REVOLVING DOOR:
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Evan Solomon is returning to Canada and running for the Liberals in Toronto Centre. The former iHeartRadio talk network, CTV and CBC host, has been the publisher of global affairs news site GZERO Media since 2022. “Given the urgent challenges and threats facing Canadians right now, I’ve decided it’s the right time to come home and do whatever I can to help serve my community and country,” Solomon said in a LinkedIn post. Eurasia Group special advisor Justin Kosslyn is stepping in as GZERO’s interim publisher.
Some personal news…. pic.twitter.com/b6W0oKYLSk
— Ina Sidhu (@inasidhu) March 20, 2025
Ina Sidhu has announced her position at Global Calgary, where she’d been a reporter and anchor for the past 11 years, has been eliminated. Prior to joining Global, Sidhu was the weekend news anchor and reporter at CTV Winnipeg. She’s also worked with CHAT-TV Medicine Hat and 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM) Calgary.
ICYMI, taking a step away from my film column for a bit. Spending some time with The National. pic.twitter.com/GU5JIgiRTC
— Eli Glasner 🎥 (@glasneronfilm) March 21, 2025
Eli Glasner has stepped away from his long-running entertainment and screentime column on CBC Radio One. Glasner revealed in a post to X that he has moved into a new reporting role with The National for the time being.
Lil 💞personal news💞 today!
I’ll be joining @YourMorning every Friday for the election to fact check the campaign.
SO stoked for this! Thank you for having me, CTV 🥰 pic.twitter.com/ai38IYX1EF
— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) March 25, 2025
Rachel Gilmore is being featured as a regular Friday contributor to CTV’s Your Morning during the federal election campaign. The former Global News reporter, who launched her own Substack and podcast, Bubble Pop with Rachel Gilmore, late last year, will be “fact checking” the campaign.
Teagan Witko has joined Harvard Media’s Rider Broadcast Network lineup for 2025. Witko started her broadcast career at Golden West Radio as a board op for her hometown, Moose Jaw Warriors, going on to host numerous radio shows before moving to Regina in 2022, where she’s been heard on 104.9 The Wolf (CFWF-FM) and across Harvard Media platforms. Game Day on the Rider Broadcast network begins three hours before kick-off on 620 CKRM, with video streaming at SportsCage.com. Witko will work alongside CFL insider Justin Dunk and legendary Roughrider running back Wes Cates. Dave Thomas returns for a second season as the voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, joined in the booth by Grey Cup champion Luc Mullinder. Following the final whistle, Witko, Dunk, and Cates break down the game and welcome calls on the Radio Roundtable call-in show.
Diana Sanchez has been named Hot Docs’ new Executive Director. Sanchez succeeds Interim Executive Director Janice Dawe, who has held the position for the last 10 months. Sanchez is the former Senior Director of Film at TIFF, where she was an international programmer for over 17 years. Read more here.
Thrassos Vryonides has joined TPX (The Podcast Exchange) as Director, New Business Development. Vryonides was a Senior Account Executive at Bell Media for 14 years, and has served as Director of New Business Development at DAX, among other roles.
Ricky Forbes, the Saskatoon-based professional storm chaser and content creator, is teaming up with social marketing agency, Creatorade. Forbes boasts a following of 2.5 million across his social channels.
Amanda Kingsland, the former National Music Director for Rogers Sports & Media’s Country brand, has been promoted at Universal Music Canada (UMC) to VP, A&R, and will co-lead the company’s A&R efforts alongside Shawn Marino, VP, A&R Operations. Since joining UMC in 2021, Kingsland is credited with rebuilding UMC’s country music roster, and reinvigorating A&R across multiple projects. The company says in her new role, she’ll bring her passion, sharp ear, creative insights, and big picture strategic thinking to UMC’s full artist roster.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Edison Research’s latest Infinite Dial survey finds the emergence of video podcasts has pushed podcast consumption into the mainstream. America’s longest-running survey of digital media consumer behaviour, this year’s study finds overall listening to online audio, including streaming of AM/FM radio, podcasts, and music streaming, is at an all-time high, with 79% or 228 million Americans listening monthly, up from 76% in 2024. Weekly podcast listening saw 40% of the U.S. population, 12+, report consuming a podcast in the last week, a one point gain over 2024 (35% listening vs. 26% watching). This year’s survey also solidified the increasing digitization of the in-car listening experience. While AM/FM radio is still used by 74% of those 18+ monthly, 55% are using online audio and 31% accessing podcasts while driving or riding. Read more here.
Canadian Music Week (CMW) founder Neill Dixon is suing the owners of the rebranded Departure Festival + Conference for breach of contract, alleging they have not paid the full purchase price of $2 million. Dixon announced at the opening of the industry conference last June that he was retiring after 42 years at the helm of the event, and selling the business to Loft Entertainment – the artist management and content company co-founded by former Bell Media and Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox and music industry veteran Kevin Barton – and venue management and hospitality provider Oak View Group. According to an Ontario court filing, Dixon is seeking damages of $435,428, in addition to $50,000 in punitive and aggravated damages. Read more here.
SiriusXM Canada has announced the launch of two new channels. SiriusXM Dhamaka, an international South Asian channel, is now available across North America on ch. 796 and the SiriusXM app. It will feature a variety of content, including exclusive artist interviews and live performances, plus talk programming and comedy. Canadian artists like Karan Aujla, Jonita Gandhi, AP Dhillon, Gurinder Gill and Ikky will be heard, along with international stars like Diljit Dosanjh, DIVINE, Vidya Vox, Ali Sethi, and A. R. Rahman. The channel is programmed by Canadian radio programmer and Emmy-nominated TV music supervisor Raoul Juneja. SiriusXM Canada has also added pop-up channel, Mumford & Sons Radio, ahead of the long-awaited release of the band’s fifth studio album, Rushmere, this Friday.
CBC, Wolf Entertainment, USG Audio, and Dig Studios have announced Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer, a new eight-part podcast launching April 2. Hosted by Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Jeremiah Crowell (The Anarchists, Generation Hustle) and executive produced by Dick Wolf and Elliot Wolf, the series tells the inside story of the high-stakes hunt for the Anthrax killer, one of the largest and most confounding FBI investigations in history, in the aftermath of the deadly bioterror attack that gripped America in the early 2000s. Subscribers to the CBC True Crime Premium Channel on Apple Podcasts will receive early, ad-free access to the full series, starting April 2. All others will get the first two episodes, with subsequent episodes released weekly through May 14.
Echo Podcast Summit is a new podcasting event set to take place June 19 at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax. Featuring voices from media, academia, and digital culture, confirmed speakers include Acast Canada Managing Director Heather Gordon and Creator Network Director Yael Strasberg, as well as Rhys Waters, Chief Creative at local startup, Podstarter.
The 2025 Soundwave Summit will take place in Toronto on May 4 at The Orange Lounge Recording Studio. The second annual event offers the chance to learn and connect from fellow podcasters, producers and sales pros, including Amanda Cupido, Sherley Joseph, Michael Mongiardi, Alex Nursall, Marianna Miniotis, Briana Carnegie, Ryan Clarke, Kattie Laur, Drew Frohmann, Michelle Melanson (Cuperus), KR Moore, Dory Smith, Hannah Sung, Michelle Joseph, Sasha Nagy, Corey Kareem Roberts, Javon Martin, and Caleb Buys, among others.
Trailblazers (formerly Radio Trailblazers) is extending the deadline for nominations for its newly-dubbed Trailblazer Award until April 4. The award recognizes a woman in broadcasting who has made a significant impact on the industry in Canada and not only forged a successful career, but paved the way for others, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and contributed meaningfully to the industry’s growth and evolution. The inaugural Trailblazer Award will be presented during Radiodays North America in May. Read more here.
LISTEN: Heather Osgood is the owner of True Native Media, a podcast representation agency specializing in host-read ads. She returns to the Sound Off Podcast to talk about podcast monetization strategies, including Patreon support, affiliate partnerships, and direct brand relationships. She emphasizes the importance of understanding different ad types as well: baked-in, dynamic insertion, and host-read ads; each with unique pricing and engagement strategies.
SIGN OFFS:
Ted Wendland, 72, at Penticton Regional Hospital, on March 21, after a brief struggle with kidney failure. Wendland started his radio career in 1972 as music director at CFMI and CKNW, when the stations were still located in New Westminster, BC. In 1977, he moved to an on-air and music director role at CJJC Langley, before returning to CFMI/CKNW for another five years. That was followed by a nine-year run as music director at CHQR Calgary, starting in 1983. From there, he headed back to the West Coast and CFMI/CKNW to take up the position of remote engineer, later working in a similar role at CISL and CKZZ-FM Vancouver, his last stop in radio from 2008-10. Wendland was also a well-known radio historian, serving as webmaster for the Puget Sound Radio and Radio West blogs, as well as Calgary Broadcasters and BC Radio History.
Mike Keller, 76, on March 14. Originally hailing from Eganville, ON in the Ottawa Valley, Keller began his career in broadcast sales at CHOV/CHRO-TV Pembroke. He rose to the position of general manager, a role he held from 1987-97. During his time with the station, he helped secure a joint Pembroke/Ottawa CRTC license and eventual transfer of ownership to CHUM Limited. In 2004, he was recruited by Newcap to join the Alberta Radio Group as general manager in Lloydminster. The launch of stations in Wainwright, Lac La Biche, Fort McMurray and Calgary followed, in addition to establishing Newcap TV. He went on to hold the position of Vice-President of Industry Affairs for Newcap. Upon retirement, he and his wife returned to the Ottawa Valley, however retirement didn’t stick and Keller quickly began selling ads for the Eganville Leader. He also served as a management and sales consultant for the Butler GM dealership in Pembroke.
TV & FILM:
Blue Ant Media has announced it’s going public via a reverse take-over (RTO) of Boat Rocker Media. The transaction will see Boat Rocker Media acquire all outstanding shares of Blue Ant in exchange for subordinate voting shares (SVS) of Boat Rocker. Boat Rocker production companies Insight Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment, and Proper Television will be assumed under the Blue Ant Media banner. Concurrent to the deal, current Boat Rocker Media Co-Founders & Co-Executive Chairmen Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier and CEO John Young will acquire the Boat Rocker Studios business in a management buyout. Read more here.
Bell Media has acquired a majority stake in global content distributor Sphere Abacus, bolstering its relationship with Montreal-based parent company, Sphere Media. As part of the acquisition, UK-based Sphere Abacus – which will continue to be led by Managing Director Jonathan Ford – becomes the primary international distributor of Bell Media-owned distribution rights. Read more here.
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent leads nominations heading into the Canadian Screen Awards, set to be handed out over a series of five awards shows, May 30 – June 1. The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) has announced this year’s nominees in 149 film, television, and digital media categories. Law & Order Toronto tops both television and overall nominations with 20, earning nods for Best Lead Performer, Best Drama Series, and Best Lead Performer, Drama Series nominations for Kathleen Munroe and Aden Young. Bones of Crows, Children Ruin Everything, and Run the Burbs each secured 12 nominations, followed by the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics with 11. In the film categories, Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language leads nominations with 13, including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction. Read more here.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has announced Canadian actress and creator Lisa Gilroy will host The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards, live from the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto and streaming on Sunday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET on CBC Gem. Gilroy most recently played Detective Green in the main ensemble of Taika Waititi’s critically-acclaimed series for Hulu, Interior Chinatown.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced that The JUNO Awards will return to Hamilton in 2026, marking the seventh time the city will host. JUNO Week 2026 will take place Thursday, March 26 to Sunday, March 29, culminating in the 55th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast – airing live from the newly-transformed Hamilton Arena on CBC and streaming on CBC Gem on CBC Music’s YouTube channel. Scheduled to reopen in late 2025, the upgraded Hamilton Arena promises to offer premium seating options, state-of-the-art acoustics, optimal sightlines, upgraded concourses, in addition to clubs, suites, artist lounges and advanced production capabilities.
GRAiNEY Pictures has tapped the Cohen brothers for the L.A.-based content studio’s Canadian division. Writer and director Robert Cohen (Somebody Somewhere, Big Bang Theory) joins the Canadian creative leadership team as Executive Producer / Film & TV, while writer and producer Joel Cohen (The Simpsons) joins as Executive Producer / Series & Animation. GRAiNEY co-founders Colin K. Gray and Megan Raney Aarons, a Canadian brother-sister filmmaking duo, say the team will debut the company’s fresh lineup of projects in June at the Banff World Media Festival.
Corus Entertainment’s Flavour Network has started production on new Canadian Original series Halloween Bakeshop (7×60) and Holiday Bakeshop (7×60). Hosted by actress and comedian Lauren Ash, the seasonal baking battles feature eight bakers competing for a $25,000 prize. Produced by Nikki Ray Media Agency, in association with Corus Studios, for Flavour Network, both series are shooting in Toronto and slated to premiere in fall 2025. Ash, best known for her roles on NBC’s Superstore and ABC’s Not Dead Yet, is joined on the judging panel by Filipino-Canadian chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, Jordan Andino (Cook At All Costs, Dinner Budget Showdown), and baking entrepreneur and TV personality, Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman.
WildBrain has expanded its presence to over 70 channels in the FAST kids’ space in Europe. In Italy, LG Channels has launched a new channel for Sonic, as well as a new Strawberry Shortcake offering in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In France, TCL Channel and Rakuten TV have rolled out new Degrassi channels, with TCL also launching a new Strawberry Shortcake offering. Additionally, TCL has launched new Teletubbies and Strawberry Shortcake offerings in Spain and Portugal. In the UK, LG Channels include Strawberry Shortcake, Sonic, Super Mario, Slugterra, Rev & Roll and Rainbow Ruby.
Stingray has launched three of its popular FAST channels—Qello Concerts, Stingray Classica, and Movie Music—on waipu.tv, Germany’s largest TV platform for HD television. With two million subscribers and a reach of more than 30 million households via a dedicated fibre optic network, waipu.tv is the leading platform for OPEN-IPTV.
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and France’s Union Syndicale de la Production Audiovisuelle (USPA) have announced their joint delegation of producers from France and Canada, who are participating in a dedicated mission to explore co-production opportunities for drama and documentary projects. The delegation will first travel to Series Mania in Lille, France, and then head to Paris, where participants will meet with potential collaborators, as well as commissioners, studio execs, and other industry leaders. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral connections between French and Canadian producers, with a focus on developing English-language television series across genres.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
TikTok Canada has launched its Election Centre, as part of a commitment to protect the integrity of the election on the social video app. TikTok worked with Elections Canada to ensure users in Canada see bilingual, authoritative information on when and where to vote and how to cast a ballot. Users will see links to the Election Centre on videos, livestreams, and searches related to the election.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
The CRTC has postponed three upcoming hearings in the wake of last weekend’s federal election call. The regulator says it’s exercising the “Caretaker Convention,” which encourages restraint during an election. Starting with its hearing on defining “Canadian program” and supporting its creation and distribution in the audio-visual sector, which was slated for March 31, the commission is postponing all three public hearings under The Path Forward broadcast modernization regime. Read more here.
Corus Entertainment has increased its cash flow, announcing it’s updated its revolving credit to $75 million. The updated credit facility, which takes the company into March 2027, also removes certain limitations on how Corus can use its excess cash, increasing its maximum Total Debt to Cash Flow Ratio to 9.5:1.00 through Dec. 31 of this year. Read more here.
Convergence Research Group’s latest Battle for the Canadian Couch Potato: OTT and TV report, suggests Canadian OTT subscription revenue grew 15% last year to $4.2 billion. Based on analysis of over 55 OTT services (encompassing 35 providers), led by Netflix, the B.C.-based market research firm is forecasting growth of another 15% in 2025 to $4.85 billion. It anticipates that double-digit growth rate will continue through 2027, when streaming is expected to exceed annual TV subscription revenue. Convergence calculations suggest Canadian Cable, Satellite, Telco TV subscribers fell by four per cent in 2024, with subscription revenue down five per cent to $6.51 billion. Read more here.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
CityTV’s Breakfast Television used Proto M holographic technology this week to beam Howie Mandel onto the news desk to talk with host Tim Bolen about the new season of Canada’s Got Talent. The recurring segment, every Tuesday morning, is the first time Proto Hologram technology has been used during a news or talk show in Canada. Mandel, a famous germaphobe who hates travel, has become an advisor and investor in Proto, previously beaming into a large Proto Epic unit at the televised Canada’s Walk Of Fame celebration. Rogers has previously used Proto at Toronto Maple Leafs events, while the tech is also regularly used on ESPN’s College GameDay each week to beam WNBA players onto the court from their home cities.
