Canada Post has unveiled its latest stamp set which celebrates the early years of MuchMusic and MusiquePlus. Depicting the iconic buildings that housed MuchMusic at 299 Queen St. West in Toronto and MusiquePlus at 355 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest in Montréal, the stamps are drawn from the perspective of the crowds that regularly gathered outside the stations. Read more here.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Telefilm Canada have announced plans to develop a three-year joint strategy to foster growth and inclusion in the Canadian audiovisual industry, with a focus on supporting creators who are Black and People of Colour through training initiatives, partnerships, and structured approaches to data collection. Development will take place in collaboration with other federal audiovisual institutions, and in consultation with BPOC communities and key members of the industry.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and Telefilm Canada will be sharing the downtown Halifax office space currently occupied by the NFB production team at 5475 Spring Garden Road, starting Nov. 4. The organizations say sharing space will promote synergy between them and benefit Atlantic Canadian filmmakers, partners and producers, who will be able to meet with Canada’s two main federal film agencies under one roof.
CBC will broadcast the 2024 Canadian Premier League Final live. The preeminent match of the 2024 CPL calendar will be played on Saturday, Nov. 9, with broadcast coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) on CBC, CBC Gem and cbcsports.ca. Coverage of the CPL Final will feature CBC Sports’ Andi Petrillo leading an on-site panel alongside analysts Gareth Wheeler and Kristian Jack, who will also report pitch-side, and former York United FC defender Jordan Wilson. The 2024 CPL Awards will be streamed live on CBC Gem and cbcsports.ca on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, also hosted by Petrillo. The 2024 CPL Final is also available to subscribers of OneSoccer.
W Network is airing Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, starting Friday, Oct. 18, featuring 10 weeks of back-to-back holiday movies every day, along with three festive series. The limited series include Finding Mr. Christmas, hosted by Jonathan Bennett and featuring Melissa Peterman as lead judge. The reality competition show pits 10 Hallmark hunk hopefuls against each other in a series of festive challenges, to prove the most heart, talent, authenticity and charisma to be the next Hallmark superstar, with the winner to make his debut this year in Hallmark Channel original Happy Howlidays. Holidazed is an eight-episode series following six families from different backgrounds, cultures and generations, all living on the same cul-de-sac, as they gather for the holiday season. W Network also presents Mistletoe Murders, from Lionsgate Canada and Headspinner Productions, based on the Audible podcast of the same name. Created by Ken Cuperus, Mistletoe Murders follows Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), the owner of a year-round Christmas store, who finds herself investigating not-so-quaint local murders. W Network is available on National Free Preview, Nov. 1-30.
Super Channel’s annual Heart & Home Christmas holiday movie event kicks off on Friday, Nov. 1 and features 21 new movies including 12 Canadian broadcast premieres and 17 Canadian productions. Super Channel’s Teri Hart also returns with a series of Instagram Live interviews with this season’s stars to take viewers behind the Christmas movie magic.
XITE is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Canadian music label Nettwerk Music Group with dedicated programming featuring some of the label’s most iconic music videos on XITE Celebrates, as well as exclusive shows available in the XITE TV app. Founded in 1984, Nettwerk initially focused on electronic genres, expanding into pop and rock in the late ’80s and ’90s, working with acts like Skinny Puppy, Sarah McLachlan, Passenger, and Paris Paloma, while maintaining a commitment to nurturing creative talent.
Sinking Ship Entertainment (SSE) and Australia’s Cheeky Little Media are co-producing new animated series, Flower & Flour, for children aged 4-7. Created by Dan Mansour, the 39 x 7-minute series is inspired by Mansour and his wife Romy’s childhood experiences, with many of the adventures drawing from Romy’s upbringing in her family’s restaurant, which serves as the inspiration for the show’s central setting, “The Dumpling House.” Flower & Flour is scheduled to debut in 2026 with broadcast partners including ABC in Australia, and TVOkids, SRC and Knowledge Network in Canada.
WildBrain and Cloudco Entertainment are bringing together 1980s kids’ brands Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake for an all-new “retro-forward” 44-minute animated preschool special called The Care Berry Switch (working title), being co-developed by the creative teams at both companies. WildBrain Studios is poised to lead animation production. The special is an homage to the 40+ year history of each brand, full of iconic memes like “The Care Bear Stare,” and other nostalgic “best ofs” for both brands in a contemporary production.
