The Weekly Briefing

REVOLVING DOOR:

Neil McEneaney has stepped down as CEO of Numeris. The former CBC finance executive had held the role since 2016. Sue Haas, the current President and COO of NLogic, will assume the CEO position on an interim basis while the company undertakes a search for a new leader. Read more here.

Scott Russell will retire at the end of the summer after 40 years with CBC. Russell’s final broadcast will take place Sept. 8, following the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. With 16 Olympic Games under his belt, he’ll take a final turn as host of CBC’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 afternoon show, Bell Paris Prime, beginning July 27. Russell started his career at CBC Charlottetown in 1985 as a reporter and moved on to sports a year later, followed by stops at CBC Montreal and then Toronto where he served as a network sports commentator and host of the weekly CBC Sports Presents. He was also a host and rink-side reporter for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada for 14 years. Read more here.

Heather Steele has been named as the new Regional News Director and Station Manager for Global Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Steele succeeds Brent Williamson, who left the role in April to take the helm of Global Edmonton. Steele joined Global Winnipeg in 2009, as a nightwatch reporter and began anchoring the late-night newscast a year later, eventually moving to Global News at 6. She began working with 680 CJOB as an Executive Producer in 2019 and most recently held the role of Manager of Talk and Talent. Read more here.

John Vos, Regional Program Director of QR Calgary (CHQR-AM) and Edmonton’s 630 CHED, has left Corus Radio. He had been with the company for almost two decades, starting as Operations Director for Q107 (CFGQ-FM) and Country 105 (CKRY-FM), and promoted to his current role in 2020.

Linda Olsen will retire from Global Calgary next month after almost three decades with the station. Her last day anchoring Global News at 5 and Global News Hour at 6 will be Monday, Aug. 19. A born and raised Calgarian, Olsen started her career with Global Saskatoon in 1988 after graduating from the SAIT Broadcast Journalism program She went on to work as a reporter and anchor for CTV Calgary before joining Global Calgary in 1995. Read more here. 

Patricia Boal is CTV Ottawa’s new CTV News at Six anchor. Boal takes the helm following longtime anchor Graham Richardson’s decision to step away from the role. He’s since announced he’s joining Edelman PR. Boal previously anchored CTV News at Five, and also hosts weekday radio program Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on 580 CFRA. Matt Skube steps into the anchor role for CTV News at Five, in addition to anchoring CTV News at 11:30. 

Tony Grace is rejoining CTV Kitchener as anchor for CTV News at Six. Grace was formerly the station’s late night anchor before leaving last fall to take a correspondent role with CTV National News. He’s been with CTV News since 2001. 

Daryl Morris has left CTV Kitchener. Morris first came to CTV Kitchener in January 2014 as a writer and later videographer, who also anchored weekend newscasts. Morris worked in radio news in London, Squamish, and Owen Sound before transitioning to TV as a writer for CTV’s Canada AM.

Stephanie Matteis has joined CTV in the newly-created role of Supervising Producer for CTV National News and CTV News Channel. Matteis arrives from CBC Toronto where she’s been a reporter for the past 19 years.

See more

I finally get to announce that for the next couple months I am a reporter at @etalkCTV!!! This is my literal dream job and I am SO excited! pic.twitter.com/MOYOBB99VH

— Shannon Burns (@itsshannonburns) July 9, 2024

Shannon Burns is the newest host on CTV’s ETALK. Burns also doubles as the host of middays on the Virgin Radio network.

Rishma Govani, Corus Entertaiment’s Director of News and Radio Communications, has left the company after a decade. Buffy McGaw, the Director of News Marketing For Global News, also left the company at the end of June. Starting as a Promo Producer and Manager for Global News Toronto in 1999, McGaw returned for her second tour at Global News in June 2013 as Marketing Director.  

Sophall Duch has been caught up in layoffs at Corus Entertainment. Duch had been a producer with Global News’ The West Block since last fall and was previously a chase producer for CTV’s Power Play.

Andrew Russell is also among those laid off at Global News. Russell has been an online and investigative reporter with the network for the past 11 years.

 

See more

Happy to join @CHCHNews as a Video Journalist! Looking forward to new opportunities on the horizon..stay tuned! #television #news pic.twitter.com/DQVqpJx2S9

— Danielle de Graauw (@DanielleDGTV) June 26, 2024

CHCH has hired three new VJs: Julie Sharp is a recent graduate of the Radio and Television Broadcasting program at Niagara College. Danielle DeGraauw has experience as a host and reporter at Hamilton’s Cable 14 and was also a reporter at CTV News Regina. Andrew Damelin is the station’s new sports reporter with experience voicing highlight packs for TSN, play-by-play commentary for Toronto FC, and hosting the Raptors 905 podcast.

CHCH has also hired three new writers: Tessa Bennett has experience as a multimedia journalist at Global News in both line-up and web writer positions. Michael To has worked as a reporter/editor with CBC News Hamilton, while Marney Carmichael has worked with Euronews and CTV Vancouver, writing for television, digital and print.

Mary Wiens has retired from CBC Radio in Toronto after 38 years. The longtime producer of Metro Morning first joined the public broadcaster in 1984 as a copy clerk.

Eric Woolliscroft is retiring from CBC News after 35 years, following the Paris Olympics – his eighth Olympic games. Woolliscroft started his career as a videographer and editor at Craig Broadcasting in 1984, working with CKX-TV Brandon and MTN (Manitoba Television Network) in Portage La Prairie and Winnipeg. He joined CBC Newsworld in 1989 and has most recently been a national videographer, based in Halifax.

Catherine Garrett is leaving CityNews Vancouver to join CBC Edmonton as a video journalist, reporting from Grande Prairie. The former 980 CKNW reporter and anchor joined CityNews in November. Her last day will be Aug. 9. 

Grant LaFleche has joined CBC’s The Fifth Estate as an associate producer. LaFleche has worked in print for the last three decades, most recently as an investigative reporter for the Hamilton Spectator. Prior to that, he spent 24 years with the St. Catharines Standard.

Sylvia Senna is leaving CFJC-TV Kamloops. Senna, who hails from Brazil, joined the station last July as a videojournalist and radio anchor after graduating from the Broadcast and Online Journalism program at BCIT in Vancouver. 

Jim McCourtie has been re-hired by Harvard Media as Local Media Director for X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary and X100.7 (CKEX-FM) Red Deer. Up until a round of layoffs in February, McCourtie held the title of Vice President, Local Media. Kris Mazurak, who initially joined the company as Director of Local Media & Experience Products, had succeeded McCourtie at the helm of the X stations, but now retains the title of VP of Sports.

Dani Elwell is stepping away from her role as Creative Strategist at JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto. Her last day is Aug. 15. Elwell will continue to host her weekly show “Voice Tracks” on the station. She’s been working with the not-for-profit off and on since 2012.

Jamyz Bee is leaving JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto after two decades on-air. Bee, the developer and host of Jazz In The City and Jazz Gone Wild, is leaving to focus on his work as an emerging filmmaker. Before joining JAZZ.FM91 back in 2002, his radio career started in the late 1990s hosting shows for Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) and AM 640 (CFIQ-AM). His last show will air July 25.

Jasmin Laine is no longer with Evanov’s Energy 106 (CHWE-FM) Winnipeg, where she’d been part of Wheeler in the Morning since 2020, alongside Dave Wheeler and Tyler Carr. Laine, who was named the Broadcast Leader of Tomorrow at the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) conference in Banff last month, has announced she’s joined influencer marketing agency, Creatorade Media.

Andrew Uyeno, the afternoon drive announcer on Virgin Radio Calgary, is joining the Josie & Jamar Show on Toronto’s CHUM 104.5, starting in August. Weekend host Blair Gaboury will step into the 2 – 7 p.m. time slot on Virgin Calgary.

Lex Brandt has joined Ed Garcia on the afternoon show on Winnipeg’s Power 97 (CJKR-FM). Lex moves into the co-host time slot from weekends.

Neil Spence has departed Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax where he’s worked weekends for the last eight years. Spence is taking an opportunity outside the industry with Martel’s Medal Mounting.

Tom Craig is joining Pattison Media’s The Peak (CJAV-FM) Port Alberni as an announcer and promotions coordinator. Craig, a recent graduate of Mohawk College, was most recently a technical producer on The Roy Green Show, heard on the Corus Radio talk network.

Pamela Roz is filling in on KiSS 102.3 (CKY-FM) Winnipeg as a swing announcer this summer. The former Hot 100.5 (CJFL-FM) morning show host and QX104 announcer has been out of radio for the past three years, running her own PR firm.

Forman (aka Andrew Gordon) has joined 104.7 Heart FM (CHIR-FM) Woodstock as Promotions Manager and Afternoon Host. He’s also being heard in afternoons on Max 93.1 (CHLQ-FM) Charlottetown. Gordon departed Melody & Forman in the Morning on Halifax’s Hot Country 103.5 (CKHZ-FM) earlier this year to move back to Ontario to be closer to family.

Denis Duchesne is stepping away from P.E.I. Radio-Canada morning show, Le Réveil to host and produce Votre samedi, heard across Atlantic Canada. After 17 years at its helm, his last hosting turn on Le Réveil will be July 19. He’ll begin hosting Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., starting in September.

John Wiles is retiring from CKBW Bridgewater, NS after nearly four decades in broadcasting and 29 years with the station. Best known for hosting CKBW’s Drive Home show, he got into broadcasting while studying biology at University of King’s College, helping start the student paper as well as Dalhousie campus station CKDU in 1985. From there, he worked at stations in Stephenville, St. John’s, and Carbonear, NL before returning to Nova Scotia.

Terry Klippenstein has retired from Golden West Broadcasting after 43 years with the company. Klippenstein started with CFAM Altona in 1981 as a creative producer, working part-time with the station while still in high school. He’s also been the longtime host of the Radio Southern Manitoba network’s classical music programming.

Athena Georgaklis is among those set to depart Nelvana as Corus Entertainment confirms it’s made the decision to pause development at the kids content producer and distributor, resulting in a number of exits. Georgaklis has been with Nelvana since 2016 and served as Head of Development up until year last year when she moved into the role of VP, Nelvana Studios. Prior to Nelvana, Georgaklis with Corus’ Teletoon as Director of Content.

Dr. Michael Schmalz will succeed Alain Cousineau as Chair of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). Cousineau leaves the board of directors after a 13-year tenure as Chair. The CMF also welcomes the appointment of new director René Guimond by the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Expression (CCCE), representing Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. 

Marie Nelson has left her position as President of Hot Docs after just one year. Nelson had most recently served as Senior Vice President at ABC News/Disney where she led brand and content strategy. During the transition period, Interim Executive Director Janice Dawe and Managing Director Heidi Tao Yang will steward the organization. 

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced four new members to its Board of Directors. They include Toronto Star Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Robert Benzie; BNN Bloomberg anchor and reporter Amber Kanwar; Erin Millar, CEO & Co-Founder, Indiegraf and Terrie Tweddle, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Rogers Communications. Meanwhile, the foundation’s directors appointed Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts, president and principal of Shaughnessy Kitts Communications, as its Executive Vice-Chair. Angela Pacienza, Executive Editor at The Globe and Mail and Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media, were named joint vice-chairs.

Andrew Takacs has been hired as Head of Sales for the U.S. and Canada at Quicklink, while Donny Oropeza has been named Pre-Sales Engineer and Customer Success Engineer. In his previous roles at NewTek and Vizrt, Takacs led development and execution of business strategies for top performing resellers in the broadcast and post-production industries. Oropeza also arrives from Vizrt/NewTek where he recently ended his 25-year tenure as Sales Engineer Manager for the Americas. 

Matthew Gharegozlou has been appointed Sr. Vice President of Sales and Global Channels for the Americas at Telestream, a provider of workflow automation, media processing, and distribution solutions. Reporting to Bob Stankosh, EVP Global Sales, Gharegozlou will lead Telestream’s sales and channel strategy, driving growth and expanding market presence across the region. Prior to joining Telestream, he served as VP of Sales and Channels for the Americas at Avid.

 

 

RADIO & PODCAST:

The CRTC is consulting on the sale of some Bell Media radio stations with comments open until Aug. 1, ahead of a virtual hearing on Sept. 5. That includes applications put forward by Arsenal Media to acquire seven stations in Quebec, Durham Radio to acquire three stations in Ontario, My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to acquire four stations in Ontario and Vista Radio’s intention to acquire 21 stations in B.C. Meanwhile, the commission has approved Neeti P. Ray’s application to take ownership of CKWW Windsor, CHAM Hamilton and CKOC Hamilton.

Shane Hewitt’s “The Night Shift” has joined the lineup on Bell Media’s iHeartRadio talk network. Hewitt’s previous late night show “The Shift” was abruptly cancelled by Corus Entertainment last November. He now takes over the 7 – 11 p.m. weeknight time slot on most stations in the iHeartRadio talk network, resulting in a lineup shuffle for some properties including Toronto’s Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM). Jim Richards moves into the drive home time slot from 4 – 6 p.m. ET, while Deb Hutton will be heard from 2 – 4 p.m., following The Vassy Kapelos Show.

SiriusXM Canada, which broadcasts every NTT Indycar Series race, has announced programming plans for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place, July 19-21. SiriusXM listeners will have access to the live call of the race on Sunday, July 21 on SiriusXM Indycar Nation (ch. 218). SiriusXM will be co-sponsoring two cars from the Meyer Shank Racing team: No. 60 SiriusXM Honda piloted by Felix Rosenqvist and the No. 66 SiriusXM Honda driven by David Malukas, showcasing a special red and black livery featuring SiriusXM’s The Tragically Hip Radio (ch. 757). Members of The Tragically Hip will be appearing at festivities throughout the weekend with Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay acting as honorary grand marshals for Sunday’s race.

JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto presents the fourth season of Discover Women in Jazz, in partnership with the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts. The concert series champions and highlights women’s contributions to jazz as musicians, composers, lyricists and bandleaders with featured artists including Joy Lapps, Debi Botos, Nicky Schrire, and Virginia MacDonald. One concert will be broadcast live to air and live-streamed to YouTube each week throughout August. 

Radioplayer has unveiled an app integration specifically designed to leverage the capabilities of the newly-launched Apple Vision Pro, introducing a virtual radio device that users can place within their own reality, enhancing the immersive experience of listening to their favorite radio stations. Radioplayer CEO Yann Legarson says by embracing Apple Vision Pro, Radioplayer is ensuring radio remains central to the future of digital experiences. The integration is now available in Canada, the UK, France and Germany.

Curiouscast’s Crime Beat has surpassed 1 million downloads/listens over the span of 30 days with total downloads now sitting at 1,063,749. Researched and hosted by Calgary-based Global News reporter Nancy Hixt, each episode takes listeners through some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. The award-winning podcast premiered its sixth season in February, while the television adaptation is now in its fifth season on Global.

Tested, a new limited series from CBC and NPR original documentary podcast Embedded, traces the 100-year history of sex testing female athletes in elite sports. The six-episode series, hosted by Rose Eveleth (Flash Forward), launched this week ahead of the Paris Olympics. Last year, track and field authorities announced new regulations that mean some athletes cannot compete in the female category unless they lower their body’s naturally occurring testosterone levels. Tested follows the story of two of these women athletes: Christine Mboma, an Olympic silver medalist from Namibia, and Maximila Imali, who holds two Kenyan national records. 

Lisa Williams, the longtime co-host of The Morning Drive on AM 800 CKLW Windsor, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. Williams, who retired on May 31 after 38 years with CKLW, will be recognized at an event on Oct. 18.

 

 

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up in memory of late Winnipeg radio personality Larry Updike, who passed away last month. His friends and family have now organized a fundraiser benefiting Updike’s autistic son, Gordon. “Gordon is 32-years-old, autistic and non-verbal,” wrote Updike’s longtime co-host Tom McGouran, who is leading the effort. “Developmentally he is at a pre-school level. Mary-Ann [Updike’s wife of 33 years] is aware he will outlive both his parents now.” Read more here.

LISTEN: Jeremy Baker has come full circle. After starting the commercial part of his career at The Zone (CJZN-FM) Victoria, he’s returned. He’s on the Sound Off Podcast talking about his time working in campus radio before heading to The Zone, CFOX Vancouver, and later The Peak (CKPK-FM), as well as his recent stint at Acadia Broadcasting’s Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) in Halifax, before heading back out west.

SIGN OFFS:

Peter Varley, 64, on July 7. Varley worked in radio, with stops at CKCK Regina and CKO Radio in Toronto where he hosted a network talk show, before embarking on a communications career. Among other roles, Varley served as Press Secretary and Assistant Director of Communications for the Office of Ontario Premier Bob Rae from 1992-97 and later as Director of Communications for Opposition Leader Tim Hudak from 2011-13. He also held the title of VP of Public Affairs with the Institute of Chartered Accountants for almost a decade. More recently, he’d been running his own consultancy, working on Toronto mayoral candidate Anthony Furey’s campaign and the Mike Harris Legacy Project. During his time with CKO, Varley was honoured with an ACTRA Award in 1986.

Scott Boyd, 68, on July 2. Boyd’s first broadcasting job was with Sydney’s CHER-FM, moving from evenings to afternoons, and eventually the morning show. He joined Breakfast Television on ASN (Atlantic Satellite Network) in the late 1980s as a co-host, alongside Liz Rigney and Kurt Stoodley. Boyd eventually returned to Cape Breton and 99.9 CJIJ Membertou, before joining The Giant in 2008 as a morning show co-host with Rob MacNamara and Tashia Lee. He later moved to New Glasgow’s Q97.9, before retiring back to Cape Breton. He continued to occasionally announce races at Bud’s Speedway and served as a host at events like the IWK Telethon. Boyd was honoured with a Media Personality of the Year award in 2003 by the East Coast Music Awards.

Rick Cluff, 74, on July 2, after a short battle with cancer. Cluff followed his father Harold into broadcasting against the advice of the CFRB and Air Force Radio performer, initially testing the waters in campus radio at Seneca College and Western University. After obtaining a Journalism degree from Carleton University, Cluff went on to a 41-year career with the public broadcaster, starting his career as a reporter and commentator with CBC Sports in Toronto, covering the CFL, NFL, MLB, NHL, PGA and LPGA, eight Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games. Cluff made the move to Vancouver in 1997, hosting CBC Radio’s Early Edition for another 20 years. After retiring from the public broadcaster at the end of 2017, he briefly hosted a show for online platform, Orca.ca. More recently, he’d been consulting and coaching under the banner of his own media consultancy Countdown Communications. Cluff was inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from RTDNA Canada in 2018. Read more here.

Bill Custers, 63, on June 30, following a brief illness. Custers started his career as a community programmer in the late 1970s while studying radio and television broadcasting at Niagara College. By 1983, he was General Manager at Cable 14 in Hamilton. After a decade, he joined Western Co-Axial as VP, Programming and Marketing. Custers went on to work with Astral Media’s Viewer’s Choice business as Director of Programming and Marketing and then Director of Operations, managing the team that deployed Astral’s suite of HD channels and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) products. After 13 years with Astral, he returned to Cable 14 in 2012 as Technical and Network Operations Supervisor. He retired in November 2023 as Senior Manager, Broadcast & Strategy. Upon his retirement, Custers was named to the Order of Hamilton.

Lori Paris, 46, on June 29. A graduate of both Carleton University and the Humber College post-grad Journalism program, Paris started her career while still in school in 2002, working overnights at CFRB Toronto as a reporter and anchor. Stints reporting and anchoring followed at Rogers Sports & Media’s radio stations in Ottawa, including 1310 News, and briefly 580 CFRA. Paris joined The Canadian Press (CP) newsroom in Toronto in 2013, holding roles including editor, news reader, and most recently assistant audio editor. Paris was part of the team recently nominated for a National Newspaper Award for the wire service’s coverage of last summer’s wildfires in B.C.

Bob Hunter, 77, on June 28. Born and raised in Moose Jaw,  Hunter had a 44-year long career as a Broadcast Engineer, much of which took place in Edmonton with stops at EZ Rock (CFMG-FM) and CHQT, among other stations. He retired as Director of Engineering from Bell Media Radio in Edmonton in 2013.

Ray St. Germain, 83, on June 25. St. Germain began to gain popularity as a country and rockabilly performer in his teens. Dubbed “Winnipeg’s Elvis,” he went on to play alongside country stars like Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers. An ardent promoter of Métis and Indigenous culture, St. Germain hosted numerous radio and television shows, starting in the 1960s. They included CBC series “Time for Livin’” and “My Kind of Country,” in addition to long-running CKND Winnipeg show “Ray St. Germain Country.” He also hosted Saturday morning call-in show “Métis Hour x2” on the NCI (Native Communications Inc.) radio network in Manitoba for 23 years. He retired from the station in 2022. St. Germain was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Order of Manitoba in 2013. He had previously been inducted into the Aboriginal Order of Canada in 1985 and the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

TV & FILM:

CBC has announced the complete roster of commentators, analysts and reporters who will provide extensive live coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, July 26 – Aug. 11, across CBC and partner networks TSN and Sportsnet. Approximately one third of the broadcast team will be on the ground in Paris, including 16 reporters. CBC/Radio-Canada will also provide Indigenous language coverage for 3×3 basketball, canoe/kayak, skateboarding and wrestling in Cree, Innu and Atikamekw, as well as basketball in Inuktitut. Also joining CBC’s programming lineup is Olympic FOMO, a new daily show launching July 27, hosted by radio duo Mark Strong and Jemeni, available across all platforms including CBC and CBC Gem, and daily as a podcast. Highlights include veteran broadcaster Dan Shulman with basketball play-by-play, NBA commentator Meghan McPeak providing analysis and Nabil Karim reporting from the sidelines; from the 3×3 basketball court: CEBL champion Michael Linklater and sportscaster Daniella Ponticelli; calling the debut of the sport of breaking are Mark Strong aka “Strizzzy” and Toronto B-Boy and hip hop artist, Adrian Bernard aka “Switch B.”

Cate Blanchett will be honoured at the 2024 TIFF Tribute Awards as the recipient of the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award. Blanchett will also participate in an In Conversation With… event. The TIFF Tribute Awards is a fundraising event taking place Sunday, Sept. 8 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, with proceeds going towards TIFF’s Every Story Fund, which champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film.

TIFF has announced more World Premiere titles from the Gala and Special Presentation programmes. Eden is a survival thriller based on true events about the lengths we will go to in pursuit of a better life, directed by Ron Howard, written by Halifax-born Noah Pink and starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney; K-POPS, a dramatic comedy that takes inspiration from Grammy winner Anderson .Paak’s own life; Shepherds, an adaptation of the Canadian novel D’où viens tu, berger?, which follows a young advertising executive who trades in his Montreal life to become a shepherd in France; Superboys of Malegaon, a film based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from India, and what happens when filmmaking and friendships collide; and We Live in Time, a romance starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as a couple whose chance encounter changes their lives. The festival will kick off with David Gordon Green’s Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller on Sept. 5, and close with Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb on Sept. 15.

Boat Rocker Media has sold its stake in talent management company Untitled Entertainment to TPG for $51.6M CAD and 8.8% of outstanding common equity in TPG’s new talent management company. TPG is the private-equity firm that had a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), before selling it last year. In addition to CAA, its investments include Calm, DirecTV, Entertainment Partners, Fandom, MusixMatch, and Spotify. Boat Rocker says it intends to use the cash proceeds to increase its focus on investing in owned IP, particularly scripted television, documentary programming, and animation. As part of the transaction, Michel Pratte has been named CEO of the new company and Eric Taitz its COO. Pratte has worked for Boat Rocker for over 15 years in various leadership roles, while Taitz has been with the company since 2018. 

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency has invested over $645,000 to support the Screen Production Yukon Association (SPYA) and Shot in the Dark Productions to build capacity in Yukon’s screen media industry. The investment will assist SPYA to deliver on key priorities in production sector report, A Roadmap for Growth 2022-27, including providing industry-specific training, delivering a new northern screen industry conference, opening a new studio space, attracting more local productions, purchasing gear and updating its website and branding. Shot in the Dark Productions received $25,000 to provide professional puppetry training to help Northerners acquire the skills needed to work on the company’s new made-in-the-Yukon children’s television series, Northern Tails.

Corus Entertainment has cancelled Big Brother Canada after 12 seasons. In a memo, Corus Co-CEO Troy Reeb said Corus is extremely proud of the series unprecedented success, thanking Executive Producer Erin Brock and Host and Executive  Producer Arisa Cox. “This  series, and the production team behind it, have truly set the bar in creating entertaining unscripted  television,” wrote Reeb. 

Prime Monday Night Hockey has unveiled the 2024-25 regular-season Monday night schedule, which will commence Monday, Oct. 14 with the first exclusive game on Prime Video between the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins. The following Mondays feature the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by the Leafs against the Winnipeg Jets. Prime Monday Night Hockey will stream all national regular season Monday night NHL games in English for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 NHL seasons in Canada at no extra cost to Prime members. 

Woodbine Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement for The King’s Plate. As part of the agreement, the 165th Kings Plate on Saturday, Aug. 17 will air on both Sportsnet and Citytv, and stream on Sportsnet+ and Citytv+. The second and third legs of the Canadian Triple Crown – The Prince of Wales Stakes (at Fort Erie Race Track on Sept. 10) and the Breeders’ Stakes (Woodbine Racetrack on Sept. 29) – will also air on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. Select international races will also air on Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Citytv, and Citytv+.

CBC and Lionsgate have started principal photography on the fourth season of Son of a Critch (13×30) in St. John’s, NL. Recently recognized with the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, the new season will premiere in winter 2025 on CBC Gem and CBC TV in Canada. Since the series first premiered in 2022, CBC says it has continued to rank as the most-watched original Canadian comedy and one of the Top 5 most-watched comedies overall in Canada. The public broadcaster says it also continues to be one of the most-streamed comedies on CBC Gem.

CTV will air ETALK Presents: Deadpool & Wolverine on July 24 ahead of the film’s premiere. ETALK brings fans together for the 30-minute special filming July 23 in front of a live studio audience in the iconic 299 Queen Street West parking lot at Bell Media headquarters in downtown Toronto. The special features an exclusive conversation between ETALK anchor Tyrone Edwards and stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and director Shawn Levy as they delve into the making-of the third installment of the Deadpool franchise.

MusiquePlus will be revived in a one-night only special on Sept. 3, set to air on Crave, Noovoo and Noovoo.ca. The hour-long “MusiquePlus en Rappel” will be taped in August at Montreal’s Society for Arts and Technology in front of a live studio audience. Hosted by Chloée Deblois, it will feature guest appearances, nods to the channel’s heyday, and a local talent showcase with appearances by pop singer Soran, R&B musician Naomi and hip-hop artist Aswell. MusiquePlus launched in 1986, co-founded by Pierre Marchand and MuchMusic founder Moses Znaimer. The channel ceased broadcasting in 2019 when it was rebranded as Elle Fictions.

Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company, Elevation Pictures and CBC have announced that production has wrapped on the upcoming Lilith Fair documentary presented by White Horse Pictures in association with Epic Magazine. The film is produced with the support of the original Lilith Fair founders – Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser, and Marty Diamond, who will executive produce. It’s directed by Ally Pankiw (I Used to Be Funny, Black Mirror, The Great) and tells the story of the groundbreaking music festival featuring only women artists, started by McLachlan and her team in the late ’90s in direct opposition to the prevailing “industry wisdom” that limited women from playing together on a concert bill and getting back-to-back airplay on the radio. Elevation will distribute theatrically in Canada, with the doc to premiere during the 2025-26 season of The Passionate Eye on CBC and CBC Gem. 

Walt Disney Studios Canada will premiere the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope on Aug. 8 at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg, ahead of its limited release in select markets. The Ojibwe dub was directed by Ellyn Stern Epcar, produced by Michael Kohn and stars Aandeg Jedi Muldrew (Luke Skywalker), Ajuawak Kapashesit (Han Solo), Theresa Eischen (Princess Leia), Dennis Daminos Chartrand (Darth Vader), Dustin Gerald Morrow Aagimewikamig (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Tomantha Sylvester Nimi Anungo Kwe (C-3PO), among others. Partners in the project include Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC), the University of Manitoba (UM), Disney/Lucasfilm, and APTN. Former Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont helped launch the project in 2021 after proposing it to Lucasfilm exec and former Winnipegger Pablo Hidalgo as a language revitalization project in support of reconciliation. The film will make its debut on Disney+ and APTN on a future date.

Thunderbird Distribution has announced a host of catalogue-title sales across scripted, kids and family, and unscripted genres. They include Kim’s Convenience, which has been picked up by Fuse Media (Season 1) for its U.S. linear channel, and Encore Airlines (Season 5); Molly of Denali, which has been picked up by Canadian pubcasters TVO and Knowledge Network (Season 2); 10 90-minute installments of celebrity-focused docuseries I Am, including I Am Steve McQueen, I Am Chris Farley and I Am Heath Ledger, which are now available on Tubi (Canada) and Roku.

ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:

Pattison Media has established a partnership with Eagle Feather News to keep the Saskatchewan-based Indigenous publication going after a six-month hiatus. As part of the agreement, Pattison will support EFN Media with portal management, technical support, and help the publication meet its business goals, including sales strategy. In return, EFN will share content on Pattison Media’s news portals and provide access to its niche audience through an ad revenue and space sharing agreement. North Battleford station manager Mike Aimoe said the partnership will help promote and incorporate more content for readers reflective of the diverse cultures and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and communities in Saskatchewan. Up until this year, Eagle Feather News produced 11 issues per year and was considered one of the most widely-circulated Indigenous newspapers in Saskatchewan. The publication will transition to a digital-first approach, supplemented by a quarterly magazine.

REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:

Corus Entertainment expects to have completed a workforce reduction of 800 positions or 25% of full-time staff by the end of August as it continues to look for operational efficiencies. Initially undertaken at the start of fiscal 2023, co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer John Gossling told a Q3 2024 Earnings Conference Call on Monday that the staff reductions are part of ongoing cost-cutting and liability management as the company’s share price continues to hover below the 20 cent mark on the TSX. The company said its Q3 results reflect continued advertising disruption, with consolidated revenue of $332 million in the quarter, down 16% year-over-year. That was offset by a 15% decline in programming costs as well as an eight per cent reduction in administrative and general expenses. Television segment revenue was down 17% for the quarter at $308 million, mainly driven by a 15% drop in ad revenue and a drop in subscriber revenue and episode distribution. Radio results reflect lower advertising demand with segment revenue of $24 million in the quarter, down 10% year-over-year. Read more here.

Bell Media has confirmed it’s eliminating 43 technician positions supporting the media division. A spokesperson told Broadcast Dialogue that the workforce reduction is part of ongoing restructuring announced in February as parent company BCE moves to reduce its workforce by 4,800 positions to drive cost savings. The company said no departures will occur until the period between Aug. 30 and Sept. 27. Read more here.

The CRTC’s proceeding to bring online streamers under its ambit is the subject of a judicial review application at the Federal Court of Appeal, as the Canadian affiliate of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) hopes the court will hear its argument that foreign streamers shouldn’t have to contribute to a news fund from which its members derive no benefit. As part of the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, the regulator issued a proposed order that foreign streamers making $25 million or more must contribute five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to the broadcasting system, broken down into various funds, including 1.5% toward the Independent Local News Fund (ILNF). The MPA represents the interests of major streamers like Disney+, Netflix, Paramount+ and Hulu. Amazon and Apple have filed separate challenges against the CRTC decision.

Mellissa Fung and Joyce Napier, both veteran foreign correspondents, and actress Tina Keeper, are among the 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Other names from film, television and documentary production inducted in this round include science communicator Pierre Chastenay, host of Télé-Québec’s Le code Chastenay; Arnie Gelbart, founder, executive producer and CEO of Galafilm Productions; Sylvia D. Hamilton, a Nova Scotia-based filmmaker, writer, and artist; and former cable magnate James Meekison. Read more here.

RTDNA Canada has unveiled its National Awards finalists, recognizing excellence in digital and broadcast journalism, led by CBC News, CTV News and Global National. National Awards winners will be announced in November.

Michele Brunoro, a senior reporter and anchor with CTV Vancouver, is the 2024 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship, in partnership with the Jack Webster Foundation. The fellowship affords a working journalist the opportunity to develop a long-form piece of journalism to shed light on a subject of importance to British Columbians. Brunoro has been awarded funding to produce online stories, in addition to TV broadcast pieces, focused on human trafficking in B.C. The project, to be completed in early 2025, includes exploring the effectiveness of laws in B.C., preventive efforts and the work of British Columbians to help victims in other parts of the world. 

The Jack Webster Foundation has announced that longtime CBC Vancouver journalist Belle Puri is the 2024 Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; CBC Vancouver associate producer and disability advocate Cathy Browne is the 2024 Bill Good Award recipient; and Isabelle Southcott, founder of Powell River Living/qathet Living, is the 2024 Shelley Fralic Award recipient. They’ll be celebrated at the 2024 Webster Awards on Oct. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. 

John Krasinski is the star of a new Rogers 5G spot, shot at Innisfil Beach Park on Lake Simcoe. It features The Office and Jack Ryan actor lip-syncing and dancing to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” on Lake Simcoe while streaming the song. Rogers is the presenting sponsor of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Canada. The campaign, developed by Publicis, features billboards, transit and airport takeovers, and a significant online presence.

BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:

WABE (Western Association of Broadcast Engineers) is encouraging members to consider nominating someone for its awards program, ahead of its upcoming conference in Edmonton, Sept. 23-25. The WABE Excellence in Engineering Award is given to engineers or technical teams who have made a significant contribution to their company and/or the broader engineering community; the Ambassador Award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly and are “unabashed supporters of our organization and our cause”; the Sheila R. East Award recognizes a woman whose professionalism, perseverance, and dedication has greatly benefited the broadcast industry; and the R.W. Lamb Award, recognizing an individual whose personal achievements and contributions to broadcasting over their lifetime are outstanding. WABE also would like to support and celebrate those retiring from years of service. Read more here.

Grass Valley has announced a new, multimillion-dollar strategic partnership agreement with technology solutions provider Diversified. The partnership will see Grass Valley leverage Diversified’s integration and services expertise to enhance its solutions offerings for broadcasters, content creators and media organizations. The companies say the partnership will expand their global reach with clients benefitting from enhanced support and service capabilities, including the development of new comprehensive training programs.

Blue Ant Media has chosen Blue Lucy’s BLAM platform for media supply chain automation. The multi-year contract follows a competitive discovery process involving various vendors and a rigorous proof of concept in collaboration with tech consultants, Chromata Solutions. BLAM is running a hybrid deployment model for Blue Ant Media with core database and services provided as a managed service from Blue Lucy, but a number of the BLAM Workflow Runner engines deployed on-premise, managing local resources for editing and the existing LTO library supported by XenData. Cloud storage is used for fulfillment and as the repository for browse media so that content is globally accessible. BLAM is integrated across the group’s technology stack (including Signiant Media Shuttle, Telestream Vantage and VidChecker, Adobe Premiere Pro, amongst others) to facilitate automated content delivery – so a content sale entered into the rights management system automatically triggers BLAM to pull all associated assets, transcode media where necessary and deliver files to clients without user intervention. 

MovieLabs, the technology joint venture of the major Hollywood motion picture studios, has opened submissions for the 2030 Showcase Program. The program, now in its third year, recognizes case studies in the M&E industry that are applying various principles of the “2030 Vision” in real-world media creation workflows, demonstrating how they are achieving more efficient, interoperable and secure productions. This year, MovieLabs is expanding the program by accepting submissions to enable companies to submit their most current case studies as they are completed. Currently published MovieLabs case studies include those from Accenture, Adobe, Ateliere, AWS, Dreamworks Animation, Light Iron, Overcast, Prime Focus Technologies, ProductionPro, Skywalker Sound, Sony, Walt Disney Studios and Yamdu.