REVOLVING DOOR:
Prasanna Rajagopalan has been appointed CBC News’ new Senior Managing Director for the Ontario Region. Most recently the Director of Journalism and Programming for CBC Toronto, he’ll take up his new role March 10, working closely with managing editors and the next CBC Toronto leader to oversee all strategy, programs, teams and stations across the province in Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Kitchener, Waterloo and Windsor, as well as future bureaus in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Sault Ste. Marie. Rajagopalan succeeds Ruth Zowdu, who had held the role since the fall of 2020 and announced late last year she’d be retiring in March. Read more here.
Sophie Thibault has announced her retirement as TVA News Chief after 37 years with the network. Thibault, who started with TVA as a reporter in 1988, will step away in June, saying she wants to devote more time to her passions, including photography.
Shelley Steeves has joined the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick as Marketing and Communications Director. Steeves, who parted ways with Global New Brunswick after 12 years last September, has most recently been filling in as host of CBC Radio One “good news” segment “The Bright Side” on Information Morning Moncton.
Luke Smith has joined the CRTC as an analyst. Smith formerly served as Director of Learning and Development at the National Campus & Community Radio Association (NCRA) for seven years, prior to joining University of Toronto campus and community station CIUT-FM as Station Manager in 2022.
Marie-France Godbout, Telefilm’s National Director of Feature Films for the French-speaking market, has announced her intention to retire at the end of July. Godbout has been with the Crown agency since 2002. Telefilm has also announced Myriam Rafla as Regional Feature Film Executive, English Market – Quebec Region and Natasha Howes as Regional Feature Film Executive, English Market – Western Region. Howes is the founder of Vancouver-based prodco Matriarch Creative Corp.
Susan Alexander has joined Shaftesbury as Senior Director, Creative. Alexander was previously a production executive at Corus Entertainment for 16 years, up until last September. Among her credits are Global TV series Family Law and Nurses, in addition to Hardy Boys, Geek Girl, Private Eyes, Ransom and Mary Kills People.
Melanie Nepinak Hadley has joined the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) as Vice-President, Industry, Partnerships and Growth. Nepinak arrives from Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, where she oversaw the Canadian team and screen-based initiatives. She was previously a production executive at CBC Toronto and a programming manager at APTN.
RADIO & PODCAST:
The CRTC has approved Durham Radio’s bid to purchase three of the 45 radio stations Bell Media plans to divest. Durham has been granted new broadcasting licences for CKLY-FM Lindsay, and CKPT-FM and CKQM-FM Peterborough. Valued at more than $2.1 million, the transaction includes the purchase price of $2M and another $110,000 in leases payable over five years. The commission has also approved Pattison Media’s bid to dissolve Radius Holdings, following its acquisition of CKOV-FM Kelowna from former Clear Sky Radio President Paul Larsen. Pattison rebranded the station as OV 103-9, That ’70s station last April. Read more here.
100.1 BayFM (CKVB-FM) Corner Brook, NL has officially launched its new transmitter site, boosting the community station’s power and expanding coverage into Pasadena and Deer Lake, while also strengthening its existing signal in Corner Brook. In the works since 2022, the technical changes see BayFM increase its transmitter power from 50 to 2,760 watts and relocate its transmitter site, extending its reach to approximately 40,000 people. On-air testing from the new transmitter site began Jan. 9, following an inspection by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Following a successful three week testing period, the station permanently went to air from the newly-built site on Jan. 31.
The Pro Bono Group has produced a new PSA for Canadian radio stations in support of Canadian workers and businesses, inspired by voices from coast-to-coast urging each other to “Buy Canadian.” The non-profit production house, helmed by commercial production and advertising veterans Mike Occomore and Larry MacInnis, sprang into action to produce the spot over the weekend as the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods loomed. Available free to Canadian radio stations, a new spot under the “Pro Canada Project” campaign will be produced in the coming weeks. Read more here.
SiriusXM Canada has announced extensive programming plans for Super Bowl LIX Week. On Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9 (6:30 pm ET), SiriusXM will offer multiple live broadcasts of Super Bowl LIX from Caesars Superdome. Listeners can tune in to team broadcasts from the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Westwood One national radio broadcast and a Spanish-language broadcast. During the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, SiriusXM will offer listeners the broadcast of the on-field musical performance by Kendrick Lamar live on Hip-Hop Nation (SiriusXM 44) and Super Bowl LIX Radio (SiriusXM 106).
LISTEN: James Cridland, radio futurologist and editor of Podnews, is on the Sound Off Podcast, highlighting the complexity of measuring podcast success with metrics like downloads and streams. He also emphasizes the importance of community and human connection in podcasting, cautioning the shift towards video which dilutes audio’s unique benefits, and discusses the challenges of podcasting 2.0, the potential of live podcasting, and the future of radio.
SIGN OFFS:
John Donabie, 78, on Feb. 1, following a long battle with cancer. Hailing from Oshawa, Donabie’s career started at CKLB in 1965 when he tapped one of their DJs to rent a PA system for a local R&B group he was managing. That led to his first job in radio in his hometown, before he left for the all-night shift at CKFH Toronto in the fall of 1967, and quickly went on to the late-night slot at CHUM-FM. Donabie enjoyed a 50+-year career that included being part of the launch team at Q107 (CILQ-FM) in 1977, a 15-year run at CFRB, and stops at CKFH, CKFM-FM, JAZZ.FM.91 (CJRT-FM), and Indie88 (CIND-FM) in Toronto; CKLG-FM Vancouver; CJFM Montreal; CFGM-FM Caledon; CKYC-FM Owen Sound; and CISS-FM Ottawa. Donabie also dabbled as a television host on CBC-TV’s Afternoon Delight in the late 1970s and was a contributor to CTV’s Canada AM. He retired from radio after six years hosting on University of Toronto campus station CIUT-FM in 2018. Donabie accepted the Allan Waters Broadcast Lifetime Achievement Award during Canadian Music Week in 2013 and was inducted into the Oshawa Walk of Fame this past November. Read more here.
Shawn Simpson, 56, on Jan. 29. Simpson played minor hockey in Rockcliffe, East Ottawa and Gloucester before joining the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds and becoming a third-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 1986. A member of Team Canada at the 1987 World Junior Hockey Championship, Simpson played with the Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate, Baltimore Skipjacks, for three years, before injuries forced him into retirement and subsequently the Capitals’ front office where he was serving as Director of Hockey Operations by 1997, as well as GM of the AHL Portland Pirates. He was eventually named the Capitals’ Assistant GM. He went on to scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2004, and in 2009 did a brief stint as GM of Kontinental Hockey League club, Dinamo Minsk, in Belarus. He returned to Ottawa in 2012 and joined Team 1200 (later rebranded as TSN 1200) as co-host of “The Drive” with Ian Mendes from 2012-19, and then the station’s morning show through 2023, alongside John Rodenburg, in addition to Ottawa Senators pre- and post-game shows. He was caught up in a round of cutbacks at Bell Media in June 2023. Watch CTV Ottawa’s tribute to Simpson here.
Jeff Murray Riesen, 63, unexpectedly, in Vernon, BC. Born and raised in Winnipeg, after graduating with a Broadcasting certificate from Tec-Voc high school, Riesen pursued his passion for radio for over four decades. Stops on his broadcast journey included CJAY92 Calgary, EZ Rock (CKCR-FM) Revelstoke, and Timmins, ON, among many other stations. He had recently retired to the Okanagan after battling ill health for the past few years.
Don Andrews, 65, on Nov. 12. Born in Vancouver, Andrews infamously landed his first job in radio at CFOX as the first to don the Fox mascot suit. He was quickly made an on-air personality, followed by a DJ stint at CFMI where his boating experience led to taking on the role of captain of the station’s “Silver Bullet“ marine patrol, keeping Vancouver apprised of hot fishing spots, marine conditions and other water events. He went on to host a golf show on Bellingham, Washington’s KVOS-TV in the 1990s. Following his radio career, he helped start Body + Soul Health and Fitness and went on to found merchant payment processor, Nxgen Canada.
TV & FILM:
Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) has released a new projection suggesting scripted storytelling, children’s television, and feature documentaries are facing a $200 million decline in financing from Canadian broadcasters over the next five years. With 55% of English-language Canadian PNI (Programs of National Interest) programming funded by large private broadcasters like Bell, Rogers and Corus Entertainment over the past decade, the Nordicity analysis indicates that those Canadian programming contributions are falling in line with broadcaster revenue. The analysis says under current CRTC regulatory mechanisms, a further decline of $194 million or 23% is projected over five years. Read more here.
CBC News has released audience insights indicating that the looming U.S.-Canada trade war boosted views on its mobile app to a level not seen since 2022. The viewer bump began Saturday, Feb. 1 when U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canadian goods and energy, followed by the Canadian government response. Canadians continued to tune in through news of the late-breaking 30-day reprieve on Monday, Feb. 3. CBC says 4.5 million Canadians tuned in to CBC News Network from Feb. 1-3, making it the most-watched English-language Canadian news network. The network says 2 million viewers tuned in to flagship evening news program, The National, on Monday, Feb, 3, the second-highest viewership this season after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation on Jan. 6. Average daily views on the CBC News app, Feb. 1-3, were up 120% from the daily average in January, with the app recording a 32% increase in average daily unique visitors over those three days. Read more here.
Farpoint Films is acquiring Scotfree Productions, with owner Scott R. Leary tapped to become Farpoint’s Chief Content Officer, in addition to joining the ownership team. Leary has been working alongside Farpoint Films for more than 15 years with creator and producer credits on projects like true crime series Cruise Ship Killers; The Illegal Eater, hosted by Steven Page; and award-winning comedy-mystery film, Room for Rent. Leary’s new title is accompanied by a series of internal promotions at Farpoint headlined by the appointment of Chris Charney, Head Writer & Partner, as President of Farpoint Films. Kyle Bornais moves into the role of CEO within the Farpoint group. Read more here.
The Mediapro Studio US & Canada has entered into a first-look deal with Kate Del Castillo’s Cholawood Productions. The deal grants the studio the exclusive first look and option to develop and produce Cholawood’s scripted and unscripted projects. Co-founded by Del Castillo and entertainment partners, Carmen Cervantes and Jessica Maldonado, in 2019 to create high-quality content with original concepts, both in English and Spanish, highlighting female and Latino characters.
OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) has released their latest research project Creating Space for Black Emerging Talent, highlighting gaps in the Canadian media landscape when it comes to uplifting, centering and opening the floor to Emerging Black Filmmakers (EBF). Conducted in 2024, a survey of OBAC Emerging Filmmakers Program alumni found that 92% have worked in film since completing the program, 83% are still working in the industry currently and 92% of alumni have had new opportunities within the film industry since completing the program.
The HISTORY Channel airs the remaining two parts of Sounds Black (4×60) on Feb. 8, examining the origins and impact of Black music in Canada. Directed by Cazhhmere Downey, the four-episode series takes viewers on a journey through Black Canadian music’s diasporic roots and its road to international dominance. It features Jully Black, Keshia Chanté, Deborah Cox, Fefe Dobson, Kardinal Offishall, and Maestro Fresh Wes, among others.
The Toronto Raptors’ 30th anniversary is being celebrated with a new double feature chronicling the history of the NBA franchise. We The North: From Prehistoric to Historic details the Raptors’ history over the franchise’s first three decades, while Inbound documents the growth of basketball and shifting demographics around the sport since the NBA began its on-the-ground presence in Canada. The double feature will debut in 43 Cineplex theatres in nine provinces from Feb. 21-24, and then be available on Crave, TSN and globally on the NBA app.
OUTtv is bringing back competition series Sew Fierce, commissioning a third season of the OUTtv Original produced by Sonic Nursery Creative. Set to launch on OUTtv later in 2025. the eight-episode third season will see the return of Season 2 co-hosts: design mentor Jaime Lujan, aka Lucinda Miu, and London based drag legend, Crystal. Benjamin Toner, the winner of Sew Fierce’s debut season, will also appear in the upcoming season as a judge. Sew Fierce brings together eight drag designers who face weekly challenges to create stunning new looks, all vying for the grand prize and title. OUTtv says the show achieved 21% growth in SVOD viewership in its sophomore season.
Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines, from Vancouver-based directors Ryan Mah and Danny Berish, will premiere on Knowledge Network on Feb. 25 and be available to viewers across Canada for the first time online through Knowledge Network’s streaming service and apps. The documentary, which has been held over in Vancouver at the VIFF Centre for 14 weeks, delves into the personal life and work of visionary Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. The film was made with unprecedented access to the Erickson archives and with full cooperation of the family, featuring intimate interviews, unseen archival footage, and an exploration of his architectural masterpieces.
The National Film Board (NFB) has announced the return of its Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP), which supports English-speaking independent filmmakers across the country. NAB says the return of the program will ensure it supports a diversity of filmmakers, while increasing its level of assistance for each individual project. Filmmakers who wish to complete their post-production locally in their home city will be eligible for up to $7,500 in support for short films and $15,000 in support for feature-length films. Filmmakers based in Montreal, or able to travel there, will have the option to access NFB’s post-production facilities at its headquarters. A similar program exists for French-speaking independent directors.
Canada’s Walk of Fame has released five short vignettes by emerging Canadian filmmakers. Presented by founding partner NBCUniversal, Seeing Red and new partner Cineplex, the three-minute vignettes under the 2024 Future Storytellers program, are now available to stream at canadaswalkoffame.com, with highlight reels to run in Cineplex theatres nationwide as part of the pre-show entertainment. Shot on location in Toronto, the vignettes each showcase the vision of up and coming Canadian filmmakers from Humber Polytechnic and Sheridan College telling the stories of Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees and Honourees.
Fizz TV has launched its all-digital television service in Quebec. Building on the success of its wireless and internet access services, the Videotron-owned service provider is now offering a customizable TV experience to Fizz Internet members. The pick-and-choose model that lets users build their own TV plan includes 23 channels, to which members can add five to 20 specialty channels of their choice, at an introductory price of $7/mo. Offering simultaneous viewing for up to five users, the Fizz TV app is compatible with Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, and iOS and Android phones and tablets.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Rogers Communications has announced unaudited financial and operating results for the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 31. Total revenue and total service revenue increased by 3% and 2%, respectively, driven by revenue growth in the Wireless and Media businesses and by stabilized revenue in Rogers’ Cable business. Wireless service revenue increased by 2% in Q4, primarily as a result of the cumulative impact of growth in mobile phone subscribers over the past year, while Wireless equipment revenue increased by 9% as a result of an increase in subscribers purchasing higher-value devices. Media revenue increased 10% this quarter, primarily due to higher sports- and entertainment-related revenue.
Stingray financial results for Q3 2025 exceeded expectations with revenues increasing 7.9% to $108.2 million in the quarter from $100.3 million in Q3 2024. Broadcast and Recurring Commercial Music Revenues experienced organic growth of 3.5% year-over-year, largely driven by FAST channel sales. Adjusted EBITDA improved 9.0% year-over-year to $42.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA by segment was $31.6 million or 43.7% of revenues for Broadcasting and Commercial Music, $12.5 million or 34.8% of revenues for Radio, and $2.0 million for Corporate.
The British Columbia Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) has announced the winners of its annual Awards of Excellence, recognizing excellence in radio and television commercials, station imaging, community service and news reporting in B.C. Pattison Media picked up a leading seven awards. Victoria’s CHEK Media, Vista Radio and South Asian Broadcasting Corporation picked up two honours apiece, while Stingray Radio secured one award. Find the full list of winners here.
Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) has opened nominations for the WAB Gold Medal Awards, set to be handed out during the 89th WAB Conference, May 28-29 at Banff Fairmont Springs. Nominations are now open for the Broadcast Hall of Fame, Leaders of Tomorrow Award (presented to a broadcaster under the age of 30 as of June), and the Gold Medal Award for Community Service and Digital Innovation, open to member radio and television stations.
The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma and the Canadian Mental Health Association have opened applications for the annual Mindset Awards for outstanding mental health journalism published or broadcast in Canada in 2024. There are parallel English and French awards for excellence in two areas of mental health reporting: mental health in the workplace, and the mental health of young people. Rules and application forms can now be accessed on the Mindset website until Feb. 24.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
SiriusXM and Maxar Space Systems have announced that the SXM-9 satellite has completed in-orbit testing and is now fully operational after being successfully launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 5. SXM-9 will help provide continuous reliable delivery of SiriusXM’s audio entertainment in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The tenth high-powered, digital audio radio satellite built by Maxar Space Systems for SiriusXM, SXM-9 is more than 27 ft. tall and over 100 ft. long with its solar arrays deployed, and weighed almost 6,400 kg at launch. SXM-9 features a large unfurlable S-band reflector antenna, supplied by L3Harris, that enables SiriusXM programming to reach approximately 167 million SiriusXM-equipped vehicles on the road. SiriusXM and Maxar Space Systems previously announced that Maxar Space has been commissioned to build the SXM-10, -11 and -12 satellites for SiriusXM, with the expected launch of SXM-10 to occur later this year.
StackAdapt, the Toronto-based multi-channel programmatic advertising platform, has announced a growth capital raise led by Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), the late-stage venture and growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, with participation from Intrepid Growth Partners, and four other investors. This latest round follows a $300M USD investment made by Summit Partners in 2022 and brings StackAdapt’s total investment to over $500M USD.
