REVOLVING DOOR:
Sue Haas is taking on the newly-created role of Chief Growth Officer for Numeris and NLogic, following Alicia Olson-Keating’s appointment earlier this year as President & CEO, a job that Haas had held on an interim basis. Additionally, Catherine Malo has been named SVP, Client Strategy & Solutions, Marketing & Communications for both Numeris and NLogic. With Numeris since 2019, her title was most recently SVP, Cross-Media Business Development and Marketing. John Turbessi, who joined Numeris in July as Managing Consultant, Product & Technology Leader, will also play a key role in bridging technology and product delivery across Numeris and NLogic. Read more here.
Kyle Irving has been named the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), as the organization unveils its directors for the 2025–27 term. The longtime Eagle Vision partner and executive producer succeeds outgoing chair Damon D’Oliveira of Conquering Lion Pictures, who will remain on the board. Michelle Wong of Seven24 Films takes on the role of Treasurer, with Lauren Corber of LoCo Motion Pictures serving as Secretary. Read more here.
Farrah Merali has been named the new host of CBC Toronto afternoon radio show, Here and Now, with her first day in the host’s chair Tuesday, Oct. 14. Merali succeeds interim host Ramraajh Sharvendiran, who is returning as host of Ontario Morning, starting Oct. 27. Merali has worked with the public broadcaster on and off since 2009, initially as a casual associate producer and later as a reporter/editor and fill-in host on programs like Metro Morning and Here and Now. In between, she spent a year at Rogers Sports & Media’s News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver as an anchor and reporter. Most recently, Merali has been working with CBC Toronto’s Enterprise Unit focused on original and investigative stories. Read more here.
Harvard Media has announced changes on Edmonton’s play107 (CKPW-FM) that will see longtime morning show duo Ryder & Lisa move from mornings to afternoon drive as the hosts explore a new, yet-to-be revealed opportunity. The changes see Ryder & Lisa move into the 5 – 8 p.m. time slot across the play network, while midday host Jake Ryan takes on mornings from 6 – 10 a.m. Harvard network personalities Mariah & Ty, who’ve been heard “After Hours,” move to middays, with Mark & Jess (the morning show duo from play 92 (CHMX-FM) Regina) heard from 2 – 5 p.m. A new host is to be introduced in evenings. Read more here.
Chris Pronger and Christine Simpson have joined the roster of on-air talent on the Prime Monday Night Hockey broadcast team ahead of the 2025-26 season. Hockey Hall of Famer Pronger joins the desk as an analyst, beginning Oct. 13, while veteran hockey broadcaster Simpson will serve as Features Reporter, conducting long form interviews for “Legends of the Game” where key players discuss memorable moments in NHL history, as well as feature conversations with hockey enthusiasts. Read more here.
Tyson Barrie is joining Vancouver Canucks regional home broadcasts on Sportsnet for the 2025-26 season. The former Edmonton Oilers defenseman, 34, who recently announced his retirement from the NHL after 14 seasons, originally hails from Victoria.
Jeyan Jeganathan has been named the host of TVO’s new 30-minute current affairs show, The Rundown. Produced by the team behind The Agenda, which ended its 19-season run in June, TVO says the new show will offer “the same journalistic integrity and depth in a faster-paced format.” It makes its debut Oct. 20.
John Gushue is retiring from CBC Newfoundland & Labrador after 28 years with the public broadcaster and 40 years in journalism. Gushue, who has held the title of Senior Digital Producer for the last 11 years, based in St. John’s, is also known for hosting the monthly trivia segment on CBC Radio noon-hour show, The Signal.
Dan Reynish, former news/weather/sports anchor on CHAT-TV Medicine Hat is running for Medicine Hat City Council. Reynish was with the station for seven years, up until its closure in June. Prior to that, he was the longtime host of CBC Saskatchewan Weekend, and was a host and producer with Rawlco Radio and CFRB Toronto.
Janet Brown, who was a reporter with CKNW Vancouver and Global BC for more than three decades, is running for Surrey First in the Lower Mainland B.C. city’s upcoming municipal election. Brown is currently Director of Communications with Surrey Urban Mission.
Liz Hames has departed JAR Audio, where she’s been Director, Audience Growth, since 2022 to join jazz mastery site Open Studio, heading their podcast department and producing flagship music pod, You’ll Hear It. Prior to JAR Audio, Hames spent three years at Pacific Content in roles from showrunner to Audience Development Specialist. She’s also worked as a producer with CBC in both Edmonton and Victoria.
Ravi Ganesan has been promoted to Manager of IT Operations and Infrastructure at Applied Electronics. Ganesan has been with Applied since 2019, joining as a System and Network Administrator. Prior to that, he held roles with GPA and Ricoh Canada, among other organizations.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Introducing our jury for the 2025 Broadcast Dialogue Canadian Radio Awards, presented by Xperi: (l-r) Kim Sullivan, Paul Kaye, Dayna Brez, Jay Brody, Rick Zamperin, Anita Bathe, and Lisa Grossi. Read more about this year’s jurors here. Nominations are open until Oct. 27. Learn more about this year’s categories at CanadianRadioAwards.com.
The Beat 92.5 (CKBE-FM) Montreal rebranded the station on Friday, Oct. 3 to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life Of A Showgirl. Starting with the Beat Breakfast Club, The Beat played tracks from Swift’s new album under the signature, Montreal’s Perfect Mix…Swiftie 925. All radio station imaging was changed, in addition to digital banners across the city. New tracks from the album every hour were followed by listeners favourite songs from previous albums culminating in an exclusive listening party at the radio station studio for select listeners.
SiriusXM Canada has announced coverage plans for the 2025-26 NHL season through the Stanley Cup Final. SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (ch. 91) welcomes a roster of former players for its 21st season, including Mike Johnson, Anthony Stewart, Martin Biron, Andrew Raycroft, Frankie Corrado, Craig Button, Carter Hutton and Jason Strudwick. Returning with opinion, analysis and season previews for all 32 NHL teams, are Gord Stellick, Scott Laughlin, Steve Kouleas, Mick Kern, Boomer Gordon, Jake Hahn and Linda Cohn, Brian Burke, Elliotte Friedman, Bruce Boudreau, and Dave Pagnotta.
CISN Country 103.9 Edmonton will broadcast its 10th annual Yards for Hope, in support of Hope Mission, an organization dedicated to helping the hungry and homeless. Collectively, over the last nine years, the radiothon has raised over $3 million. Kicking off Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 a.m., station talent will move down the field at Commonwealth Stadium, starting in one end zone, with the live broadcast moving one yard for every thousand dollars donated, aiming to travel 110 yards and reach the other end zone by 9 a.m. Friday morning.
The Pro Bono Group has released new creative for The Pro Radio Project with a new spot, titled “Ourselves,” specifically designed for fall. It replaces “Kick.” The spot features Toronto actress Debra McGrath, recipient of ACTRA Toronto’s 2025 Award of Excellence, with Vancouver’s Noel Johansen returning in his recurring role as announcer.
Apple Podcasts is launching a new Top Series chart that will be updated continuously and feature the top 100 series, making it the first-ever dedicated chart for series shows. Additionally, a new Series category will help listeners explore and discover shows. Apple Podcasts editors will also introduce Series Essentials, recognizing and celebrating one series each month that best defines the category, beginning with Ghost Story, an original limited series from Wondery and Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios.
Spotify is building on its previously-announced series of updates to make advertising on the platform more flexible and automated, unveiling a suite of new partnerships and product features. Enhancements across Spotify Ad Exchange and Spotify Ads Manager, include allowing advertisers using Amazon DSP to now access Spotify’s audio and video inventory; and a Yahoo DSP integration, allowing advertisers to buy Spotify inventory through Yahoo DSP via a new direct integration. Starting next year, Megaphone-hosted podcast publishers will also be able to book private marketplace deals via Spotify Ad Exchange.
LISTEN: Anna Zee has been with Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax for nearly 38 years. Throughout her career, she’s witnessed significant changes in radio, from physical record deliveries to digital platforms and social media integration. While the technology has changed, her passion for music has not. Q104 has been more than a job for Anna – it’s been a family. Despite opportunities elsewhere, she has remained committed to Halifax, loving the city’s vibrant music scene and tight-knit radio community.
SIGN OFFS:
Hal Blackadar, 85, peacefully on Oct. 7, in Oakville. Blackadar had a more than five-decade career in radio that culminated in serving as Executive Vice President and Interim President at Corus Radio, prior to his retirement in 2010. He went on to continue to serve as an in-house consultant for Corus. Blackadar’s career was highlighted by numerous leadership positions, including serving as General Manager of CFNY Toronto from 1995 to 2001, under Maclean-Hunter’s Key Radio division. Prior to that, he served as VP and GM of CHNS and CHFX-FM Halifax, and by 1986 was appointed to the same post at CKOY and CKBY-FM Ottawa, joining the Key Radio executive team, eventually rising to the position of President, Ontario Region Radio Division. Blackadar also had extensive involvement in industry associations, including the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) where he was a founding member of the Digital Radio Roll Out committee, in addition to serving as a director on the boards of Women In Communications & Technology, FACTOR, and the Radio Marketing Bureau.
Dennis Trudeau, 77, on Oct. 6 after a long battle with cancer. Trudeau, who hailed from Ottawa, obtained a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario, before heading to Quebec to work as a political reporter for the Montreal Gazette and Montreal Star, later covering the National Assembly for the Chronicle Telegraph. In 1971, he moved to Montreal to work for The Canadian Press (CP), eventually making his way to CBC Radio in 1979 where he hosted programs like CBC Montreal’s Daybreak and national shows, As It Happens and Cross-Country Checkup. He’s best known for his 18 years serving as the anchor for CBC Montreal English supper hour newscast, CBC Newswatch, from 1987 to 2005. In 2007, he founded Dennis Trudeau Communications , offering his services as a master of ceremonies, moderator, and facilitator, concurrently taking a year-long spin as a morning radio talk show host at Corus Entertainment’s AM 940 (CFNV-AM), contributing commentary to Dutrizac le midi on 98.5 FM (CHMP-FM) Montreal and contributing an urban affairs column to Montreal Centre Ville. Read more here.
TV & FILM:
Numeris’ video analytics measurement solution is now available nationally. The audience measurement agency first announced the national rollout in early 2021, initially setting out a timeline to make National VAM (Video Audience Measurement) available in mid-2023. The solution brings together linear TV and digital video viewing into a single, unified database, providing insight into how audiences consume video across platforms, devices, and formats. At launch, Numeris says National VAM is reporting over 95% of video platforms available in Canada, including Amazon Prime Video, Crave, CBC Gem, Disney+, Illico, Netflix, Pluto, TikTok, and YouTube. Read more here.
Blue Ant Media has acquired factual streamer, MagellanTV, for $12M USD, its first strategic acquisition following its recent “go public” reverse takeover. Founded in 2018 by Greg Diefenbach and Thomas Lucas, veterans of National Geographic, PBS and Discovery, MagellanTV operates a streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) service and a portfolio of advertising video-on-demand (AVOD) and free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels across genres including history, nature, science, space, and true crime, reaching audiences in 13 countries across more than 20 platforms. Diefenbach joins Blue Ant as Executive Vice President, Streaming, while Lucas will remain involved for several months to support the transition. Read more here.
WIFT+ Toronto has announced the honourees of the 2025 Crystal Awards Gala. They include director Sharon Lewis, who is being honoured with the Creative Excellence award; Innovation Trailblazer honouree Joan Jenkinson, Co-Founder & CEO, Black Screen Office; International Achievement winner Jennifer Dodge, President, Entertainment, Spin Master; Mentorship honouree Annie Bradley, director and writer; Outstanding Achievement in Business winner Nanci MacLean, Chief Operating Officer, MEM; and Sandie Rinaldo, Anchor, CTV National News at 5:30, who’ll be presented with the Special Jury Award of Distinction. Jess Allen of CTV’s The Social will be hosting the 38th Crystal Awards on Nov. 25 at the Fairmont Royal York.
UBCP/ACTRA has unveiled nominees for its annual awards. Productions garnering multiple nods include thriller Hunting Matthew Nichols and TV movie Sins of My Husband, with The Last of Us and Final Destination – Bloodlines both receiving two nods apiece in the Stunt categories.
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has commissioned public opinion research from Pollara, looking at Canadians’ attitudes toward the Canadian media production industry, Canadian culture, and the Online Streaming Act. The research found that 88% believe Canadians should support Canadian TV and film producers in the same way people are “buying Canadian” elsewhere. Eighty-seven per cent agree Canadian content and stories should be owned and controlled by Canadian, not American companies, while another 87% agree that recent threats from the U.S. make it more important than ever to protect Canadian culture. Eighty-five per cent feel the federal government should support Canadian culture and creative industries financially, according to the online survey, conducted between Sept. 19-25.
Bell Media has announced a multi-year partnership with FIBA and Canada Basketball, giving TSN and RDS exclusive access to the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cups for both women and men, in addition to the rights to other premium events. Through the Canada Basketball agreement, TSN and RDS will also broadcast GLOBL JAM, the annual showcase invitational featuring the best under-23 men’s and women’s basketball teams from around the world. Read more here.
Crave Original series Project Runway Canada, the Canadian adaptation of the fashion competition series, premieres Friday, Nov. 14, with new episodes streaming Fridays until the finale Jan. 16. As previously announced, the series will be hosted by Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, who also joins the judging panel alongside fashion media icon Jeanne Beker, and designer Spencer Badu. Providing designer mentorship is Vice Chair of the Council of the Fashion Designers of America, Aurora James. The series was filmed earlier this year at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and produced in collaboration with Fashion at The Creative School.
Crave has announced casting details for its new original series Slo Pitch, produced by Shaftesbury in association with Boss & Co, and Elliot Page’s Pageboy Productions. The 10-episode, half-hour mockumentary, which is in production through October, is centred around a queer, underdog, slo pitch softball team and their dedicated and determined coach (Jess Salgueiro). The series also stars Karen Knox, Gwenlyn Cumyn, Chelsea Muirhead, Emma Hunter, Lane Webber, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Amanda Cordner, and Emily Hampshire. The series marks Bell Media’s first project with Pageboy a co-development deal announced earlier this year. It will be available to Crave audiences in both English and French.
Acting Good returns for its fourth season Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Oct. 20 with a special two-episode premiere on CTV Comedy Channel, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, streaming next day on Crave. Filmed on location in Winnipeg and Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, guest stars for Season 4 include Brent Butt (Corner Gas), Vance Banzo (Tallboyz), William Belleau (Killers of the Flower Moon), Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Night Raiders, Three Pines), Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon), and Darla Contois (Little Bird), along with returning guest stars Ashley Callingbull (Blackstone) and Joel D. Montgrand (True Detective).
Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas returns to W Network and STACKTV, beginning Friday, Oct. 17. The 10-week annual programming event will feature 28 movie premieres and six series premieres, including new competition series Baked With Love: Holiday, debuting Monday, Oct. 27 featuring 10 pairs of family bakers competing for a chance to win $50,000 and have one of their bakes featured in an upcoming Hallmark movie.
Go Button Media is going into production on two new factual series: War Trains (8 x 60) and Ancient Disasters (10 x 60). Both have been recently greenlit by Cineflix Rights and Canadian broadcaster Super Channel, and form part of a 60-hour slate deal announced last year. Cineflix Rights has also recently sold two series previously greenlit under the partnership. Mysteries of Ancient Medicine (10 x 60) has been pre-sold to National Geographic International for its viewers worldwide, in addition to Oracles and Prophets (10 x 60).
The National Film Board (NFB) has announced the launch of TopDocs, a new FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channel, showcasing curated documentary content from its catalogue of over 6,000 titles. The NFB Distribution team will present TopDocs at MIPCOM, Oct. 13–16, with the channel to be available on the Zone-ify app this fall, before expanding to other smart TVs and devices. NFB says the channel will be anchored by a curated library of at least 150 hours, with 20 hours of new content added monthly. It will launch in English first, followed by a French-language version. Read more here.
Stingray has partnered with TELUS to launch seven new, free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels on TELUS TV+ and Stream+. The new FAST channels added to TELUS’ suite of more than 50 free streaming channels include Qello Concerts by Stingray, Stingray DJAZZ, ZenLIFE by Stingray, Stingray Holidayscapes, Movie Music by Stingray, Stingray CozyCafe, and Stingray Stargaze.
MTM’s Big Options on the Big Screen: How Connected TV Sets Took Over Canadians looks at the connected TV landscape, finding that over four in five English-speaking households own one, with connected TV sets now found in the majority of homes. MTM found ownership is higher among Indigenous peoples, those aged 35–49, and those living in more affluent households. MTM findings indicate Samsung dominates the connected TV market with just over one in three connected TV owners having a Samsung TV, followed by LG and Sony.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Cogeco is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to force the CRTC to make a decision on a joint complaint it made with Bell Media late last year alleging a Quebecor internet radio station is broadcasting on a commercial FM station illegally. Their complaint revolves around a content distribution agreement Leclerc Communications struck with Quebecor Media’s NumériQ to broadcast programming from its QUB talk radio and public affairs digital channel on 99.5 FM (CJPX-FM) Montreal. Bell and Cogeco allege the deal effectively changes control of the station, which requires CRTC approval and violates the commission’s policy on cross-media ownership. It’s now been nearly a year since that Part 1 complaint was filed with no decision. Read more in our sister publication, CARTT.ca (paywalled).
Bell has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), extending through the 2032 Olympic Games. Bell remains the Official Telecommunications Partner of Team Canada for the 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032 Olympic Games. As part of the renewed partnership, Bell is launching Bell Starting Line, a new Bell for Better initiative which will introduce children, ages 8-14, to a range of Olympic sports, focusing on underrepresented and newcomer communities.
Bell, together with AST SpaceMobile, has announced the successful completion of a space-based direct-to-cell 4G voice over LTE (VoLTE) call, video call, broadband data connectivity and video streaming using the Bell Fibe TV app to a standard, unmodified smartphone over a Canadian wireless network. The demonstration, conducted in New Brunswick over the summer, also included successful SMS messaging and emergency alerts using Bell’s low-band spectrum. Bell says the achievement lays the groundwork for its planned deployment of low Earth orbit direct-to-cell service in 2026.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
LISTEN: WABE, the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers, wrapped up the organization’s 75th anniversary convention on Oct. 1, setting all-time attendance records. In a time when many media and entertainment-related industry associations are struggling for membership and co-locating their events, WABE has defied the odds, expanding its reach to build a community of broadcast technicians spanning radio, TV, film, content creation, manufacturing & more. We caught up with outgoing President Tessa Potter and Vice-President Cameron Thomson at the close of WABE’s milestone conference, to talk about bridging the past and building the future.
