of share figures from the latest PPM  2018 Numeris release courtesy of David Bray…

Toronto

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Vancouver

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Edmonton

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Calgary

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Montreal (Franco)

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Montreal (Anglo)

% Share of Hours Tuned | (Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

*Source: PPM 2018 Numeris.

David Bray is President of Bray & Partners Communications. David’s single “Crowded Isolation” is playlisted on 100 stations worldwide.
(416) 431-5792
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