The Weekly Briefing

REVOLVING DOOR:

Slawko Klymkiw, CEO of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), will retire in spring 2021 after 15 years at the organization’s helm. Klymkiw, who was formerly the Executive Director of Network Programming at CBC, is credited with helping bolster the CFC’s national and international profile during his tenure. CFC’s Board of Directors says it will begin the process of identifying and selecting a new CEO with more information about the succession process to be shared in early 2021.

John Vavaroutsos, who had been Numeris’ VP of Cross Platform & Communications for the last two years, has left the organization. Effective immediately, Catherine Malo, SVP, Cross Media, Business Development & Communication will lead the Numeris Member Services team in an expanded role. Malo was previously responsible for Digital and Member Services in Quebec while supporting cross media strategy and leading cross media metrics discussions with the industry. Anita Boyle Evans is promoted to VP, Member Services responsible for strategically managing Numeris’ overall membership needs and relationships. Boyle Evans had held the title of General Manager, Television since 2012. Read more here.

Vista Radio has made some leadership changes. Scott Armstrong will be serving in the newly-created role of Direction of Operations for Alberta/NWT. With the retirement of Peter Deys, General Manager, CJOC/2DayFM Lethbridge, he’ll also take on those duties. Peter Hobbs, Regional Manager Ontario Mid-North, adds the Ontario North group to his portfolio.

Shushma Datt, the CEO of I.T. Productions and a trailblazer for Indo-Canadian women in broadcasting, is entering semi-retirement and stepping away from some of her duties after a four-decade career. Datt worked at The Times of India and the BBC before moving to Canada in 1972. Facing significant racism from mainstream outlets, by 1984 she had started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. The first Indo-Canadian woman to be granted a CRTC licence, in 2005 she launched Sp!ce Radio (CJRJ-AM) Burnaby. Over the years, Datt has also produced and hosted television shows for Shaw and OMNI, including “Women In Focus.”

Renowned radio personality Shushma Datt — known simply as Shushma to her fans — is credited with being the first Canadian of South Asian descent in Canada’s broadcast industry. https://t.co/U8cqW8RmQj

— Global BC (@GlobalBC) October 13, 2020

Mitchell Torres is joining Torres Media as its new Manager of Business Development. Torres, who holds a Masters of Science degree in Marketing and Consumer Behaviour from the University of Guelph, joins the family business he grew up in as a former promotions coordinator for Rebel 101.7 (CIDG-FM). Torres previously worked as the Marketing and Events Coordinator at Athletics Canada and was Executive Director of BeyondUs Sport and Development. He’ll report to Executive Vice President Tim Wieczorek. 

Bruce Siddall has retired from the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group in Prince George after 40 years. Siddall had been in sales and marketing with the company since Oct. 1980 when he left Ontario following his graduation from the Radio and Television Arts program at Niagara College. Watch CKPG-TV’s tribute to Siddall, here.

Brian Hamilton, General Sales Manager for KX94.7 (CHKX-FM) and 92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM) in Hamilton/Burlington, has left Durham Radio. Hamilton had been in the GSM position for the last year, but with the company since 2011 as an account executive and retail sales manager.

Jesse Johnston, CBC Vancouver’s ‘South of the Fraser’ reporter, is moving on to a communications role. Johnston had been with CBC for almost seven years, joining the public broadcaster in 2014 from News 1130 (CKWX-AM). He’s also worked with Jim Pattison Broadcast Group’s stations in Red Deer and as a producer with CKNW Vancouver.

Scott Mitchell is the new morning show host at New Country 98.1 (CFCW-FM) Camrose, AB. Mitchell arrives from middays on Stingray sister station boom 103.5 (CILB-FM) Lac La Biche where he also acted as network music director for the Alberta HOT branded stations.

Lindsay Peters has been named as the new WIFT-V (Women in Film and Television Vancouver) Program Director for the From Our Dark Side program. Peters will help transition the program to an Advanced Development model, which is now seeking completed feature length screenplays with a creative team in place and will assist teams in connecting with potential financing partners and markets. Lindsay was previously the Executive Director of Canadian genre industry hub Frontières.

9 Story Media Group has announced four new additions to its global executive team. Joss Duffield joins the Distribution team as VP, Distribution Europe, based in London. Duffield will be responsible for 9 Story Distribution International’s business across Western Europe. She was formerly Head of International Sales at eOne and most recently Director of Content – Northern Europe at Turner. Gráinne McNamara steps into the new role of VP Live Action, Development & Production, leading the company’s development efforts for original TV series in live action kids and family. McNamara joins from King Bert Productions where she produced Malory Towers for CBBC and Family Channel Canada. Jennifer Bol will head the global 9 Story legal team as SVP, Legal & Business Affairs. Bol was most recently with Blue Ant Media where she served as Senior Legal Counsel and previously worked at 9 Story as Director of Legal & Business Affairs. Boris Beaubien has signed on to 9 Story’s Toronto team as VP, Technology. He was most recently with Sesame Workshop helping refresh Sesame Street’s 50th season and developing tech for their slate of series for AppleTV.

Vanessa Craft, Elle Canada’s former editor-in-chief, has been hired as TikTok Canada’s Director of Content Partnerships. Craft said in a Twitter post that she’ll be guiding creatives “to tell the stories that matter and help shine a light on Canadian talent on the huge platform that is #TikTok.” The video sharing platform has also launched its first Canadian ad campaign as its future in the U.S. remains unclear.

RADIO & PODCAST:

Neeti P. Ray, who owns CINA-FM Windsor and CINA 1650 AM Mississauga, among other multicultural stations, is the successful bidder for Toronto’s G98.7 (CKFG-FM), pending CRTC approval. Until that happens, Intercity Broadcasting Network (IBN) will continue to manage and operate the station, under the supervision of the receiver. In the meantime, Ray has put up $250,000 in interim financing. As outlined in a court filing by A. Farber & Partners, the winning bid includes a written commitment to continue to operate the station “in a manner consistent with the mandate to serve the Caribbean and African communities of Toronto with its spoken word and music format.” According to the documents, A. Farber & Partners received and reviewed 14 non-binding letters of intent, 11 of which were invited to submit binding offers on the station. Despite a petition to keep the station Black-owned and numerous letters of support, the court filing reveals that no bids from Black-owned groups were submitted. Read more here.

The CRTC has approved a one-year extension for Manitoba-based CJ Radio to launch its low-power station in Esterhazy, SK. In his application, General Manager Bill Gade said the installation process has been greatly affected by COVID-19 related delays. The commission has set a new launch deadline of Nov. 21, 2021.

Torres Media Group says it’s still waiting on ISED approval to launch K Country 93.7 FM, its new station in Georgina, ON. President and CEO Ed Torres tells Broadcast Dialogue that he’s hopeful the station, which was originally set to go to air over the Labour Day weekend, will be able to launch the week of Oct. 26. He says staff and equipment are ready to go as soon as the regional inspector signs off. “It’s a very frustrating situation, considering all of the delays and added expense of building a new station during this pandemic,” said Torres, in an email. “So we are ready to go when ISED decides to send an inspector.”

Blake Carter and Peter Kash are back in mornings on Toronto’s Flow 93.5 (CFXJ-FM) as of Wednesday. The station has said goodbye to syndicated New York City-based morning show The Breakfast Club, which started its run on Flow in mid-May after its initial March launch date was delayed due to COVID-19. Steve Parsons, General Manager, Toronto, and National Director of Programming for Stingray, told Broadcast Dialogue that on day one of the local duo’s return to mornings, the station saw a 33% increase in streams. Parsons says the station’s timing around The Breakfast Club was “thwarted by a perfect storm” starting with the pandemic and most recently the American election. “It was pretty self-evident that the show was speaking to a different country’s priorities,” acknowledged Parsons. Read more here.

Stingray has launched an initiative to support emerging Canadian talent on 19 of its country radio stations which have introduced “The Trending Track” into rotation. Every other month the Stingray country team will select a track by an emerging artist to feature. The chosen song will receive two months of support and a minimum of 25 spins per week on the participating stations. The Trending Track artist will also have the opportunity to do an interview with Paul McGuire for his National Midday and Countdown Shows and receive additional support on station social media and websites. Emerging Canadian artists, who qualify under the CRTC MAPL criteria, and those who have not had a song chart or haven’t charted on the Canadian Top 50 in the last 18 months, qualify. 

Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax wrapped up its annual Thanksgiv’er for Feed Nova Scotia on the weekend realizing its most successful event to date raising over $84,000. Funds raised will assist more than 10,000 Nova Scotia families with food security concerns. Q104 along with its partners, The Cherubini Group, Sobeys, Pete’s Frootique & Fine Foods and O’Regan’s Auto Group, combined forces for three days over the Thanksgiving weekend broadcast.

CISN Country 103.9 and Global Edmonton raised $340,000 in support of Hope MIssion during the CISN in the Morning team’s 28-hour broadcast from The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Starting Oct. 7 at one end zone of the football field, the live broadcast moved one yard for every thousand dollars donated. Hosts Chris, Jack & Matt, continued to move up the field, travelling well beyond their goal of 110 yards and reaching the other end zone three times by 9 a.m. on Oct. 8. 

The Change Happens Radiothon, heard on Golden West Broadcasting’s Classic 107 (CKCL-FM) Winnipeg, raised $260,000 in support of Siloam Mission over the first time, three-day event. Just as Classic 107 staff were preparing to head home on Oct. 6, the already impressive total was buoyed by a last minute, single donation from an anonymous family of $130,000.

Quinte Broadcasting and Starboard Communications collaborated on the first annual Kids Can’t Wait Radiothon Oct. 7, raising over $72,000. The radiothon supports the work of The Children’s Foundation, which provides programs and services for kids in Hastings, Prince Edward, and Northumberland counties.

AMI (Accessible Media Inc.) has announced the launch of six new original podcasts: The Blind Reality (Oct. 13), is hosted by community reporter Becki Zerr, who shares her unique experience living with monocular vision, no vision at all, and various degrees of partial sight.  Accessing Art with Amy (Oct. 15), hosted by Amy Amantea, is a bi-weekly podcast that looks at a variety of art forms through the lens of disability. A Yogi’s Guide to Health and Wellness (Oct. 20) features host Kevin Naidoo and other wellness experts discussing nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Low Vision Moments (Oct. 29) with Jennie Bovard, explores the funny, potentially embarrassing experiences that happen in everyday life when you are blind or partially sighted. Tales from the Halifax School for the Blind (Nov. 3), inspired by the book Mrs. Beaton’s Question by Robert Mercer, shares the experiences of alumni hosted by musician Terry Kelly. Into You (Nov. 5), is a look at dating and relationships hosted by Fern Lulham. These new podcasts join AMI-audio’s NOW with Dave Brown, Kelly and Company, The Pulse and Double Tap Canada.

The Halifax Examiner is producing new entertainment podcast, The Tideline with Tara Thorne, premiering Oct.15, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. Up until her release from CBC Halifax in August, Thorne was a longtime contributor to Information Morning and a former arts columnist for The Coast. She’s also currently in pre-production on her first feature film, Compulsus, which is part of the 2020-21 Telefilm Talent to Watch program. 

Edison Research and NPR have released their second annual Spoken Word Audio Report looking at the spoken word audio listening habits of Americans. It shows that the ability to multitask while listening, a desire for personal growth, and the pandemic, among other motivators, have boosted spoken word audio consumption by eight per cent over the last year. Among the study’s insights are a glimpse into listeners’ perception of spoken word audio, with 65% agreeing it’s a productive use of time. The study also explores reasons behind the decline in music’s share of audio listening which has dropped eight per cent since 2014 when music accounted for 80% of all time spent with audio. Spoken word has been chipping away at that lead and now accounts for 26% of all audio listening. AM/FM Radio (talk, news, sportstalk, play-by-play) has fallen from 79% of all spoken word listening in 2014 to 55% in 2020 (both over-the-air and streams). Podcasts have grown to 19% of that listening, up from eight per cent in 2014. Read more here.

The Podcast Academy has announced The Ambies, annual awards celebrating excellence in podcasting. The Ambies cover 24 categories, encompassing Show Recognition Awards, presented to the creator or producer of the respective podcasts (an individual, or a company), and Talent Recognition Awards presented to individuals or teams, to recognize excellence. Production companies, individual producers/creators, and distributors of a podcast series which published at least three episodes from Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020 are eligible for consideration. Nominations are being accepted from Oct. 19 – Dec. 15 with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in March. 

LISTEN: Chris Cruise, who recently joined the syndicated Classic Hits “Throwback Nation Radio” franchise, is Matt Cundill’s guest on the latest Sound Off Podcast. Cruise talks about his radio journey, including stops at 98.7 AMP Radio (WDZH-FM) Detroit, 103.5 Kiss FM (KSAS-FM) Boise, and KMPS-FM Seattle. 

TV & FILM:

The Documentary Organization of Canada has released online guide, Documentary Production in the Era of COVID-19: Best Practices by and for Documentary Filmmakers. Created in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), CBC, and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), with input from professional documentary makers, the guide aims to help filmmakers navigate new ways of working safely in the context of COVID-19. The guide is based on a survey of 327 directors, producers, and crew, and indepth interviews with more than 50 filmmakers and other experts. 

Global Montreal has showcased the talents of videojournalist Sylvain Trudeau, who has used his 33 years on the job and some ingenuity to engineer a number of contraptions to help journalists safely social distance on the beat. They include a multiple mic stand for press conferences to avoid reporter crowding, a stand to hold cellphones and a bluetooth speaker phone, among other inventions. 

Over the course of the pandemic, Sylvain Trudeau has engineered a myriad of contraptions in order to help keep media crews and others safe from COVID-19.https://t.co/AYLcVPOZiE

— Global Montreal (@Global_Montreal) October 10, 2020

MELS has launched a new virtual stage with an LED wall. Built in collaboration with Solotech and powered by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine technology, the Montreal studio says the new stage allows for smaller crews to better facilitate physical distancing. The integrated production platform allows all services – from visual effects to cameras, lighting and post-production – to link by fibre optics to the sets.

HireBIPOC.com, the new industry-wide initiative aimed at changing hiring practices to ensure a more inclusive workforce, has surpassed 2,300 members in its first week of operation. The online roster, which launched Oct. 5, is a collaboration between 20+ Canadian media organizations, including Bell Media, CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment, and Rogers Sports & Media. BIPOC TV & Film founder Nathalie Younglai said the overwhelming response is inspiring. “We are inspired and heartened by the feedback and response we have received from the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour creative community, the industry, and the public. The numbers are a testament to how much change is needed. The industry is ready to engage in a process of shifting status quo and we are honoured to be a part of that change with the support our partners,” said Younglai in a release.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation and Hill Strategies Research have launched a national survey on workplace sexual harassment in the Canadian performing arts, film, and television industry. The results of the Rosa Survey will be used to advocate for change. The deadline to participate is Oct. 23.

Blue Ant International has sealed a distribution deal with HBO Max that will see the streamer acquire live action children’s programming from the global distributor’s Kids & Family offering. The deal grants HBO Max exclusive rights for both seasons of the award-winning, tween action-adventure series Detention Adventure. The platform has also picked up MAKE IT BIG, make it small, an unscripted series that celebrates science and creativity with two curious kid hosts. 

Super Channel airs its annual Heart & Home Christmas holiday programming event, starting Nov. 21. Nineteen holiday movies new to Super Channel Heart & Home are set to air, including 14 titles making their Canadian premieres. Concluding on Jan. 3, the holiday programming event features the Canadian broadcast premiere of Canadian-made feature, Christmas 9 to 5, starring Tiya Sicar, Joe Dinicol, Sheila McCarthy and George Wendt. A second Canadian made title, Christmas Crush, will make its Canadian debut Nov. 28. A new Canadian broadcast premiere follows every Saturday & Sunday night in December leading into Christmas week.

W Network starts airing Hallmark Channel’s 2020 Countdown to Christmas with a special early premiere on Saturday, Oct. 31. Running through Jan. 21, the event will feature original premieres every Saturday and Sunday with 39 brand-new titles. Viewers can also stream all 39 premieres, live and on demand, via STACKTV.

LISTEN: The News Forum quietly launched last month – a new right-of-centre Canadian news specialty channel that counts former Conservative Health Min. Tony Clement, among its hosts. On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we talk to The News Forum CEO Tore Stautland on his attempt to both seek balance in a polarized news climate and engage a “broad centre” of Canadians without adding to the noise.

SIGN OFFS:

Rob Zittlau, on Oct. 11, in a crash north of Edmonton, with his wife Grace. Following his graduation from the NAIT Radio & Television program in 1980, Zittlau started his broadcasting career with Edmonton’s QCTV in master control. He did a short stint as a lighting assistant for SCTV, which was filmed at the time at the ITV studios (now Global Edmonton), before signing on with CFRN in 1984. Zittlau started out as a part-time videotape editor in news, and eventually moved into a similar role for CTV National News. He left the station in 1997 to start ICU Productions. The company worked with many local sports teams, including the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas, Canada West, Football Alberta, and the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association, among many others. Read more here.

John Valenteyn, 73, on Oct. 4, of complications from Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Hailing from Port Colborne, ON, Valenteyn was on an engineering track at Queen’s University in Kingston when he got turned on to radio at the local campus station and moved over to the Ryerson Radio and Television Arts program. He started a weekly blues program on CJRT-FM (now JAZZFM) in 1974. “The Blues Hour” went on to run for 20 years. That was followed with “John Valenteyn’s Blues” on University of Toronto campus and community station CIUT-FM, which most recently was heard Friday afternoons. Valenteyn was also a co-founder of the Toronto Blues Society, which he formed in 1985 with Derek Andrews and David Barnard, to ensure blues had a continued presence in Toronto. He was a contributing editor to the organization’s monthly publication Maple Blues and continued to serve as a member of the Blues Society’s board of directors, as well as the Maple Blues Awards Steering Committee. Amassing thousands of blues recordings and an avid historian, Valenteyn also worked at one time on the Blues, Jazz & Classical floors of HMV and Sam the Record Man.

Arnold DeRoy, 57, on Sept. 29, 2020 after a brief battle with cancer. DeRoy graduated from St. Clair College in Windsor as an Electronics Technician in 1982. He worked in a number of IT roles with the Windsor Public School Board and Ford Motor Company, before joining Bell Media in Sept. 2009 where he oversaw the day-to-day engineering needs of the CTV Windsor studio and transmitter sites. DeRoy was a dedicated professional that loved what he did and will be sorely missed by the Bell Media team.

REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:

Pelmorex has confirmed it’s laid off 14 staff across the organization. The parent company of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia says changes to the business have resulted in the elimination of 14 roles across various business units. In an email to Broadcast Dialogue, the company said “Decisions to eliminate roles are always difficult and are not taken lightly. Last week’s announcement does not change our TWN/MM team’s purpose to tell the most compelling weather stories. Pelmorex is and continues to be focused on delivering engaging, multi-platform weather news and information to consumers and businesses across Canada.”

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has issued a last call for applications for the CAB Emergency Relief Fund. CAB will be accepting first round applications for the federal $22.5 million independent private broadcaster emergency relief fund until Friday, Oct. 30. Independent private radio, local TV or discretionary TV services that provide news and information programming, and have not yet applied, are encouraged to visit the CAB’s Guidelines and Attestation for details. Since the launch of the fund on Sept. 8, the CAB, in its capacity as administrator, has distributed funding to over 50 independent broadcast groups. A second round of funding is expected to begin in November.

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is condemning an Oct. 7 incident in which Winnipeg Police information officer Rob Carver seized a phone from a bystander at the scene of a police-involved shooting. Winnipeg Free Press reporter Ryan Thorpe was in the process of procuring a video from the bystander when Carver took the phone to prevent the video from being made public. Thorpe says he then went about his job of knocking on doors in the vicinity of the shooting to try and interview possible witnesses. Another officer tried to prevent Thorpe from doing this and when Thorpe ignored officers, they expanded the police-cordoned area to prevent him from further door knocking in the immediate area. CAJ says this is not the first complaint of interference it’s received in reference to the Winnipeg Police Service, including but not limited to an incident in 2015 where WPS confiscated a camera and footage belonging to APTN.

BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:

The IP Showcase, presented by the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), will participate in the upcoming 2020 NAB Show New York digital experience, Oct. 19-29, showcasing IP-based solutions from member-vendors and educational presentations and initiatives designed to help the industry move toward all-IP infrastructure for media production. The IP Showcase will host a live channel on the first day of the show to provide attendees with an overview of current progress toward standards-based interoperability in the IP realm. NAB Show New York will feature training and technical sessions as well as the 71st Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards presentation, and virtual exhibits and demos hosted by nearly 200 companies.

SMPTE® has unveiled the program for SMPTE 2020: “Game On”, an interactive and immersive remote technical conference experience, Nov. 10-12. Throughout the three-day conference experience, attendees can join live technical presentations, hands-on training, keynote presentations, partner programming, product and tech demos, moderated roundtable discussions, and virtual panels, as well as on-demand content. This year’s event will also feature one full day focused on the convergence of esports/gaming and media technology and the unique requirements of the thriving esports industry.