Sportsnet’s Stanley Cup Final broadcast is the network’s most-watched broadcast ever with an average minute audience of 7.55 million across Sportsnet, Citytv and CBC, according to Numeris data released by Rogers Sports & Media. The Game 7 broadcast, which saw the Florida Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1, is also the second most-watched NHL game ever in Canada (behind the Vancouver Canucks’ Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins in 2011), based on data collected since 2009. Monday night’s broadcast reached 15 million Canadians or 39% of the population. It additionally set a record as the most-watched program ever on Sportsnet+, reaching 1.93 million streamers. Read more here.
Media Technology Monitor (MTM) has released its Spring 2024 Sneak Peek Report looking at evolving trends in Canadian media consumption, highlighted by an increase in canceled subscriptions and usage of Connected TVs, as well as sports viewership driven by the “Taylor Swift Effect.” While men have historically been the primary viewers of television sports, MTM found a notable shift last fall when Taylor Swift began attending Kansas City Chiefs’ football games. The report says Gen Z women were more than twice as likely to watch sports on TV during that period than they were in Spring 2023, with viewership rising to 33%. Interest returned to normal levels in Spring 2024. The Spring report also indicates three quarters of all Canadians now own a TV set connected to the internet. Read more here.
Numeris has released household viewing data for Spring 2024. While Netflix leads viewing minutes in Quebec Franco (16.4%), Amazon Prime is out in front with Western Canadians at 14.9%. Amazon Prime is second-most popular with Franco Quebecers (13.9%). It also leads in Ontario (13.6%), followed by Netflix at 12.5%. Disney+ is third overall, performing better in Western Canada (4.3%) with almost three times the viewership compared to Atlantic/Montreal Anglo (1.4%). Paramount+ is particularly popular in Eastern Canada, capturing 1.1% of raw viewing minutes.
Rogers is continuing its drive to win on content, making the ad-supported version of Disney+ available to Rogers TV customers at no additional cost. The move to add the Disney+ Standard with Ads package to Rogers TV bundles marks the continuation of an aggressive content campaign by the cable provider, evidenced earlier this month by the announcement that it’s acquired the brand and content licensing rights in Canada to Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of English-language U.S. lifestyle and factual brands. Read more here.
OUTtv is launching a channel on Apple TV+ (UK), available as an add-on for Apple TV+ subscribers. Branded OUTflix across the UK, the launch is an extension of OUTtv’s partnership with Apple TV+ in the U.S. and Canada, where it has been available as a channel since 2021. In addition, OUTtv has secured a partnership with global AVoD platform wedotv for a pop-up channel in celebration of Pride Month. Expanding upon its strong slate of UK original content, OUTtv has also commissioned new UK docuseries Building Betty & Joan’s, from the producers of Live at the Queer Comedy Club and Stand Up Specials London, that goes behind the scenes of the grand opening of the renowned London Queer Comedy Club’s new home.
Abacus Media Rights is set to be acquired by Canada’s Sphere Media for $24.6M, following the company’s sale by Amcomri Entertainment. Sphere Media is partnering in the transaction with Bell Media, with the deal expected to close in mid-August, subject to conditions. Once closed, Abacus Media Rights will become a Sphere Media Company operating under the name of Sphere Abacus Media Rights. Its sales and acquisitions teams will remain based in the UK and continue to report to Managing Director Jonathan Ford, who will join the Sphere Media executive team reporting to Sphere Media CEO Bruno Dubé.
Farpoint Distribution, a division of Winnipeg’s Farpoint Films, has acquired Toronto-based 10Star Media. The deal will see all 10Star Media properties fall under the Farpoint Distribution banner. 10Star Media’s managing partner Craig McGillivray will take the lead as a partner and president of Farpoint Distribution.
The acquisition brings 10Star Media series like Departures, Descending, Into the Rising Sun, and Mantracker into the Farpoint Distribution library, which already includes series like Ghosts off Grid, An Hour to Kill, Fishing for History and the features Aberdeen, Wintertide and Menorca.
CBC and Massey Hall, in collaboration with the Gordon Lightfoot Estate, are presenting Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot on July 1 at 12 p.m. (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen, 4 p.m. (4:30 NT) and available to stream on CBC Gem and CBC Music’s YouTube channel. Recorded live from Massey Hall’s Allan Slaight Stage in Toronto this spring, the special features Blue Rodeo and The Gordon Lightfoot Band as house bands, welcoming guests including Allison Russell, Aysanabee, Burton Cummings, Caroline Wiles and Bob Doidge, City and Colour, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, The Good Brothers, Julian Taylor, Kathleen Edwards, Meredith Moon, Murray McLauchlan, Serena Ryder, Sylvia Tyson, Tom Cochrane, Tom Wilson and William Prince. Also airing July 1 is Canada Day: Feel The Rhythm at 8 p.m. local time (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem, hosted by Isabelle Racicot and featuring performances by Chromeo, Corneille, FouKi, Kanen, Kiesza, Maestro Fresh Wes, Metric, Neon Dreams, Qattuu, Sara Dufour and Willows.
Longhope Media is collaborating with Fubar creator Dave Lawrence on TNT Fubar, described as “a dynamic reimagining of classic hoser comedy, bringing Lawrence’s unique comedic vision to a new generation.” Created by and starring Lawrence, and written and co-directed by Immanuela Lawrence, TNT Fubar follows working-class Alberta everyman Terry Cahill (Lawrence) and his fiery on-and-off-again wife Trish, played by Canadian Screen Award nominee Terra Hazelton (Fubar II, Orphan Black). The series will be shot entirely on location in Calgary
Cannot sing the praises of @robgermain and the @CHEK_media team loudly enough. So proud to have been building along with them for these last 30 months. (A whirlwind of learning.) Absolute props to the team at @ohboyprod /1 pic.twitter.com/QgH8VsqWMW
— Jody Vance (@jodyvance) June 22, 2024
Steele and Vance, the weekly talk show hosted by veteran broadcasters Lynda Steele and Jody Vance, has come to an end after two years on Victoria’s CHEK TV. In a post to LinkedIn, Steele wrote that “new projects await.” Neither host has divulged future plans.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Canadian Academy) has opened applications for the Women in Post program, offering industry access and professional development for emerging to mid-level women-identifying and non-binary creatives working in all areas of post production. Applications close July 17.
