REVOLVING DOOR:
Sean Cohan will assume leadership of Bell Media and join BCE as an executive officer on Nov. 1, following the retirement of Wade Oosterman. Oosterman, who has served as Bell Group President since 2015 and Vice Chair since 2018, assumed operational leadership of Bell Media in January 2021, following the departure of division president Randy Lennox. He had been with Bell since 2006, joining the company as President of Bell Mobility and Chief Brand Officer. He’ll remain in his role as Vice Chair until early January. Cohan joins Bell Media from Nielsen, where he was Chief Growth Officer & President, International, up until last February. He spent 15 years with A+E Networks in numerous executive roles, ending his tenure there as President, International and Digital Media. Read more here.
Michel Bissonnette, CBC/Radio-Canada’s Executive Vice-President of French Services, has left the public broadcaster. Bissonnette had been in the role since January 2017, overseeing all of the public broadcaster’s French-language programming services. Dany Meloul, General Manager, Television for Radio-Canada, has been appointed acting EVP of French Services, while the corporation undertakes a search for a permanent successor.
David Common has been named the new host of CBC Toronto morning radio show, Metro Morning. His first day in the host chair will be Oct. 16. He steps into the role vacated by Ismaila Alfa this spring when he left Metro Morning to take over Ontario weekend morning program, Fresh Air. Common, has most recently been hosting long-running investigative consumer program, Marketplace. Read more here.
Diana Swain has announced her departure from CBC News. Swain has been with the network for 33 years, starting as a local reporter in Winnipeg in 1990. She’s most recently served as Managing Editor of Investigative Journalism and prior to that was Executive Producer of The Fifth Estate. Swain was also notably the anchor of CBC Toronto’s 6 p.m. newscast for six years, starting in 2004.
Harry Forestell has announced that after 13 years hosting CBC New Brunswick’s supper hour newscast, he’ll be handing the baton to Rachel Cave. Forestell wrote in a social media post that Parkinson’s “is tightening its grip” on his voice, but he’ll be continuing to work with the public broadcaster. The former foreign correspondent took time off earlier this year to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS), which he detailed in a first person report.
Alisha Crawford has taken on the role of Senior Manager, Marketing, Communications and Brand for the Ontario Region with CBC. Crawford has previously worked with the public broadcaster as Manager, Communications, Marketing and Brand with CBC Calgary and Senior Communications Officer with CBC Saskatoon.
Cindy Sherwin is moving on from CTV Montreal after 26 years. Sherwin, 57, has been with the station since 1997 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. She started her career at CJAD and Mix 96 (CJFM-FM) Montreal.
Brady Lang is leaving CTV Yorkton for a new opportunity outside journalism. Lang had been a multimedia journalist with the station for the past two years. He’s previously worked with Rawlco Radio’s stations in Saskatoon and Pattison Media in North Battleford.
Carly Agro has left Sportsnet Central to continue pursuing law studies at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law. Agro had been with the network since 2014. Prior to that, she was a host and reporter for CBC Sports.
Sophall Duch has joined Global News as a producer with The West Block. Duch was most recently a chase producer with CTV political program, Power Play. He also worked with CPAC for a decade as a producer.
Caroline O’Neill has left CTV’s Power Play where she’s been a chase producer for the last three years. Prior to joining CTV, O’Neill was the morning reporter on 95.7 ELMNT FM (CFPO-FM) Ottawa.
Charmaine de Silva, former Director of the CityNews teams in Vancouver and Calgary, is joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies as a Senior Account Director. de Silva first joined Rogers Sports & Media as News Director for CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM) in 2018. Prior to that, she held roles with 980 CKNW, CBC Vancouver, and Astral Media Kelowna.
“Tarzan Dan” Freeman is the newest on-air personality at Stingray’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto, who’ll be heard doing weekend middays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET, starting in mid-October. Best known as the host of national countdown show The Hit List on YTV throughout most of the ‘90s, Freeman was heard on Corus’ Q107 (CFGQ-FM) Calgary in afternoon drive, up until a format flip early this year. He’s been most recently filling-in as a host on XL103 (CFXL-FM) Calgary.
Graham Mosimann is the new imaging voice for Big 101 (CIQB-FM) Barrie. Mosimann is also heard on Corus Entertainment’s Chuck 92.5 Edmonton where he serves as Assistant Program Director.
Marykate O’Neill has joined OZ FM (CHOZ-FM) St. John’s, NL morning show, Mornings with Stephen and Hugh, from 6 – 9 a.m. weekdays. The new role is in addition to her reporting work with NTV.
Jim Deane assumes the role of board chair of CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel). A representative of Access Communications in Regina, Deane served as Access CEO from 2000 until his retirement earlier this year and has been a CPAC director for over 20 years. Pam Dinsmore, Vice President, Regulatory – Cable at Rogers Communications, joins the board as vice-chair, while Paul Beaudry, Vice President, Regulatory and Government Affairs at Cogeco, joins the board as a director. They join existing CPAC board directors Jad Barsoum, Vice President Institutional Affairs at Québecor, and Marielle Wilson, Vice President, Regulatory at Eastlink.
Damon D’Oliveira of Conquering Lion Pictures is the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) for the 2023-25 term. New board members include Steven Thibault (Screen Siren Pictures, BC); Anand Ramayya (Karma Film Inc., Sask.); new Ontario members Elysse Goldman (Shaftesbury); Nelson Kuo-Lee (Blink49 Studios); and Kate Sangster-Poole (eOne); Marc Tetreault (Shut Up & Colour Pictures, Atlantic); and Quebec directors Archita Ghosh (Amaxis) and Sébastien Pigeon (Sphere Media).
Patrick Jutras has been appointed President of Quebecor-owned film and television production services provider MELS. Jutras’ new responsibilities will be in addition to those he’s held since 2019 as Chief Advertising Officer of Quebecor Media and TVA Group.
Katrina Kowalski has been upped at Paramount to SVP, Content Programming and Acquisitions, International, Pluto TV International. Kowalski has been in the role of Vice-President, Content, Paramount+ and Pluto TV Canada for the last year and a half. Prior to that she was Senior Director, Content Programming and Strategy with ViacomCBS and spent 20 years in various roles with Bell Media.
Jason Simms has been appointed to the newly-created role of Managing Director at Connect3 Media (C3 Media), part of the Cineflix Media group of companies. Working closely with C3 President, Pablo Salzman, Simms will focus on growing the company’s slate. Simms will join C3 in early November, from Sky Studios, where he held the role of Director, International Scripted Programming. He previously served as Director of Drama and Comedy for Sky Vision, and before that was Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions, Fox Network Group, closing deals for marquee series such as The Walking Dead, Dexter, The Wire, and Breaking Bad.
Robin Hays has joined the Vancouver-based Wind Sun Sky content team in the newly-created role of Vice President, Creative, Kids. Hays is an independent filmmaker, directing, writing and producing short and long-form films, including Anthem starring Juliette Lewis, and her animated film Post No Bills.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Broadcast Dialogue’s Canadian Radio Awards, also known as The Howards in recognition of our founding publisher Howard Christensen, are back for a fourth year. Submissions open Friday, Oct. 6 and will close Thursday, Nov. 2. Audio that is eligible must have aired on a Canadian radio station between Nov. 1, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2023. Winners will be announced Nov. 24. Find the full list of categories and the rules & regulations here. The Canadian Radio Awards are FREE to enter with those submitting able to self-nominate or be nominated by the station program director. Entries are limited to one entry per station, per category. Questions? Drop us a line via CanadianRadioAwards.com.
Local Radio Lab has entered into an agreement to purchase Toronto alternative rock station Indie88 (CIND-FM), pending CRTC approval. Local Radio Lab is the current licensee of FM 92 (CIMA-FM) South Simcoe, FM 101 (CJML-FM) Milton, and FM 101 (CKMO-FM) Orangeville. The radio group is helmed by Chris Grossman, the former majority owner and president of Haliburton Broadcasting Group, which was acquired by Vista Radio in 2012. Grossman founded Local Radio Lab with the purchase of several My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) stations in 2021. He’s also the chairman of radio streaming solutions provider, leanStream. Indie88 is currently owned by Central Ontario Broadcasting subsidiary Rock 95 Ltd., the company’s first entry into the Toronto market when it launched in July 2013. Read more here.
The Roy Hennessy Achievement Award for Excellence in Broadcasting has been established at BCIT, in memory of the late broadcaster who passed away in June of last year. The annual award will recognize the top student in BCIT’s Broadcast Radio program (based on academic standing, leadership, service and all-round achievement) with a $1,000 scholarship. Hennessy is best known for his 12-year run in mornings at CKLG Vancouver, serving as General Manager at CKY/CITI FM Winnipeg, CKXL and CHFM Calgary, and his work with Standard Broadcasting in the early ’90s, helping transition CFRB 1010 Toronto to an all-news format. He went on to form radio advertising agency RadioWorks with David Bray, before becoming part of the ownership group that launched Shore 104 (CHHR-FM) Vancouver. Click here to make your tax deductible donation to “The Hennessy.”
Stingray and Ocean 100 (CHTN-FM) Charlottetown have launched the 1st Annual Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women of Impact Awards, which will be presented each March during International Women’s Week. The awards are a tribute to the late Ocean 100 morning show co-host’s legacy and her impact on P.E.I., and will recognize women in five categories: Women in Business, Women in Music, Women in the Arts, Women in our Communities, and Women in Healthcare. Nominations are now open until Dec. 31.
Bell Media’s Kitchener stations Bounce 99.5 (CKKW-FM), 105.3 Virgin Radio (CFCA-FM) and CKCO (CTV News) are moving to a new studio in South Kitchener, bringing the radio stations under the same roof as the CTV newsroom for the first time. Set for this month, the move comes 70 years after CKCO-TV first opened its King Street West studio.
🎉WINNER🎉
Lisa Somers of Orangeville has WON it ALL 🤯 $195,500 (counting the last voice she cracked) with the CHFI Secret Voices contest! She got ALL 5 voices right and WON….BIG! 💰 Brand new chance for you to play TOMORROW morning at 7a 📻🙌#Winner #CHFI #SecretVoices pic.twitter.com/iNuffwKqJl
— 98.1 CHFI (@981CHFI) September 27, 2023
CHFI Toronto has given away $195,000 to one lucky listener. Lisa Somers of Orangeville cracked the CHFI Secret Voices, guessing all five of the famous voices saying “CHFI – Toronto’s Perfect Music Mix.”
The Sonar Network has announced new comedic paranormal podcast, The Funny Thing About Ghosts, hosted by Second City Toronto and Comedy Bar Sunday Night Live alum Sarah Hillier. Hillier – once dubbed “Toronto’s answer to Amy Poehler” – invites comedians, improvisers and experts to share their personal paranormal encounters and run-ins with the supernatural. Upcoming guests include comedy legend Colin Mochrie (Who’s Line Is It Anyway?), TV host Ann Pornel (The Great Canadian Baking Show) and actor and comedian Andy Hull (What We Do In The Shadows). New episodes drop every Tuesday.
SiriusXM has announced that seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer will launch an exclusive year-round channel, Life With John Mayer, in November. Mayer is curating a channel defined not by genre, but by the time of day, as well as day of the week, promising to be a musical experience hand-selected by the guitarist and songwriter featuring his own classics, collaborations and never-before-heard material blended with the music he loves. The channel will be available to subscribers across North America on channel 14 or via the SiriusXM app.
LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, podcast marketer Jeremy Enns. In this episode, he shares insights on developing a focused approach to podcast marketing, why your podcast should be listenable, with no noticeable audio issues, and tips on using (or not using) YouTube.
SIGN OFFS:
Zelda Young, 73, on Sept. 27, following a courageous battle with cancer. Young was the host of “The Zelda Show” on Toronto’s CHIN Radio, starting in 1976, following in her father Sam Yuchtman’s footsteps, one of Toronto’s early Jewish radio producers and the first on Johnny Lombardi’s newly-licenced multicultural station when it launched in 1966. Young went on to helm the longest-running Jewish radio program in Canada for more than 30 years, a variety show featuring guest interviews, and news from Israel and around the world. Her radio show went on to be syndicated to stations in Vancouver and Florida until 2000. Young also hosted a television show on Citytv called “Tapestry” (later renamed The Zelda Young Show) from 1986 to 1993.
TV & FILM:
Eagle Vision, White Pine Pictures and Paquin Entertainment are celebrating an International Emmy Award nomination for Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On. Directed by Madison Thomas, the documentary shines a spotlight on the remarkable life and career of Buffy Sainte-Marie, capturing her profound impact on music, Indigenous rights, and social justice. The lone Canadian nominee, the documentary is nominated in the Arts Programming category, in competition with films from Germany, Japan, and Mexico.
The Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) celebrated the 50th Anniversary edition of its film and television awards in Edmonton on Sept. 30. Horror thriller Dark Nature won five awards, including Best Make-up, Best Original Score (Scripted), Best Overall Sound, and Best Director and Best Screenwriter nods for Berkley Brady (with Tim Cairo). Find the full list of winners here.
Bell Media is turning in its broadcast licence for ESPN Classic, in addition to French-language speciality channel VRAK, which ceased broadcasting on Oct. 1. ESPN Classic Canada will cease operations on Oct. 31.
Asian Television Network (ATN) has acquired the exclusive Canadian rights from Disney Star to launch its four channels, ATN Star Plus, ATN Star Gold, ATN Star Vijay and ATN Vijay Super. Star Plus is India’s leading Hindi general entertainment television channel, with a range of programming from family dramas, reality shows, and special events. Popularly known as “The Home of Blockbusters,” Star Gold is among India’s leading 24/7 Hindi movie channels, while Star Vijay is a leading Tamil language general entertainment channel. Vijay Super is a Tamil movie channel, part of the Star Vijay TV family, and features blockbuster Tamil movies as well as Tamil dubbed versions of popular Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English movies.
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has launched AMI+, a new free streaming site where users can access AMI’s stable of audio, television and digital content created by and for the disability community. Additionally, visitors can utilize customizable accessibility settings for the blind and partially sighted community. The launch comes after months of rigorous testing and consultation with audience and members of Fable—a diverse community of accessibility professionals who identify as having a disability. At the very top of the site and on every page of AMI+, users can select Accessibility Preferences and choose from eight levels of contrast, line spacing and font. AMI+ is fully compatible with assistive technology, including screen readers and magnifiers, and Windows, Apple and Android platforms and devices.
CBC Kids and CBBC have co-commissioned Gangnam Project (10×30), a new tween dramedy series set in the world of K-pop. The series, which recently wrapped production in Toronto and South Korea, is scheduled to debut in spring 2024. Developed with CBC Kids and produced by Pillango Productions and Aircraft Pictures, series co-showrunners are Sarah Haasz (Circuit Breakers) and Romeo Candido (The Next Step). Federation Kids & Family is handling worldwide sales and will be presenting the series to buyers at the upcoming MIPJUNIOR & MIPCOM markets. A coming-of-age story, Gangnam Project is inspired by producer Haasz’s personal journey, telling the story of a spirited Canadian/Korean teen with dreams of becoming a K-pop star and connecting with her Korean heritage.
CBC, Insight Productions, and The Gurin Company have announced production details for the second season of original reality competition format, Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, with broadcaster Brandon Gonez on board to host. Shooting this fall, the series (7×60) turns the entire country into a giant obstacle course with challenges taking place from coast-to-coast. Kicking off in St. John’s, NL, it’s set to premiere on CBC Gem and CBC in 2024.
CTV Life Channel’s new original docu-reality series Listing Large is set to premiere Monday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Life, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. The team from the Wiltshire Eccleston Group (WE) are featured on the 10-episode half-hour series, following the journey of real estate moguls and business partners Odeen Eccleston and Lamont Wiltshire as they juggle their growing real estate empire with the demands of parenthood, friendship, and their past romantic relationship.
APTN Investigates aims to uncover the truth behind the unexplained disappearance of two Mohawk fishermen on the Bay of Quinte eight years ago. In a special two-part series entitled Secrets of the Bay, Kenneth Jackson sets out to discover what really happened to Tyler Maracle and Matthew Fairman. Secrets of the Bay airs Friday, Oct. 6 and Friday, Oct. 13 on APTN, launching the new season of APTN Investigates.
Wolfwalker Productions has announced the second season of original series AMPLIFY, produced by Shane Belcourt and Jason Ryle, premiering on APTN beginning Friday, Oct. 13. The new season will expand into additional locations across Canada and features a roster of emerging and established Indigenous musicians, including Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Jason Camp & The Posers, Thea May, JB The First Lady, and Sadie Buck. The series also has a strong focus on Indigenous talent behind the camera and features 12 Indigenous directors, filmed with a 100% Indigenous production crew.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group has announced that Rocket Saves the Day, a brand-new animated original movie from its Kids & Family label Atomic Cartoons, will debut in the U.S. on PBS KIDS on Dec. 26. Based on the bestselling Rocket book series created by Tad Hills, the movie is a hero’s journey in which an enthusiastic young pup and his new best friend, Little Yellow Bird, embark on a quest to save their town through the power of reading. Developed and written by Emmy-winning kids TV screenwriter Rachel Lipman (Rugrats, Dinosaur Train, Hey Arnold!), Rocket Saves the Day was adapted for television by Peabody-winning producer Lynn Kestin Sessler.
Hollywood Suite has unveiled its 2023 Shocktober programming lineup for October, anchored by the Canadian premiere of the six-part horror-comedy series Wreck, with back-to-back episodes airing on Oct. 5 and new episodes airing every Thursday through Nov. 2. Additional Shocktober premieres include Jason Brennan’s thriller L’Inhumain (2021); The Shape of Things to Come (1979), based on the novel by H.G. Wells; Canadian cult classic Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1986); Jordan Peele thriller Get Out (2017); horror comedy Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995); and Rueben Martell’s Indigenous horror Don’t Say Its Name (2022).
Disney+ is planning to crack down on password sharing, starting Nov. 1. The streamer sent emails to Canadian subscribers last week, warning it will begin restricting password sharing for anyone not residing in the same household. The crackdown comes as Disney+ launches a new ad-supported tier in Canada and across Europe.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Similarweb has released new data that shows traffic referrals to the top global news sites from Facebook and X (the app formerly known as Twitter) have collapsed over the past year. An Axios breakdown says Facebook referrals to news websites have declined by around 80% since September 2020, while X traffic has shrunk by around 60% in the same period. Link views on Facebook are down 50% over the past two years, according to Meta’s own data, as social platforms follow TikTok’s lead and lean into AI-based content recommendations, while X has moved to limit link views to encourage more direct posting on the app.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Canadian Media Guild (CMG) employees at TVO in their seventh week of strike action have voted to reject the Ontario public broadcaster’s so-called “final offer.” The offer included a 7.7% wage increase over three years, including 3.0% in the first year, a 2.75% increase in year two, and a 1.75% increase in the final year. TVO says the offer would have brought the average salary for a unionized employee with more than five years of service (excluding The Agenda host Steve Paikin) to approximately $89,000, with Canadian Media Guild (CMG) members in their first five years of employment with TVO continuing to be eligible for annual “step” increases, which the broadcaster says average 4.3% per year, on top of the proposed annual wage hike. Union leaders said in a statement Monday that the offer still amounts to a wage cut after inflation and that binding arbitration appears to be the only path forward. Read more here.
The CRTC is moving forward with its regulatory plan to implement Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, setting a Nov. 28 deadline for streaming services operating in Canada to register with the commission. The Act will only apply to those streamers that earn $10 million or more in annual revenue. The CRTC has also set out conditions for online streaming services to operate in Canada, which take effect immediately, requiring them to provide the commission with content and subscriber information and make content available in a way that is not tied to a specific mobile or internet service. Read more here.
RTDNA Canada has announced this year’s National Lifetime Achievement Award winners, presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and continued excellence during the course of their career in broadcast and digital journalism. This year’s honourees include former CBC foreign correspondent Carol Off, the longtime host of CBC Radio One’s As It Happens, who stepped away from the show last year; Dave Budge, the retired VP of News and Information at Rogers Sports & Media, and past News Director at CBC Calgary and Global Calgary; and Rose Kingdon, Director of Broadcast News at The Canadian Press (CP). RTDNA will also present a posthumous award to former CTV Senior Director Allan Myers, who passed away suddenly in August 2022. Read more here.
RTDNA Canada is recognizing Joanne McPherson with its 2023 Distinguished Service Award, presented to a member who has played a major role in the continuing success of the organization. McPherson, the Managing Editor for Program and Content Strategies for CBC News, currently sits on the RTDNA board overseeing sponsorship for the organization. Her resume with the public broadcaster includes stops as an associate producer with CBC’s Washington bureau; acting as a producer on Joe Schlesinger’s program, Foreign Assignment; serving as assignment editor for the Ontario region; and working for CBC Newsworld (now CBC News Network) as a line up and control room producer and executive producer of Morning Live. Read more here.
RTDNA Canada has announced three finalists for its inaugural Emerging Journalist Award, presented to an emerging journalist who displays excellence in the coverage of original (enterprise) journalism on a single topic, investigative reporting, or continuing coverage of a beat or a major breaking and developing story. The three finalists are: Bobby Hristova, CBC News; Kier Junos, CityNews; and Lisa Steacy, CTV News. The winner will receive their award in-person at the President’s Reception on Oct. 20, following Day 1 of the National Conference.
The Radio Television Digital News Foundation of Canada (RTDNF) has announced scholarship winners for the 2022-23 school term: Jeremy Hull, University of King’s College (Atlantic Association of Broadcasters Scholarship awarded to a student from the Atlantic provinces); Kate Otterbein, Fanshawe College (BNN/Jim O’Connell Scholarship awarded to the best business story); Macenzie Elizabeth Da Silva Rebelo, Toronto Metropolitan University (CBC/Barbara Frum Scholarship award to the best interview); Farkhounda Azizullah, Toronto Metropolitan University (Global News Diversity Scholarship); Brittany Weaver, Toronto Metropolitan University (JJ Richards Scholarship awarded to a radio documentary); KarlaXena Jubaily, University of British Columbia (Narcity Media Digital Journalism Scholarship awarded to a news story published on a website and/or social media platform); and Maham Hashmi, BCIT (RTDNF Scholarship awarded to a second, third year, or graduating student, who was also the RTDNA George Clark Scholarship overall winner).
CBC/Radio-Canada will host its Annual Public Meeting on Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. ET. This year, journalists including Thomas Deshaies, ICI Estrie; Avneet Dhillon, Producer, CBC News; Alexane Drolet, Digital Reporter, ICI Québec; Farrah Merali, Reporter, CBC Toronto; Wildinette Paul, Journalist, RDI Vancouver; Pascal Raiche-Nogue, Journalist, ICI Acadie; and Juanita Taylor, Host and Reporter, CBC North will answer questions about their roles, the challenges they encounter, and CBC/Radio-Canada’s commitment to deliver responsible and trustworthy news content. The virtual event will be broadcast on CBC/Radio-Canada’s corporate website and YouTube channel.
Rogers Communications has turned on 5G service for transit riders in the busiest sections of the TTC subway system. As of this week, customers of all major Canadian wireless carriers can connect to 5G and talk, text and stream in the TTC subway system in all stations and tunnels in the Downtown U; plus Spadina and Dupont stations and 13 stations from Keele to Castle Frank, in addition to the tunnels between St. George and Yonge stations. In April, Rogers acquired the cellular network in the TTC from previous operator BAI Canada and committed to invest hundreds of millions to roll out 5G service and more reliable 9-1-1 access across all 75 subway stations and nearly 80 kilometres of track.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
Humber College and the National Association of Broadcasters are hosting the Resilient Timing Solutions Seminar on Friday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. showcasing the development of the new independent timing solution known as Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) that utilizes the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast terrestrial transmission standard, also known as Next Gen TV. The event will hear from experts from the U.S. Space-Based PNT Advisory Board, Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, Canadian Federal Government, National Association of Broadcasters, Triveni Digital, Avateq and Humber College B²C Lab including a demonstration of the latest research and development of a BPS resilient solution. Learn more here.
Vividata’s fall 2023 Study of the Canadian Consumer includes insights into viewing behaviour looking at how Canadians engage with connected TVs and streaming versus linear viewing. In field July 2022 to June 2023, adoption of connected TVs continues its upward trajectory, with an estimated 71% of Canadian adults now enjoying the benefits of at least one such television in their household, marking substantial growth from 56% in 2021. At 28%, Samsung claims the top spot as the most-owned connected TV brand, followed by LG at 16%. With an increase in connected TV adoption, linear versus streaming viewing behaviour continues to shift. Compared to 23% in 2021, 36% of adults say streaming is the sole way the watch TV, while 28% of adults still only watch linear TV and the remainder do both. Reaching 16.3 million adults, Netflix is the most used streaming service, with 43% of its audience only watching the platform on the large screen (CTV, game console, or set-top box), while 8% only watch on smaller screens (computer/laptop, smartphone or tablet).
