REVOLVING DOOR:
Bell Media has appointed former Disney+ exec Jerrell Jimerson to the newly-created role of Senior Vice President and Head of Product & Experience, leading the company’s product vision, strategy and design efforts across digital, direct-to-consumer entertainment, sports and news products, including Crave, CTV News, TSN, TSN+, Noovo, RDS, and iHeartRadio. Jimerson has been working in product marketing in the digital space since the late 1980s. He joined iHeartRadio as SVP, Digital in 2012, and later served as Chief Product Officer (CPO) and EVP, Product & Design for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Star and Star+ from 2018-23. Since leaving Disney, he’s been running his own advisory firm, MediaTech Insights. Read more here.
Ann MacKeigan has announced the launch of new media consulting venture, CompassMedia, as she departs CBC after more than 30 years. MacKeigan had most recently held the title of Executive Producer, Talent Development, transitioning late last year from her previous role as Executive Producer of q with Tom Power, and Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud. With CBC since 1988, she previously served as Director, Content Development and Production, Radio and Audio.
Blair Bartrem has launched BlairChecks, a new talent coaching venture focused on elevating on-air performance and content strategy. His initial partnership is with Toronto’s Indie88 (CIND-FM). Bartrem was most recently Executive Producer of the Pooja & Gurdeep Show at 98.1 CHFI, where he helped guide the duo’s transition from television to radio.
Damian Rickards (aka Mr. D) has moved on from Jump! Radio (CKQB-FM) Ottawa after 11 years of hosting evenings. Rickards says it’s not a complete farewell as he will continue to help out behind-the-scenes and may occasionally fill-in on-air. He has yet to reveal his next move.
Shirley McQueen has announced she’ll be filling in as a national host on Bell Media’s Bounce Radio network. McQueen, who is also heard on Vista Radio’s ICON Radio on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, is arguably best known for her 13-year run on Toronto’s Q107 (CILQ-FM). She’s also been on-air at Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) Vancouver and CRUZ FM (CKEA-FM) Edmonton.
Ryan Williams has joined Whiteoaks Communications’ Legend 102.9 (CKLH-FM) Hamilton as the new morning show producer for Sunni & Hayes. Williams was previously a board operator and producer with 610 CKTB and 97.7 HTZ FM (CHTZ-FM) St. Catharines.
Rodrigo Mazon has been named Head of Canada and Latin America for Paramount. Based in L.A., Mazon will oversee strategy, initiatives and programming for Paramount’s streaming offerings, including Paramount+ and Pluto TV, in those territories. He previously held roles with Netflix as VP of Content, and more recently was Chief Content Officer, Streaming for TelevisaUnivision.
RADIO & PODCAST:
CBC Radio has won four National Edward R. Murrow Awards, handed out by RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) in the U.S. in recognition of exceptional journalism across digital, radio and television. Three of the awards fall under the Network Radio category, and include Ideas: Imprisoned Syrian Poet (News Documentary); The Current: America Votes – Stories from the Arizona border, its politics and its people (News Series); and World Report in Georgia: US Election 2024 (Newscast). CBC Atlantic in St. John’s, NL was also recognized for Excellence in Sound for To Grow in Love in the Small Market Radio category. Read more here.
Left of Dial Media, the audio producer and distributor founded by Canadaland and Hot Docs alum Alan Black, has released its inaugural Essential Listening Poll, unveiling the 100 Greatest Podcasts of all time. Announced at Podcast Movement in Dallas, with support from Amazon Music, the list was voted on by a wide-ranging group of podcasters, hosts, journalists, and academics. This American Life took the #1 spot, followed by Serial and New York Times podcast, The Daily. Several Canadian podcasts also made the list, with CBC Podcasts well-represented. Read more here.
LISTEN: We welcome Alan Black back to Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about the Essential Listening Poll, discoverability, the broken economics of podcasting, and why he believes there needs to be more tastemaking in the audio space.
Triton Digital has released the next evolution of its U.S. Podcast Ranker, powered by new audience intelligence features, including a rundown of the Top 200 Podcasts for reaching audience segments based on socioeconomics, behaviours, and purchase intent. Leveraging Demos+, an extension of Triton Podcast Metrics measurement service, features include Demos+ Top Podcasts (overindexing for audience demographics and consumer purchase intent) and the Demos+ Category Ranker (audience profiles by podcast genre), Top 10 Podcasts by Unique Audience, Top Categories by Reach, Top Podcasts by Downloads, and Genre audience trends (outlining consumer intent). Read more here.
Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable are merging. Both brands will continue to exist with their original staff intact, with Bryan Barletta becoming president of Podcast Movement. The companies say with the merger comes a renewed focus on getting podcasting in front of the business world, including bringing the roving Podcast Movement event to a more permanent home in advertising hub New York City, starting in 2026. Additionally, Evolutions by Podcast Movement will partner with SXSW to continue Sounds Profitable’s work building podcasting’s presence at the festival. Sounds Profitable will also continue to bring podcasting to events like Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, The Podcast Show London, and POSSIBLE.
The Pro Bono Group has announced that journalist Lisa LaFlamme and JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter Ian Thomas have joined the Pro Canada Project “Buy Canadian” PSA campaign. LaFlamme and Thomas join a growing list of well-known Canadians who’ve lent their voices to the campaign including Chantal Kreviazuk, Anne Murray, Sarah McLachlan, David Suzuki, Rick Mercer and Shaun Majumder, among many others. Learn more here.
My Broadcasting Corporation’s Classic Rock 91.7 Giant FM (CIXL-FM) St. Catharines is rallying behind morning show announcer Darlene Check with its “Giant Knocker’z” team set to participate in the St. Catharines Terry Fox Run on Sunday, Sept. 14, raising funds for cancer research. Check, who has been with the station since Oct. 2023, was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer last fall and after a partial mastectomy, eight rounds of chemo and 19 hours of radiation is doing great.
LISTEN: Wayne Webster, the veteran Toronto music director and longtime boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) music programmer joins Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast ahead of his retirement at the end of the summer. Often credited with helping shape the sound of Toronto radio, the Broadcast Hall of Famer takes us behind the scenes of his 48-year career.
LISTEN: Romina Hakim, owner of Red Lips Media, is on the Sound Off Podcast. Among other talking points, the radio host, podcast coach, and voiceover talent discusses the importance of creativity, audience engagement, and authenticity in podcasting. And the need for podcasters to understand their audience, experiment with formats, and leverage social media platforms like Reddit and Pinterest to grow their audience.
TV & FILM:
Big Time Decent has launched Big Time Decent International, a new distribution division established to take its growing content slate to broadcasters, streamers and other platforms overseas. Founded in 2020, the Vancouver-based production company specializes in unscripted and scripted series, feature documentaries, and digital content, with its best known titles including Rust Valley Restorers, Backroad Truckers, and Yukon Rescue. The new international division will be shepherded by René Brar, who takes on an expanded role to become Head of Development & Sales. He’ll be supported by Sarah McCormack, a London-based distribution executive who has held senior sales roles at the BBC, Flame Distribution and Moonbug Entertainment. Read more here.
Pinewood Toronto Studios has held a naming ceremony for “The Paul Bronfman Stage” in honour of Pinewood Toronto’s founding Chairman, who passed away in February. The event was attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, members of the Bronfman family, British Consul General to Toronto Fouzia Younis, Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Min. Stan Cho, Ontario Film Commissioner Justin Cutler, and City of Toronto Film Commissioner Marguerite Pigott, among others. The stage was formerly Stage 7 and is a key location on the lot, next to The Star Trek Stage (previously Stage 8). It has been home to Star Trek productions including Star Trek: Section 31, five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, Pixels, Robocop (2014), Cosmopolis and Dream House.
The CRTC has approved an application by the Chetwynd Communications Society for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power community television station in Chetwynd, BC. The not-for-profit previously continuously held a licence to operate the service from 1997 to 2020, when it expired and was not renewed due to an administrative error. The station, CHET-DT, will continue to operate on channel 28 with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 21 watts. The society is committed to devoting 100% of programming to Canadian programs, with local programming broadcast daily from 6 a.m. to noon, including some content in Cree.
Global has announced premiere dates for its fall 2025 schedule, with the fall season kicking off with the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, Sept. 7. Then, Survivor is back for Season 49 starting Wednesday, Sept. 24 at with a special two-hour premiere (followed by weekly 90-min. episodes). Saturday Night Live returns Saturday, Oct. 4, with 9-1-1 returning for a ninth season on Thursday, Oct. 9. “Premiere Week” starts with workplace comedy DMV on Monday, Oct. 13, starring Harriet Dyer, Tim Meadows, Tony Cavalero, Molly Kearney, Gigi Zumbado and Alex Tarrant. Friday nights see the launch of Sheriff Country on Friday, Oct. 17, starring Morena Baccarin in an expansion of the Fire Country universe. Rounding out Global’s new series is singing competition series The Road, premiering Sunday, Oct. 19, featuring Blake Shelton and Keith Urban.
CBC has announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2025 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 30 original series and specials. New Canadian Original Series include factual series Locals Welcome (10×30), premiering Sunday, Oct. 5, a celebration of the lesser-known food places that make up the fabric of Canada’s rich and diverse communities, hosted by food writer Suresh Doss; and The Assembly (6×30 on CBC Gem, 3×60 on CBC TV), premiering Thursday, Nov. 6. Based on the hit international format, it features Canadian celebrities like Jann Arden, Allan Hawco and Howie Mandel, facing a group of 30 atypical interviewers, all on the autism spectrum.
Corus Entertainment’s new original series Halloween Bakeshop (7×60) premieres Sunday, Sept. 14 on Flavour Network and streaming exclusively on STACKTV. Hosted by Canadian actress and comedian Lauren Ash, the baking showdown will see eight competitors face off for a chance to take home the title of Halloween Bakeshop champion and a $25,000 prize. Ash is joined on the judging panel by Filipino-Canadian chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Jordan Andino, and chef, baking entrepreneur, and TV personality Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman.
Deadman’s Curse returns for a third season (8×60) on Thursday, Sept. 4 on The HISTORY Channel and STACKTV. For years, prospector Kru Williams, mountaineer Adam Palmer, Indigenous explorer Taylor Starr and her father Don Froese have worked tirelessly to solve the mystery of Slumach’s lost gold mine. The premiere episode sees the expedition continue as Adam and Kru discover a hidden mine that sends the entire team deep into the B.C. wilderness.
The New Wave of Standup is back, featuring emerging Canadians on the standup comedy circuit. Nominated for Best Comedy Special at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, The New Wave of Standup debuts its sixth season on CBC Gem on Friday, Aug. 29. Filmed on location in Vnacouver, Season 6 comedians include: Tim Blair (Toronto), Raajiee Chelliah (Montreal), Adrienne Fish (Toronto), Nathan Hare (Kelowna), Wassim El-Mounzer (Montreal), Randee Neumeyer (Vancouver), K.C. Novak (Vancouver), Callum O’Neil (Toronto), Bree Parsons (St. John’s), Hassan Phills (Toronto), Olivia Stadler (Vaughn, ON), Henry Sir (Edmonton), Alain Williams (Victoria), Isabel Zaw-Tun (Fort Vermilion, AB).
Hollywood Suite will debut a third season of original series, Cinema A to Z, on Sept. 10. The new season features four new episodes – Growing Pains, Ghosts, Perfect Pairs and Robots – with the first episode exploring Annie’s rags-to-riches triumph to the heartbreak of My Girl, laughs of Uncle Buck, and perilous action of Jumanji, featuring film experts like Johanna Schneller (The Globe & Mail), Justin Decloux and Will Sloan (Important Cinema Club podcast), Radheyan Simonpillai (CTV’s Your Morning) and Rachel Ho (Exclaim!) on a trip through 26 tales of growing up.
Spin Master has greenlit an animated, four-quadrant film directed by BAFTA and Annie Award nominee David Soren. This is the first original film by Spin Master’s entertainment studio, written by Ian Southwood, and based on a story by veteran animation creator Chris Dicker. Spin Master’s Jennifer Dodge, Laura Clunie, and Toni Stevens, previously at the helm for the studio’s powerhouse PAW Patrol theatricals, are producing the film. Spin Master is financing the production with plans for a 2029 release.
Bell has launched Bell Streaming, a new way to bundle and save on top streaming services, combining Crave, Netflix, and Disney+. Offerings for new and existing Bell Internet, TV, or home phone customers, and Bell Mobility customers offer a Basic bundle for $22/month and a Premium for $49/month. Bell Streaming is available to new and existing Bell customers in Ontario and Quebec, with additional regions to follow.
Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana has partnered with The Roku Channel to exclusively launch 3D animated preschool series Builder Brothers Dream Factory (40×11 min) in the U.S. Viewers will be able to stream the animated series – inspired by the real-life Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott – on The Roku Channel.
MADE | NOUS ambassador George Stroumboulopoulos will conclude his cross-Canada journey at the TIFF Opening Night Gala, John Candy: I Like Me, on Sept. 4, pulling up to the red carpet after a multi-province road trip documenting the Canadian screen stories that MADE us. The “Stories That MADE Us” campaign launched on July 25 in Vancouver, journeying through Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, P.E.I. and Nunavut, among other provinces, before reaching the end of the road in Toronto. Stroumboulopoulos will arrive at TIFF’s Opening Night Gala carpet to debut an exclusive first look at the docuseries chronicling his journey. Québécois comedian and MADE | NOUS ambassador Rosalie Vaillancourt also embarked on a tour across Quebec and the Maritimes, shining a light on French-language Canadian screen stories that reflect and shape francophone culture. Her journey will be featured alongside George’s in the upcoming docuseries.
The National Film Board (NFB) is launching {RE}DEFINED—a new initiative inviting next-generation creators (aged 30 and under) to explore Canadian and Indigenous identity through innovative short documentary films. NFB and TIFF are on the lookout for distinctive English and French-language projects that reflect Canada’s diverse identities and push the boundaries of non-fiction storytelling. Five filmmakers will be selected to make five short documentaries (10 minutes or less) to be produced by NFB during a year-long process. The completed films will screen as part of TIFF 2026, followed by a worldwide release on NFB platforms. The deadline for applications is Sept. 30.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Rogers Communications has entered into an agreement with InfraRed Capital Partners (part of Sun Life) to sell its portfolio of nine Rogers Business data centres. Rogers will continue to sell data centre services on behalf of InfraRed and provide network connectivity. The transaction is part of Rogers planned sale of real estate and non-core assets, with the company intending to use the net proceeds to repay debt. The transaction is expected to close by year-end, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction does not include Rogers corporate data centres used for the company’s network and IT purposes.
MTM Junior has released “I Can Do This,” shedding light on the evolving relationship between kids and technology. Key highlights from the report include that tablets are the preferred device for independent use, with almost half of all 2-6 year-olds using a tablet without supervision, making it the most common device for unaided use among this age group; two in five children aged 2-6 can use television independently, with the trend particularly strong for streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, where more than half of child viewers can navigate the platforms on their own.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that six distinct scientific and technical investigations have been launched for 2025 in the lead-up to the Scientific and Technical Awards on April 28. The investigations are made public so that individuals and companies with devices or claims of innovation within these areas can submit achievements for review. This year’s investigations include small pyrotechnic devices that are safe to use in proximity to cast and crew; layered shading systems for computer-generated imagery; software suites for stop-motion photography; systems for custom art styles in animated features; automated speech restoration tools; and conform management and sound auto-assembly software. The deadline to submit additional entries is Sept. 8.
Libsyn has announced the integration of PodRoll with Libsyn, a new discovery and monetization tool that enables dynamic feed drops directly within the Libsyn platform. Libsyn says the solution unlocks a new way for creators to earn revenue—stackable with or without existing podcast advertising monetization strategies. There are no in-episode ads and no permanent edits to the podcaster’s feed. Instead, PodRoll features “You Might Also Like” promoted episode slots, showcasing episodes from similar shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Libsyn says it enables podcasters to gain access to PodRoll’s premium CPMs without minimum download requirements.
