TSN Direct and RDS Direct have been introduced as digital subscription options to access TSN, including the network’s five feeds, on-demand content, and bonus streams of major sporting events, and French-language content from RDS, RDS2 and RDS INFO. TSN Direct and RDS Direct are available for $24.99/month with no contract. The TSN GO and RDS GO apps have been rebranded the TSN and RDS apps. Current TSN and RDS subscribers can continue to access content through the apps or TSN.ca and RDS.ca.
Torstar daily newspapers and websites across the country are now publishing a limited sample of articles from The Wall Street Journal. In addition, the Toronto Star will launch Star Business Journal, a new initiative with both print and online editions featuring articles on business, the economy, technology and markets from The Wall Street Journal. WSJ content will be rolled out to the chain’s other news sites and papers including The Hamilton Spectator, Waterloo Region Record, St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review, Welland Tribune, Peterborough Examiner and StarMetro urban news sources in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax and Toronto.
Indiecan Entertainment has launched Jewish Films on Demand (JVOD), an online platform to connect audiences with quality Jewish audiovisual content. Idealized by producer Avi Federgreen, JVOD has partnered with companies like Israel-based GoToFilms to host an eclectic mix of features, documentaries and short films. The transactional VOD platform sees customers acquire or rent each film rather than pay for a subscription.
The Shaw Rocket Fund has announced the September launch of a new kids’ digital safety program to help Canadian producers ensure a safe environment for kids when creating digital experiences. The Rocket Online Safety Program will ensure all Canadian digital content receiving Rocket Fund investment be certified based on established online safety and/or privacy standards through the kidSAFE Seal Program, an independent safety certification service designed for child-friendly websites and technologies. Online game sites, educational services, virtual worlds, social networks, mobile apps, tablet devices, connected toys, and other similar online and interactive services will be eligible for this program. Rocket Fund will finance 100 per cent of the cost of kidSAFE Seal Certification over the first year of the program and provide up to 75 per cent of the cost of certification required in foreign regions for programs the fund has invested in.
Nielsen Music Canada’s latest survey has found that seven in 10 Canadians report streaming music using Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play or similar platforms. For the first time, the annual Canada Music 360 survey has delved into how people are accessing music in the age of the digital playlist. About 98 per cent of teens, ages 13 to 17, are playlist adopters, about two per cent more than those 18-34. However, Nielsen also found that radio is still the strongest influencer when it comes to launching new music to Canadian audiences. About 66 per cent of those surveyed said they discover new music via radio versus 43 per cent through streaming services. The online survey of 1,500 adults 13+ was conducted between Mar. 29 and Apr. 10.
The Media Technology Monitor’s (MTM) latest survey indicates 35 per cent of English-speaking internet users in Canada own four screens: computers, smartphones, tablets and internet-connected televisions, unchanged from 2016. Those with four screens ended up spending more time each week watching video online (11.1 hours), online listening (9.5 hours), and more time online banking, social networking, consuming news and making internet video calls. However, the report also found that English-speaking Canadians are still using Smart TVs to watch the majority of their television content. Forum Research conducted the survey of 4,156 Anglophone Canadians between Sept. 27 and Dec. 8.
DAZN Canada has inked a two-year agreement with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and a four-year agreement with the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that gives DAZN members access to tournaments LIVE and on-demand. DAZN Canada’s two-year agreement with PCB, WICB and SLC entails broadcasting all three boards’ Twenty-20, Test cricket, and One Day International matches. The four-year agreement with ECB will bring 19 international matches, all England home matches, Country T20 competitions, Women’s T20 Leagues matches, and other ECB hosted matches and tournaments.
