The Weekly Briefing

REVOLVING DOOR:

Claire Anderson has been reappointed CRTC commissioner for British Columbia and Yukon for a second five-year term. The official order in council says her reappointment is effective Aug. 26. A citizen of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and based in Whitehorse, Anderson is the first Indigenous woman and first Yukon resident to be appointed a commissioner.

Joyce Napier has been appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the Holy See. The longtime foreign correspondent and Parliament Hill reporter, 65, replaces diplomat Paul Gibbard, who had held the role since September 2021. Up until last June when she was caught up in Bell’s layoff of 1,300 staff in the media division, she had most recently been serving as CTV News’ Parliamentary Bureau Chief, capping a 40-year journalism career that began in Montreal in 1981. Read more here.

 

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I will never take these last 15 years working together for granted. Thank you for sharing your humour, heart and honesty with us @chrisscheetz 💜 You are truly one in a million 🥹 @CISNCountry pic.twitter.com/ILUdQsH1cF

— Jacqueline Sweeney (@CISN_Jack) May 10, 2024

Jacqueline (Jack) Sweeney and Matt DeBeurs will debut new morning show “Jack and Matt” on Edmonton’s CISN Country, starting May 21. Veteran morning host Chris Scheetz signed off Friday after more than three decades with the station. Leaving exactly 35 years to the day he started with CISN in 1989, Scheetz’s final broadcast took place live from Cook County Saloon with special guests that included Dallas Smith, Brett Kissel, Clayton Bellamy, Martin Kerr, and Chad Klinger. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi also declared May 10 as “Chris Scheetz Day.” Read more here.

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Life update: I am happy to announce I am the new host of APTN National News’s brand new midday news show that airs Monday to Friday at 12pm Winnipeg time! Winnipeg is me and my family’s new home and we are already loving it here. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/iN7smpeoht

— Creeson Agecoutay (@CreesonAgecouta) May 15, 2024

Creeson Agecoutay is the new host of APTN National News’ new midday news show, airing weekdays at noon CT. Agecoutay was most recently Atlantic Bureau Chief for CTV National News and a casualty of Bell Media’s latest round of layoffs in February.

Alex Cooke has joined the Nova Scotia NDP as a communications officer. Cooke arrives from Global News in Halifax where she was an online web producer for the past three years. Prior to that, she was a reporter/editor with CBC Nova Scotia.

Joe Bongiorno has joined The Canadian Press (CP). Bongiorno had most recently been working as a web journalist for the last three years with CBC Montreal.

 

Mack Lamoureux, who was released by VICE Media in February’s round of layoffs, has joined ISD, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, as the think tank’s senior communications manager in the U.S. Lamoureux had been a senior reporter with VICE since 2016.

Jeremy White has added Country 99.9 The Wolf (WTHT-FM) to his voice tracking remit. He’ll be heard on the Portland, Maine station from 2 – 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Patrick O’Rourke is stepping down at Mobile Syrup after almost a decade. The consumer technology-focused publication’s Editor-in-Chief, O’Rourke first joined the publication in 2015 as a Senior Editor. He previously served as Technology Editor at Postmedia Network from 2012-15.

Erica Ehm is stepping away from YMC.ca and Ehm & Co, the mommy blog and digital agency she launched in 2006 and sold two years ago to private equity investment firm, Putnam Investments, where she stayed on as Chief Innovation Officer. Ehm is still running a Parents of Teens Survival Group community and Erica Ehm’s Empty Nest, a Facebook group for those looking for advice about work, retirement, aging well and the art of raising young adults. In addition to keynote speaking, she’s working with DDM Group as their fractional Director of Culture and Communication.

Lindsay Doyle has assumed the role of Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy in Canada for YouTube. Doyle was previously the Manager of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Canada, before taking a year of parental leave. Based in Ottawa, she takes over the role from Jeanette Patell, who moves into the role of Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Canada. YouTube and Google are both owned by Alphabet Inc.

Sylvie Lalande has been appointed Chair of the Board of Quebecor, succeeding the late Brian Mulroney, while André P. Brosseau has been appointed Vice‑Chair. A member of the Board since 2011, Lalande has a track record in media, communications, marketing, telecommunications and governance, including as Vice‑Chair and Lead Director of the corporation since 2018. Brosseau has been a director since 2016.

Sylvain Lafrance has begun a five-year term as the Chair of Telefilm’s board of directors, succeeding Robert Spickler. Lafrance formerly spent more than three decades at CBC/Radio-Canada, where before leaving the organization in 2011, he held the position of Executive Vice-President, French Services. He later joined HEC Montréal as Adjunct Professor and Director of the Media Management Hub and is also the Director of Gestion, a quarterly publication on major trends in the management world. Currently Chair of TV5 Numérique, he’ll step down once a replacement is appointed.

Bruce Smith, best known as the creator and showrunner of CBC’s Street Legal, has been elected President of the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC). Succeeding Alex Levine, the Montreal-based writer/showrunner and Quebec Region member will serve in the position through April 2026. Central Region member Amanda Smith (Travelers) was elected Vice President, and Atlantic Region member Michael Amo (Pure) was re-elected as treasurer. Other WGC council members include Central Region councillors Jeremy Boxen (Killjoys) and Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved), as well as Pacific Western Region councillors Sarah Dodd (Cardinal) and Jason Filiatrault (Young Drunk Punk).

Catherine Davies has joined The Protocol Group, encompassing Canadian global media rights distributor Protocol Sports Marketing; transmission/production company TV2GO; and direct-to-consumer sports platform MIDPRO. Appointed to the newly-created role of Director of Special Projects, Davies most recently served as Senior Manager at MEDIAPRO Canada. Previously, she had been the Head of Research and Intelligence at MP & Silva, the Italian sports marketing and media rights multinational.

 

 

RADIO & PODCAST:

First Peoples Radio (FPR), which operates Indigenous not-for-profit stations ELMNT FM in Toronto (CFPT-FM) and Ottawa (CFPO-FM), says their future is in jeopardy without substantive support. The CRTC denied an FPR application this week requesting that $2 million in tangible benefits funding being paid by Stingray Group be redirected over the next two years to support FPR’s operations. Jean LaRose, Chairman of the Board of FPR and acting General Manager, said the application was a last ditch effort to keep the lights on as it continues to grapple with the impact of the pandemic on advertising revenue. He told Broadcast Dialogue that while so far the stations have been able to “struggle on,” FPR had counted on approval of its CRTC application to help it rebuild. Read more here.

The CRTC has granted another extension to Mohawk Multi Media Inc. to begin operation of its proposed Kanien’ké:ha (Mohawk) language Indigenous (Type B Native) radio station in Kanesatake/Oka, Quebec. Originally slated to go to air in June 2021, and then extended to June 2024, the station now has until June 2025 to commence operation. Mohawk Multi Media indicated that the extension was necessary due to the unexpected rise in costs to establish a new transmission site. While construction of the transmission site is now underway, it says it’s anticipating unforeseen delays before the station is fully operational.

Corus Entertainment’s Chuck @ 92.5 (CKNG-FM) Edmonton has banned airplay of Simple Minds single ”Don’t You (Forget About Me),” as it currently holds “the unfortunate role” of the song played every time the Vancouver Canucks score a goal in their home arena. Inspired by and used in 1985 John Hughes’ film The Breakfast Club, ”Don’t You (Forget About Me)” has been a radio staple, including at Chuck @ 92.5. While it previously featured prominently on Chuck’s playlist, the station says it will be sent to the penalty box for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Semi-Final series between the Canucks and Oilers.  

Pretendians is the latest podcast from Canadaland that exposes jaw-dropping cases of Indigenous Identify Fraud. Co-hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) and Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) investigate the complex phenomenon, how they pull it off and what happens when they’re exposed.

Canadian Music Week (CMW) has announced a rare Fireside Chat with music industry visionary Jeremy Erlich, Global Head of Music at Spotify, on June 5 at the Westin Harbour Castle. The discussion will be hosted by Randy Lennox, President of Loft Entertainment. Erlich has held his current role since 2019, responsible for driving the company’s overall music strategy, which includes music editorial, partnerships, marketing, operations, and strengthening Spotify’s relationship within the artist and creative community. Prior to his role at Spotify, he was CFO and EVP of Business Development at Interscope Geffen A&M.

The Pro Bono Group has unveiled a fifth spot in its PSA campaign for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), titled “Uncomfortable.” The campaign began in mid-October with “41 Years Old,” followed by “Shopping Cart,” “Urgency,” and “Musical Chairs.” The spots are free to download for stations across the country, learn more here.

LISTEN: The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is recognizing broadcast veteran Marilyn Denis with a Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring a Canadian for a lifetime of work that has had a profound impact on the media industry at home or abroad. Currently the long-running co-host of mornings on Toronto’s CHUM 104.5, Denis joins Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about her career, her feelings on the end of Cityline, changing consumer habits, and more. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:

LISTEN: Craig Bruce’s radio days started in 1986 hosting shows in Australia. He now consults for radio stations and launched a podcast called Game Changers Radio in 2016, featuring interviews with radio personalities from around the world. While the show podfaded in 2020, his new series Melbourne Radio Wars documents Australian breakfast duo Kyle and Jackie O’s entry into the Melbourne radio market. On this episode, you’ll hear about the differences between Australian and North American radio, the key to Kyle and Jackie O’s success, and how Craig works with younger producers to bring fresh ideas.

SIGN OFFS:

Peggy MacDonald, 69, on May 12. MacDonald’s media career spanned 50 years, starting as a reporter with the Cape Breton Highlander newspaper in the 1970s. Holding roles from columnist to reporter and producer, among MacDonald’s radio stops were CHNS Halifax, and CJCB and CHER in Cape Breton. She also wrote weekly entertainment column “Night Side” for the Halifax Chronicle Herald. MacDonald went on to work as an editor and executive producer at CBC Cape Breton for 18 years. She retired from the public broadcaster in 2018.

Rex Murphy, 77, on May 9 of cancer. Hailing from Placentia, NL, west of St. John’s, Murphy studied law for a year at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar after completing his undergrad in English at Memorial University, before embarking on a career in media. Murphy began appearing on CBC properties like Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Here and Now,” gaining a following for his commentary on politics, including tussles with politicians like Premier Joey Smallwood. After working as an executive assistant to Newfoundland Liberal Party leader Clyde Wells, who would go on to become premier, he unsuccessfully stood for election twice – once for the Liberals and once for the Tories. He was perhaps best known for his regular commentary and documentary work for CBC’s “The National” that spanned pieces on William Shakespeare and Conrad Black to tackling issues like the Newfoundland cod fishery, Canada’s role in Syria, and federal subsidization of big business. A regular host of CBC Radio call-in show “Cross Country Checkup” for two decades, Murphy retired from the show in Sept. 2015, but continued appearing on The National for another two years. He concurrently wrote a Saturday column for The Globe and Mail until 2010, before it was cancelled and he was picked up by the National Post. Read more here.

Janine Sharp (Grespan), 63, on May 3. Grespan is best known for her almost 25-year run as a reporter, weather presenter and anchor at CKCO/CTV News Kitchener-Waterloo. She began her career at CFRB Toronto working as a features reporter before returning to her hometown of Kitchener in 1985 to work with CFCA and CKKW. She began appearing on television in 1986. Grespan fought cancer twice, initially in 2007 when she told viewers she “would be back.” Following her return, she set her career aside for the next 15 years to enjoy life.

Paul Edgley, 85, on May 7. Edgley graduated from Ryerson University in 1958 where he studied electrical engineering and electronics and was president of the Ryeham Radio club (VE3RIT) for three years before starting a short-lived position installing and servicing military radar systems during the cold-war period with Canadian General Electric. He chose to stay closer to home taking a position with Standard Broadcasting, working for Clive Eastwood as the Chief Transmitter Technician for CFRB and CKFM. He was involved in the design and installation of a new antenna array for CFRB, and design and installation for CKFM’s move from the Bank of Commerce Building to the then new Commerce Court Building. In the mid-1970s, he moved over to Baton Broadcasting (CTV) at 9 Channel Nine Court in Scarborough as Manager, Transmission System. He was a member of the engineering team for the broadcast transmitter facilities at Toronto’s CN Tower with primary involvement in the planning and installation of the initial five FM radio transmitters and related combiner / antenna system. Edgley also served in executive positions with several Amateur Radio organizations over a 35-year period including the original Ontario DX Association (ODX), CanaDx, Radio Society of Ontario (RSO), CARF and Toronto FM Communications Society  (TFMCS) and was active in CW,  SSB, RTTY and OSCAR satellite modes as well as some pioneering work on the early VHF/UHF repeater and linking systems in southern Ontario. He was awarded the Association of Central Canada Broadcast Engineers (CCBE) “Engineer of the Year” honour in 2001 and retired from CTV Television in January 2004, capping a 53-year career in broadcasting engineering.

TV & FILM:

Tom Green, actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, and Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs, are among those set to be recognized at the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) Rockies Gala Awards. Green is this year’s winner of the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award, recognizing a creative talent who has made an outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry, while Sun-Hyung Lee is being awarded the Canadian Award of Distinction, presented to a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry. Beggs, who in addition to serving as Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Lionsgate Television, serves as Chair of the Board of the BANFF Television Festival Foundation, will receive the Award of Excellence. Montreal’s Attraction is the recipient of this year’s Innovative Producer Award. Read more here. 

The 28th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards were announced on May 13 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. Among this year’s winners were Lienne Sawatsky, Pinecone and Pony (Children’s); Enuka Okuma, Workin’ Moms, (Comedy Series); Zoe Hopkins, Little Bird (Drama Series); and Marie Clements, Bones of Crows (MOW & Miniseries). Special awards were presented to Meredith Vuchnich, winner of the Sondra Kelly Award; Ben Joseph, winner of the Alex Barris Mentorship Award; and Alex Levine, who was awarded the Denis McGrath Award for Service to the WGC. Mark Haroun, showrunner and executive producer of Heartland, received the Showrunner Award.

Screen Nova Scotia hosted its 10th anniversary awards gala on Saturday. The Screen Nova Scotia Award for Best Feature Film went to The Queen of My Dreams from writer/director Fawzia Mirza and producers Marc Tetreault and Jason Levangie (Shut Up & Colour Pictures) and Andria Wilson (Baby Daal Productions). The third season of Bell Fibe TV1 series Vollies from Canadian Content Studios was crowned the winner of Best Scripted Television Series. The cast (Jonathan Torrens, Mary Austin, Brian George, and James Faulkner) also took home the inaugural ACTRA Maritimes Award for Series Ensemble. The Best Unscripted Television Series Award went to That Sex Show from Ocean Entertainment. Locally filmed TV series proved to be a showcase for N.S. talent, with Kristin Howell (Moonshine) and Shelley Thompson (Sullivan’s Crossing) both taking home ACTRA Maritimes trophies for Outstanding Performances. Find the full list of winners here.

The Guild of Music Supervisors, Canada (GMSC) and Canadian Music Week (CMW) have unveiled the nominees for the 2024 Canadian Sync Awards on Monday, June 3 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. Heather Gardner and Telan Wong of Vapor Music/Long Division lead with seven nominations, followed by Cody Partridge of Pear Tree Music Supervision, and Jody Colero of The Wilders with five nominations each. The Canadian Sync Awards celebrates the craft of music supervision in filmed media in Canada with the presentation of 18 awards, including the inaugural GMSC Impact Award honouring Patrick Watson. 

Future of Film Showcase (FOFS) is expanding its industry programming for its 11th installment with the all new FOFS Pitch Competition, co-presented by POV. Designed to support Canadian filmmakers in the early stages of their careers, the competition will offer one winner a grand prize valued at $55,000 to support the development of their short film. Six emerging Canadian filmmakers will each be allocated 10 minutes to pitch to a panel of judges. The finalists are: Adrien Benson (Project: Wifi), Aisha Evelyna (Project: Mothballs), Kathleen Burgess (Project: Eleanor), Micaela Robertson (Project: No Grand Notions), Victor Oly (Project: Living With Ron), and Yvette Sin (Project: Pulp). The winner will be announced June 23 during the festival’s award ceremony at the Paradise Theatre in Toronto.

Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Manitoba Film & Music have announced a new joint program to fund documentaries at the early stages of development through the Predevelopment Program for Documentary Productions. Manitoba-based producers will be able to secure up to $25,000 in funding toward a new documentary project’s eligible costs.

Red Sky Performance is launching Aki Creators, a platform dedicated to accelerating Indigenous content globally. The streaming platform is now available at akicreators.com and through the Red Sky Performance website with a subscription-based model. The streaming platform will host Indigenous art of all mediums including dance, film, TV, talks and digital projects, with launch partners including Isuma, Rugged Media, and V-Tape. 

My Friend Omar: the Battle of a Seasonal Worker is now airing on CBC Gem and ICI Tou.TV. Christian De la Cortina and Frank Baylis, who have been working together on film projects for over 20 years, joined forces to produce a documentary portraying the harsh reality faced by thousands of temporary workers in Canada. The film traces abuses endured by Wilson Omar Mendez, a Guatemalan seasonal worker employed on a Quebec farm.

 

ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:

Media Technology Monitor (MTM) has released a new report looking at the impact of Meta’s news ban on Facebook and Instagram in Canada. The report looks at news consumption among online Canadians following the passage of Bill C-18, the Online News Act. It found that the most popular source among Canadians for online news are Canadian news broadcasters. In light of news being unavailable on Meta platforms, nearly three in 10 (29%) Canadians say they are using the websites or apps of Canadian news organizations more. While MTM found that traditional outlets like TV and radio are being used more for news content, 18 to 34 year olds are looking more to YouTube and other social networking platforms to get their content. Read more here.

CBC/Radio-Canada, RTBF (Belgium), SRG SSR (Switzerland) and ZDF (Germany), in collaboration with the nonprofit organization New_ Public, have unveiled test concepts of possible solutions to transform how their websites, apps and other digital platforms are used for public connection and conversation. Following the launch of the Public Spaces Incubator last year, more than 100 prototypes were developed and feedback sought from stakeholders in Belgium, Canada, Germany and Switzerland. Those test concepts include a Comments Slider where users can submit a response to a question along a spectrum, beyond the typical Upvote/Downvote or Like/Dislike, to find common ground with others across differences in opinion. A panel discussion on Public Space Incubator’s progress will take place May 27 at re:publica 2024 Berlin. 

Vice Media has announced a joint venture with Nashville-based Savage Ventures to relaunch its digital properties, including Vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard and Noisey. According to a report by Axios, the deal marks Vice Media’s first move to substantially re-invest in its digital brands following its bankruptcy filing last May and subsequent rounds of layoffs, culminating in Vice.com ceasing publishing in February. The joint venture will also relaunch Vice’s social media channels, but does not include the digital assets of Vice News.

REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:

The CRTC has approved a request from Corus Entertainment for regulatory relief on “an exceptional basis,” allowing it to shift some of its Canadian programming spending away from programs of national interest (PNI). The decision reduces Corus’ requirement related to expenditures on PNI from 8.5% to 5% of the previous broadcast year’s gross revenues; and extends its Canadian programming expenditure (CPE) under-expenditure repayment deadline beyond the end of the licence term. The commission noted in a separate letter that applications from other large television broadcast groups – including Quebecor, Rogers and Bell – seeking changes in condition of service, are being denied at this juncture and will be considered as part of an upcoming consultation on broader policy matters. That includes other aspects of regulatory relief sought by Corus. Read more here.

The CRTC is committed to lessening the impact of the “headwinds” facing Canadian broadcasters, Nirmala Naidoo, the commissioner for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, told the BC Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) last week. Addressing the group’s 74th annual conference the day after the release of the commission’s updated regulatory plan to modernize the country’s broadcasting framework, Naidoo outlined an ongoing series of consultations working towards an end goal of building a flexible regulatory system that can adapt to disruption. As implementation of the Online Streaming Act moves forward, a consultation will explore new ways to fund participation of groups that represent the public interest. She told the gathering that consultation will be followed by another on structural relationships in the broadcasting sector, including a public hearing looking at small, medium and large players in both traditional broadcasting and online streaming. Others will encompass studying all aspects of radio and audio streaming services in Canada, including how to support the industry and Canadian music, how to define audio content, and what regulatory obligations should exist. Read more here.

The CRTC has granted Quebecor Media’s application, on behalf of TVA Group, for regulatory relief for CFCM-DT Québec and its news requirements. TVA argued that the Québec station has higher requirements than other private broadcasters and decreasing revenues, mainly due to competition from foreign undertakings. TVA will continue to broadcast five hours and 30 minutes per week of news produced in Québec, but will be able to determine the most appropriate time for broadcasting its newscasts. It will no longer be required to broadcast two newscasts produced in Québec on weekends. The number of hours of local programming required for the Québec station will be reduced from 18 to 16 hours per week; and will no longer have to broadcast a certain number of hours of other programs reflecting the region. The commission says the changes will give the licensee greater flexibility while maintaining the number of hours of local news produced by the station, enabling it to maintain a production centre in Québec.

The CRTC has approved APTN’s request to amend its conditions of service. APTN says the decision marks a significant milestone in the network’s mission to enhance services and content for viewers by consolidating its four distinct feeds into two channels available to the vast majority of cable and Direct-to-home (DTH) satellite broadcasting subscribers within Canada. The primary APTN channel will operate on a unified broadcast schedule featuring programming in both English and French, while APTN Languages will focus on Indigenous-language programming. The commission approved APTN’s application in full, also increasing its mandatory per subscriber monthly wholesale rate from $0.35 to $0.38.

CBC/Radio-Canada President Catherine Tait says the public broadcaster’s financial situation has improved since it announced budget-related cuts in March. Tait told the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that last December’s estimated shortfall of $125 million for fiscal 2024-25 has been reduced to about $20 million, thanks to significant cuts to operational costs, the elimination of 205 vacant positions and 141 employee positions, and an additional $42 million investment in the recent federal budget. “This will allow us to maintain our services and to manage this year without further job cuts to balance our budget,” said Tait. “But to be clear, we are not out of the woods. You have heard it from other witnesses. All Canadian media organizations face serious challenges from a digital world ruled by global players who simply do not share the same commitment to our country’s interests.”

Canadian Heritage has announced the appointment of an Advisory Committee to provide policy advice on how to strengthen and renew CBC/Radio-Canada. The committee is composed of seven experts who will contribute their knowledge and experience from a variety of fields, including Marie-Philippe Bouchard, CEO, TV5; Jesse Wente, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, founding Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office; Jennifer McGuire, Managing Director, Pink Triangle Press; David Skok, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, The Logic; Mike Ananny, Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California Annenberg; Loc Dao, Executive Director of DigiBC; and Catalina Briceno, Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal. The committee will meet regularly with the minister to discuss a range of questions dealing with funding, governance and mandate.

RDS unionized employees have voted 65% in favour of discussion with the employer to try to limit the impact of Bell Media’s intention to eliminate between 25 and 35 positions in the technical department of the sports network. The Union of Sports Network Employees, Technical Section (SERDS) says its collective agreement is only a year and a half old, in which it obtained the creation of 25 new positions. 

Quebecor has reported its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2024, recording revenues of $1.36 billion, up $247.2 million (22.2%), adjusted EBITDA of $559.5 million, up $116.7 million (26.4%), and adjusted cash flows from operations of $419.0 million, up $73.0 million (21.1%) compared with the same period in 2023. The Telecommunications segment increased its revenues by $254.5 million (27.5%), its adjusted EBITDA by $101.3 million (21.4%), and its adjusted cash flows from operations by $63.1 million (16.6%) in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting, among other things, the contribution of the Freedom Mobile acquisition in 2023. TVA Group recorded a $6.9 million (‑5.1%) decrease in revenues and a $4.7 million favourable variance in adjusted EBITDA compared with the first quarter of 2023. The Sports and Entertainment segment’s revenues decreased by $1.8 million (‑3.7%) and its adjusted EBITDA increased by $0.5 million (14.7%) in Q1.

TELUS has released its unaudited results for the first quarter of 2024. Consolidated operating revenues and other income decreased by 0.6% over the same period a year ago to $4.9 billion, driven by lower service revenues at TELUS technology solutions (TTech) and Digitally-led customer experiences – TELUS International (DLCX). Total Mobile and Fixed customer growth of 209,000 was up 46,000 over last year, the strongest first quarter on record, driven by strong demand for Mobility and Fixed services. 

TELUS President and CEO Darren Entwistle will take his entire salary in shares for the foreseeable future. The company says his decision to forego his cash salary in favour of shares demonstrates confidence in the financial health of the organization and its long-term strategy, building upon the six years, from 2010 through 2015, that he previously took the entirety of his salary in shares. In 2023, Entwistle purchased 395,843 common shares and held a total of 799,209 TELUS common shares at the end of the year, approximately 12 times his base salary in share ownership.

 

The Canadian Telecommunications Association is welcoming new legislation imposing new offences in the Criminal Code for sabotaging essential communications infrastructure. Tabled in the House of Commons on May 6, the association says Bill C-70, an Act respecting countering foreign interference, addresses a significant legal gap. While addressing acts of sabotage intended to endanger the safety, security or defence of Canada, it does not address the increased vandalism and theft disrupting telecommunications services, including stealing copper wire for resale as scrap metal, or deliberate attempts to damage telecom equipment.

OP-ED: What does the intersection of career success, authenticity and happiness look like? Rob Brimacombe writes that he’s closer to the answer thanks to the 2024 BC Association of Broadcasters’ Conference, George Stroumboulopoulos, Willy Percy and John Lennon. Read the BCAB president’s takeaways from the conference’s “Conversation with a Legend” here.