REVOLVING DOOR:
Gave Lindo has been named Tubi’s first Vice President and General Manager for Canada. Reporting to the Managing Director of Tubi’s International business, Lindo will be responsible for setting commercial and content strategy, scaling the company’s Canadian team and continuing to accelerate Tubi’s growth. He most recently served as Head of Content Programming for North America at TikTok, leading content strategy, in-app editorial, original live production, and cross-platform initiatives. Prior to that, he was with CBC as Executive Director of OTT Programming, overseeing digital platforms including CBC.ca, CBC Kids and led the launch of the CBC Gem streaming service. Read more here.
Lori McIndoe, President of Jam Filled Entertainment, is transitioning out of Blue Ant Media, as it expands its Kids, Family & YA division, uniting its studios and leadership under a single, integrated model. McIndoe had been with Jam Filled since 2018 and President since 2024. Read more here.
Annette Warring has been appointed President of new streaming platform, New Mountain Plus (NM+), and Chief Operating Office of New Mountain Films. NM+ promises a content library spanning feature films, docuseries, shorts, podcasts, and audiobooks across all genres, “curated around narratives that challenge perspectives, inspire reflection, and foster deeper understanding.” It will also include a built-in global impact funding engine, enabling viewers to direct a portion of platform revenue to the charitable cause of their choice, simply by watching content. Warring most recently served as Chief Client Officer of Dentsu Americas and prior to that, served as CEO of Dentsu Canada.
After nearly three decades at CBS, senior correspondent Elizabeth Palmer is retiring. We look back at some of her outstanding reporting. pic.twitter.com/r1VrpWqqAb
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) May 1, 2026
Elizabeth Palmer has retired from CBS News, concluding a more than 45-year career in journalism as an award-winning foreign correspondent. Born in Britain, but raised in Canada, Palmer began working with the CBC in 1988, starting with the public broadcaster as a business correspondent for Venture and science reporter, before going on to serve as a documentary reporter for The Journal. She was named Latin American bureau chief, based in Mexico City in 1994. In 1997, she was appointed bureau chief in Moscow, reporting in both English and French. She moved into the same position at CBS in 2000, before relocating to London in 2003, frequently reporting from the Middle East for CBS Evening News. She was named Asia correspondent in 2021. Read more here.
Joelle Tomlinson has joined the morning show on Calgary’s Country 105 (CKRY-FM), alongside Gregg Reynolds on The Morning Show with Greg and Joelle, weekdays from 6 – 10 a.m. MT. Tomlinson recently announced she was departing Global News after two and a half years as a reporter and co-anchor with the Calgary station. She previously spent six years as a morning show anchor and producer at CTV Calgary. Read more here.
JC Douglas has announced his retirement from Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax and network evening show Rock of the Atlantic, which airs on Stingray’s Rock stations across Atlantic Canada. Douglas, who returned to the station in 2024, will continue to fill in. He spent the first 28 years of his broadcast career at Q104, serving as Program Director up until 2013, before going on to mornings on Bell Media’s C100 (CIOO-FM) and later afternoons on 89.9 The Wave (CHNS-FM). Neil Spence takes up the Rock of the Atlantic time slot after previously stepping away from Q104 in 2024 after eight years on weekends.
Matt Loop has retired after 35 years in broadcasting. Loop has most recently been heard on Jack 102.3 (CHST-FM) London and Jack 102.1 (CJCY-FM) Medicine Hat. He’s been with Rogers Sports & Media since 2012, including six years as co-host of Mornings with Stax, Meghan & Loop. Prior to that spent, he spent 18 years as a producer at Bell Media.
Maria Papadakis is joining Sportsnet as a host and associate producer. Papdakis has been hosting weekends on Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM) Toronto for the last three months. Prior to that, she was a digital and audio producer for the Roz & Mocha Show on KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM).
Sumeet Dhami has left CTV News Channel where she’s been a national producer for the last year to step into the role of Executive Producer for CBC’s new Peel Region bureau. Dhami previously spent nearly a decade as a producer and reporter with OMNI News.
Chris Jancelewicz has joined CBC News as Senior Producer, Entertainment. He arrives after more than a decade with Global News, most recently holding the title of National Managing Online Editor, Trending News & Copy Desk.
Brian Callahan is the new host of Open Line on VOCM St. John’s, NL. Callahan, who spent the bulk of his career at the Evening Telegram, got his start in media with the former Q93 and KIXX FM in St. John’s. He’s also worked in news and current affairs for the CBC.
Logan Libiec has joined 680 News Radio (CFTR-AM) Toronto as an overnight anchor. The recent Fanshawe College Broadcast Journalism grad interned with the station earlier this year.
Soomin Lee has joined Bell Media as a National Account Executive. Lee arrives from holding account executive and marketing roles with Walmart Connect Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Courtney Fitzpatrick has joined BBC Studios as Head of Canadian Sales & Partnerships. Fitzpatrick was previously with Lionsgate from 2017 to early 2025, ending her time there as VP, Distribution and Content Strategy.
Cassandra Pittelli has left Corus Entertainment for a new role as a Talent Manager at Upside Down Talent. Pittelli had been an Associate Publicist for Global TV for the past five and a half years.
Leonard Eichel is retiring after 39 years in regulatory affairs. Eichel has spent much of his career with Cogeco, most recently as Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Telecom. He’s also stepped down from the Board of Directors of both the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) and the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC).
Cara Des Granges has joined Friends of Canadian Media as Director, Government Relations & Policy. Des Granges brings over a decade of experience in public policy and communications, including stints with the Town of Whitby and Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.
RADIO + PODCAST:
Pattison Media has announced the launch of resonate, a new programmatic platform that promises to bring broadcast radio into the modern programmatic advertising ecosystem. Unveiled to the broadcast industry at Radiodays North America in Toronto on Wednesday, resonate allows advertisers to buy over-the-air radio using the same platforms and workflows they would use for digital, video, connected TV, and out-of-home. resonate’s development was inspired, in part, by the evolution of out-of-home advertising, which has experienced renewed growth by shifting to impressions-based buying, CPM pricing, and programmatic access via major platforms. Rogers Sports & Media is resonate’s first confirmed partner, alongside Pattison Media. Read more here.
Radio Connects has launched a new national study aimed at helping advertisers, agencies, and broadcasters better understand how Canadians engage with audio. From HEAR to HERE: Understanding Audio Behaviour in Canada is based on a national survey of more than 3,000 members of the Angus Reid Forum, weighted by age, gender, region and language. One of its key findings is that while the audio landscape has expanded, core habits have not, with radio still the audio platform with the largest reach in Canada. The study found radio dominates ad-supported listening across regions, commanding 63% of listening in rural Canada and 59% in urban centres. The research asserts that radio is part of the weekly routine of 37% of Canadians consistently, compared to 30% consuming podcasts regularly and 16% whose go-to audio source is free music streaming. Read more here.
Auto Rock Radio Niagara Falls is now streaming live, part of the expanding Auto Rock Online network across Canada and the U.S. Led by Niagara broadcaster Laura Mainella, the station aims to offer “a fresh alternative to traditional radio with a focus on classic hits, fewer interruptions, and strong local community engagement.” Mainella says while connected to a broader network, the Niagara Falls station is locally driven—featuring Niagara based partnerships, promotions, and community involvement, including collaborations with organizations like the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. The station delivers long stretches of uninterrupted music, a deeper playlist than typical commercial radio, and a digital-first format that allows listeners to tune in anytime via streaming platforms.
Orbyt Media has announced the Canadian launch of Imaging Blueprint AC/Classic Hits. The Adult Contemporary-focused format officially debuted on iHeartRadio Canada’s MOVE Radio, marking its first rollout in Canada.
LISTEN: WideOrbit’s William “Dub” Irvin, Managing Director and VP of Radio Automation, and Jason Hancock, Senior Director of Global Sales, join this sponsored episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to discuss the launch of WO Aurora and what cloud-based automation means for radio operators facing rising cost pressure, aging infrastructure, and shifting operational needs.
LISTEN: Rhys Waters, co-founder of Podstarter, spent over a decade making award‑winning TV and radio for the BBC in Wales before moving to Halifax in search of a better work–life balance. Among other subjects, Waters talks about learning podcasting through BBC radio, the explosive growth of on‑demand audio, and the evolving role of video and short‑form clips in discovery. He also discusses why he launched The Echo Podcast Summit, an East Coast podcast conference focused on themes like trust and community in audio.
TV + FILM:
Corus Entertainment has launched new French-language streaming platform, Vivéo. Available through Prime Video Add-on Subscriptions in Canada, Vivéo is operating on an ad-supported hybrid model, offering a catalogue of more than 200 series and films at a competitive price of $4.99 per month. The platform’s catalogue will be enriched on a regular basis, including new original productions from Historia and Séries Plus, available to stream the day after their television broadcast. Read more here.
Bell Media and Random Order Studios have announced a co-development and first-look agreement with sibling creator duo Jermaine “Jae” Richards and Trevaunn “Trey” Richards. The deal builds on the success of Crave Original series The Office Movers and Judge Tyco. Random Order Studios currently operates with a broad production slate spanning scripted and unscripted series, branded content, and athlete and culture-driven storytelling, with a focus on bridging internet culture, sports, and television. Seasons 1-3 of The Office Movers have been acquired by SKY in the UK, with a premiere date yet to be announced.
Crave has confirmed its original series YAGA, produced by Blink49 Studios, is set to debut in the U.S. later this year exclusively on AMC+. The deal was secured by Bell Media’s Sphere Abacus and comes on the heels of the recent announcement that the series was acquired by SKY for the UK and Ireland. Based on the hit play by Kat Sandler, who also serves as writer and showrunner, the series reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town.
CBC says Season 5 of Son of a Critch will be the series’ last. Co-creator, executive producer and star Mark Critch says the season is wrapping as it heads to 1992 – the year he graduated high school just as Newfoundland’s cod moratorium crisis turns his world upside down. Production on the fifth and final season is now underway in St. John’s, NL with filming set to continue until mid-June. Season 5 will premiere fall 2026 on CBC and CBC Gem.
Small Town Escapes with Colin+Justin premieres May 6 on HGTV Canada and available to stream on Citytv+, helping homebuyers find dream properties in communities across Nova Scotia’s mainland and Cape Breton. Each episode features three properties, along with a deep dive into local culture and lifestyle. Produced by Halifax-based Ocean Entertainment, the series draws on Colin+Justin’s real-life experience as the owners and operators of a 22-bed, two restaurant resort in Louisbourg, Cape Breton.
APTN is set to premiere new cooking and lifestyle show, Grandma Sherry’s Kitchen, on May 5, which follows Grandma Sherry, a TikTok-famous Indigenous grandmother from Yorkton, SK, who teaches viewers Indigenous recipes while reconnecting with her native language, Dakota. Her new show welcomes viewers into her kitchen to explore different Indigenous dishes, speaking in Dakota, her native tongue, unlike her TikTok channel which features only English speaking content.
Bell Media has announced a historic multi-year broadcast and streaming partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), starting with the upcoming 2026 season. Under the agreement, the network is now the official media partner of the Toronto Tempo, with TSN to deliver live coverage of the team, additional regular-season matchups from across the league, and the vast majority of marquee events such as WNBA All-Star, WNBA Playoffs, WNBA Finals, and WNBA Draft. A select number of Tempo games will also air on CTV and stream on Crave through the live CTV channel. Read more here.
Sportsnet has released its second round schedule for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with games set to broadcast across Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, and CBC, and via live stream on Sportsnet+. Select Saturday night games will also air on Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition on OMNI Television. Ron MacLean and David Amber host Hockey Central pre-game, intermission, and post-game alongside experts Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, Kelly Hrudey, Jennifer Botterill, and Luke Gazdic. Calgary Flames forward Ryan Strome and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon join the panel for select games.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Board of Governors has approved awards rules, inclusion standards and campaign promotional regulations for the 99th Academy Awards. In the International Feature Film category, there are now two ways to submit a film for consideration. In addition to a film being submitted as an official selection by a country or region, a non-English language film can now be submitted for consideration by winning a qualifying award at an international film festival, including TIFF (Platform Award). Additionally, in the International Feature Film category, the film will be credited as the nominee rather than the country or region, and the award will be accepted by the director on behalf of the film’s creative team.
REGULATORY, TELECOM + MEDIA:
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) and the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) are reviewing options to challenge the legality of the Ontario government’s recent passage of Bill 97, which contains sweeping amendments to the province’s freedom of information laws that the organizations say will significantly weaken the public’s right to know. The wide-ranging omnibus measure shields the Premier’s Office as well as cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants from public access to documents, including phone records and emails, and it applies retroactively, nullifying prior orders or decisions requiring disclosure.
Langara College is the latest post-secondary institution to considering pausing its journalism program, with the 2027 class of roughly 20 students potentially its last. The Vancouver college tells Broadcast Dialogue that as part of its regular academic planning processes, faculty leadership is currently reviewing the two-year diploma program and may bring forward a recommendation through the college’s academic governance process to pause the fall 2026 semester intake due to low student demand. The college says no final decisions have been made.
RTDNA Canada has announced finalists for its Regional Awards of Excellence, honouring the best journalists, programs, platforms, stations, and newsgathering organizations in audio, digital and video. Find the West Region finalists here; Prairies Region finalists here; East Region finalists here; and Central Region finalists here. Regional award winners will be announced in September.
The Michener Awards Foundation has announced the finalists for the 2025 Michener Award, recognizing excellence in public service journalism in Canada. They include CTV News, The Globe and Mail, La Presse, Radio-Canada, Winnipeg Free Press, and The Trillium.
The Jack Webster Foundation is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Webster Awards, the hallmark of journalistic excellence in B.C. The deadline is Aug. 2. Finalists will be announced after Labour Day, with winners to be unveiled at the Webster Awards gala on Nov. 2. One new category – Photo of the Year – has been introduced, recognizing a single image that captures the year’s most outstanding piece of photojournalism.
Shauna Rae has won the 2026 Dalton Camp Award for her essay Beyond Objectivity: How Creator Journalism Helps Democracy Remember Its Voice, an exploration of the role of objectivity and neutrality in contemporary journalism. The $10,000 prize for the best essay on the link between media and democracy is presented annually by Friends of Canadian Media. Rae is a Dorchester, ON-based writer, poet, researcher, podcaster, and entrepreneur, with a background in radio journalism. Her essay was chosen from over 250 entries.
BROADCAST TECH + ENGINEERING:
SCTE, the broadband industry’s standards and workforce credentialing authority, has launched its first microcredential, certifying fiber blowing skills, and a new Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) course series. Guided by SCTE’s new Education Advisory Council (EAC), the Fiber-Optic Cable Blowing Microcredential and PNM course series address two of the industry’s most pressing workforce challenges: the need for a trusted way to validate fiber installation skills, and the need for practical standards-based training in proactive network troubleshooting. Built on SCTE 280 and SCTE 294 standards, and developed in collaboration with the SCTE PNM Working Group, the series is being delivered as five modular, approximately one-hour courses,
Flightpath, the Hamilton-headquartered inventory management solution and predictive analytics platform, has unveiled a new partnership with U.S. podcast publisher Lemonada Media. The collaboration equips Lemonada’s revenue team with centralized traffic management capabilities, forecasting intelligence, and performance insights, enabling more accurate inventory planning, improved campaign execution, and stronger alignment between content, sales, and advertiser demand.
Octapixx Media, the production subsidiary of Protocol Sports Marketing, has announced it will collaborate with the University of Toronto as the official production partners for the Toronto Rush of the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) throughout the 2026 season. Beginning Saturday, May 9, Octapixx Media will be responsible for crewing Varsity Stadium’s production control room for all Toronto Rush home games to enhance the product for fans, sponsors, and broadcasters. Protocol Sports Marketing has also secured a distribution agreement with CBC Sports, where all Toronto Rush regular-season home games will be livestreamed on CBC Sports’ YouTube channel, significantly expanding the team’s digital reach. Find the complete schedule here.
