REVOLVING DOOR:
Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan have been named the incoming hosts of CBC’s The Nature of Things, following David Suzuki’s announcement last month he’ll be retiring next spring. Announced during Wednesday’s CBC Live at Massey Hall industry event, the new hosting duo will take over TV’s longest-running science program during the 2023-24 season. Cullis-Suzuki, David Suzuki’s youngest daughter, is a marine biologist and environmentalist, while Morgan is a molecular scientist and science communicator. Both have guest-hosted past episodes of The Nature of Things. They’ll each host an episode during Suzuki’s final season, launching Jan. 6, before debuting as co-hosts for Season 63. Read more here.
Suzanne Guèvremont began a five-year term on Monday, Nov. 28 as the new Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board (NFB). She succeeds Claude Joli-Coeur, who led NFB for nearly nine years. Guèvremont has been the Director of Montréal’s École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design (NADUQAC) since 1999. She was also the founding executive director of SYNTHÈSE Pôle Image Québec, an initiative dedicated to advancing digital creative expertise and research, and serves as Chair of the Board for Collège Notre-Dame. Read more here.
Adi Braun has joined Jean Stilwell as co-host of Classical Mornings on The New Classical FM (96.3 FM in the GTA, 103.1 FM Eastern Ontario, 102.9 FM Southern Georgian Bay), heard weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET. The daughter of celebrated Canadian baritone Victor Braun, her professional background includes cabaret, opera and classical music. She also teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a German diction coach for the Canadian Opera Company.
Rod Kurtz, who retired from CBC Edmonton this past September, is joining Blackgold Broadcasting’s The One stations – CJLD-FM Leduc, CKSS-FM Stony Plain and CKPA-FM Ponoka – as an afternoon news anchor/reporter. Kurtz, who most recently was filling in as host of CBC Edmonton afternoon drive show Radio Active, will be the primary news voice on 89.7 FM Ponoka. His first day is Dec. 5.
Brody Hamilton is the new Executive Producer of The John Gormley Show on Rawlco Radio’s CKOM Saskatoon and CJME Regina. Hamilton, who’d been most recently working with Saskatoon creative agency lmno., previously spent eight years with SiriusXM Canada as a podcast and technical producer.
Al Roos is retiring from the Engineering Department at Corus Kingston on Dec. 12 after 39 years. Roos started working in broadcast in 1972 for McCurdy Ltd., building and installing stereo production consoles across North America, including NBC, ABC, CBS and CBC affiliates. In 1980, he did a successful installation at CKWS-FM and CFMK-FM where he was offered a job and never left. His last project at Corus Kingston was rebuilding the two FM radio stations to enable the transition to all Wheatstone digital audio over IP during the pandemic. Roos was recognized with the 2022 Canadian Radio Award for Best Engineer (Medium Market).
Amber Fryday has been named the new Atlantic director of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists (CABJ). Fryday, who has African Nova Scotian roots and is a video journalist with Global Halifax, takes over from University of King’s College Assistant Professor Brian Daly, who had held the role the last four years.
The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) has welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors. They include Melissa McAvoy, Chief Financial Officer at Pacific Tubulars, Shane O’Neill, Government Relations Consultant with Earnscliffe, and Sandra Hines, Finance Director at SeedChange.
WildBrain has expanded its content distribution team in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, appointing Jason Soh as Global Sales & Channels Director, APAC, and Max Tang as Senior Manager, Content Partnerships, China. Based in Singapore, Soh will spearhead distribution sales outside of Greater China, reporting to Caroline Tyre, VP Global Sales & Rights Strategy, while Tang, based in Shanghai, will be responsible for expanding WildBrain’s distribution business within Greater China, reporting to Jianbo Wei, Managing Director, China. Prior to WildBrain, Soh was with Warner Bros. Discovery where he held a pivotal role driving revenue for subscription video and pay-TV, while Tang was formerly with IPTV and OTT company BesTV and smart TV company Whaley.
Jean Benoît has joined Montreal distributor, Axia Films, as Director of Operations for Canada. Benoît was previously an executive with NBCUniversal for 22 years, up until 2021, ending his tenure as Vice President, Sales – Canada.
Josh Yamuder has been named the new Director of Partnerships, Programmatic Marketplace at Triton Digital. Yamuder is the former Programmatic Manager at Targetspot and, before that, Programmatic Specialist at Xaxis.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Corus Entertainment says a third-party investigation into former Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto morning show Derringer in the Morning has concluded, but it will not publicly share its findings or recommendations. The investigation into the show’s working environment, conducted by Turnpenney Milne LLP, was sparked by the filing of a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission by former Derringer in the Morning co-host Jennifer Valentyne, alleging gender discrimination. The show was subsequently placed on hiatus in late May pending the outcome of the external review. Following Valentyne coming forward, other former Q107 staffers including Jacqui Delaney, Andrea Rooz, and Raina Douris took to social media to relate their own experiences, however it’s unclear who and how many current and former staff took part in the process. Both Valentyne and Delaney told the Toronto Sun in June that they would not be participating due to the investigation’s confidentiality requirement and parameters, which purportedly was limited to current working conditions at the station. John Derringer and Q107 officially parted ways in August. Read more here.
radioCount’s fall data release indicates tuning is up with younger demos, year-over-year. The release covers 22 secondary markets including Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, Sydney, Belleville, Chatham, Cornwall, Guelph, North Bay, Owen Sound, Pembroke, Peterborough, Sarnia, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Wingham, Brandon, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Chilliwack, Kamloops and Prince George. Overall, radioCount found those 12+ in the measured markets listened to radio for an average of 17.6 hours of radio per week, down just slightly from average weekly tuning of 17.9 hours in fall 2021. Time spent listening to radio was up with adults 18-49 and 25-54. Year-over-year, tuning by those demos increased by 6.7% and 5.5%, respectively. By genre, Pop music stations – Adult Contemporary, Hot AC and CHR – also recorded tuning increases, compared to fall 2021. Read more here.
Luminate says music audio streams in the U.S. crossed the one trillion mark this past Saturday, the first time that the streaming milestone has been reached in a single year. Luminate says U.S. music listeners have spent roughly 960,000 years streaming music in 2022 with audio streaming up nearly 25% globally during the first half of the year. Among the year’s streaming highlights, Taylor Swift’s Midnights accounted for one out of 42 streams in the U.S. during its release week, Oct. 21 – 27, with streams for Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” seeing a surge of +20,995% in the U.S. during the week of May 27 as Season 4 of Netflix’s Stranger Things dropped. Read more here.
Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights have released their Fall 2022 Podcast Download report, which highlights trends from prior studies as well as an indepth look at the habits of 603 weekly podcast listeners conducted by MARU/Matchbox in October. Among the study’s takeaways are that for the first time, podcast ads are being used by a majority of marketers. It also found nearly a third of the podcast audience prefers to “actively watch” a podcast with a video component. Podcast listeners who prefer having a video option lean male and are more likely to be heavy podcast consumers. The report found that audio and video podcast preferences are driving choice of platform with Apple Podcasts the most used platform among listeners who prefer an audio-only platform, while YouTube is most-used among those who prefer some form of a video podcast experience.
CBC Radio’s winter slate will include a reimagined Q with Tom Power and several new CBC Podcasts as unveiled Wednesday at the CBC Live at Massey Hall industry event in Toronto. Starting Jan. 30, CBC Radio’s Q will feature an hour of longform interviews, followed by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, a new, half-hour arts and pop culture conversation. The complimentary show promises to tap into the national arts and culture conversation, trends and their impact with guest columnists, superfans, and reviewers, among others. Q, which previously occupied a full 90 minutes on the public broadcaster’s morning schedule, will transition to a shorter format, featuring a main interview and a secondary interview with emerging talent. The show will be available next day in podcast form. New original CBC Podcasts debuting this winter include Let’s Make A Rom-Com from the team behind Let’s Make a Sci-Fi and The No-Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman, which takes listeners back to the 2017 murders of the billionaire Toronto couple. Read more here.
Corus Radio’s talk network is set to introduce two new national shows this weekend, while 640 (CFIQ-AM) Toronto will also debut two additional local shows. Premiering across the network is the one-hour For What It’s Worth with Rubina Ahmed-Haq, featuring personal finance and workplace stories ranging from interest rate numbers to how mortgage payments have changed and what to do if you win the lottery. At Your Best with Yonah Budd premieres this Saturday night in the 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET time slot, nationally. A performance coach and therapist, Budd highlights inspiring stories of those overcoming mental and physical obstacles to become their best selves. 640 will introduce Toronto This Weekend with Maggie John and Tasting Together with André Proulx and Miroki Tong. Read more here.
Patrick Monaghan, host of The Buckslide Blues Cruise on Canoe FM (CKHA-FM) Haliburton, ON, has been named Blues Booster of the Year by the board of directors of the Toronto Blues Society. In addition to his radio programming, Monaghan is the President of the newly-formed Highlands Buckslide Blues Society and has volunteered as Artistic Director for the Monarchs & Music Blues Festival in Haliburton. He’s also served as Assistant Artistic Director for the Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival, and as a talent buyer for McKeck’s Tavern in Haliburton and Mulligan’s in Minden. Monaghan will receive the Blues Booster award at the 26th annual Maple Blues Awards gala on Jan. 30 at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto is establishing The Mary & Alistair Stewart Fund for Artistic Advancement in Jazz, thanks to a $75,000 gift from their son, Ian Stewart. Both arts educators, Alistair and Mary met at Ryerson University, where Alistair graduated with a degree in radio and Mary received her degree in costume design. Alistair’s history with JAZZ.FM91 dates back to the station’s days as CJRT-FM at Ryerson. JAZZ.FM91 says the gift will have an enormous impact on its education and youth outreach programs, Jazzology and JAZZ.FM91’s Youth Big Band, which are offered at no charge to participants. The gift will also allow JAZZ.FM91 to further assist early career artists in their development.
CKNW Vancouver’s annual Pledge Day 2022 on Tuesday raised a record-breaking $2,752,168 for the CKNW Kids’ Fund, in support of children with special needs. The station charity has been running since 1944 when it was initially founded to raise money for gifts for New Westminster, BC orphanage, the Loyal Protestant Home. Monika Coen, Regional Senior Manager of Marketing and Promotion for Global BC and Global Okanagan, was this year’s recipient of the Gina Steeves Award which recognizes a Corus employee who goes above and beyond in supporting the station charity.
Global BC & Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) Vancouver will be back at the 35th annual Pan Pacific Christmas Wish Breakfast on Dec. 14 from 6 – 9 a.m. After a two-year hiatus, the in-person event is back with the team from Global News Morning and Rock 101’s Willy in the Morning broadcasting LIVE on location. Viewers and listeners are asked to come down and donate new and unwrapped toys in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau and enjoy a complimentary breakfast from the Pan Pacific.
Global Calgary and 770 CHQR are getting into the holiday spirit with two important fundraising initiatives, Pledge Day on Dec. 2 and Morning of Giving taking place Dec. 7. Now in its 30th year, 770 CHQR dedicates the first Friday in December to children in Calgary and local charities that are creating positive change in the community. The 12-hour broadcast, in support of the Calgary Children’s Foundation and in partnership with The Westin Calgary, will broadcast from the hotel from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. After a two-year hiatus, Global Calgary also welcomes its fifth Morning of Giving on Dec. 7 in support of The Magic of Christmas. From 6 a.m. – 9 a.m., viewers can see Global News Traffic Reporter Leslie Horton at the donation drive-thru at Global Calgary and drop off a new, unwrapped gift for any age or a gift card to help Calgary families in need.
LISTEN: David Phillips, who is about to step away as NLogic’s President and COO, is on the Sound Off Podcast discussing what radio stations can do to enhance their monetization opportunities and business models of the future. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
SIGN OFFS:
Elmer “Billy Bob” Phillips, 78, on Nov. 24. Phillips was the maintenance man at the iconic Queen Square Building in Dartmouth, NS, the home of Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax at its launch in 1983. Morning show host Brother Jake Edwards decided to put him on-air propelling “Billy Bob” to become part of the “Morning Zoo,” alongside Edwards and Hal Harbour (Doug Barron). He went on to co-host the show into the late ‘80s with Bob Powers. Following his foray into radio, Phillips continued to head up maintenance at Queen Square. Billy Bob last joined BJ & The Q Morning Crew on-air in December 2019.
David Hammond, 77, on Nov. 23. Originally from Montreal, Hammond started his career in sales and marketing working for Geoff Stirling at CHOM-FM. He ultimately rose to the position of sales manager there before moving into radio syndication. An opportunity to help build the Blue Jays Baseball Radio Network motivated him to move to Toronto, where he remained for 25 years. With a longterm goal to produce and syndicate radio programs, Hammond went on to found TranSound, launching two long-format music shows including the popular, The Pringle Program. He went on to accept a position with the Air Miles loyalty program as part of the strategic development team that assisted with its launch. He left Toronto and moved to New Brunswick in the early 2000s to help start up marketing company, Vaka Strategic, before relocating to the West Coast to work as an international yacht broker. He later returned to Toronto and explored his fascination with the e-bike market at Gears Bike Shops.
Joan Anderson, 73, on Nov 9, with MAiD. Born in Nokomis, SK, Anderson was a competitive curler prior to starting her journalism career. Part of the team that won the 1970 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship (later inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame), Anderson began working as a reporter and producer at CBC Vancouver. She eventually moved into hosting, going on to positions as a senior producer for The National in Toronto and Washington, DC Bureau Chief. She returned to CBC Vancouver in 1999 as Director of Radio and Director of Programming and was instrumental in seeing the bureau transition to integrating its news gathering across radio, television and the web. She retired from the public broadcaster in 2009.
Wayne Mock, 82, on Nov. 4. Born in Regina, Mock started his career with CKCK-TV. Over the years, his camera skills took him to Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton. Among the shows he worked on were The Pig & Whistle, The Irish Rovers, Mr. Dressup and Hockey Night in Canada. He also spent time behind-the-camera on iconic kids’ show, The Friendly Giant, and was known to speak about the challenging opening shot as the drawbridge was lowered and the front doors were opened…all on live TV. Joining ITV Edmonton in the late 1970s, he shot Oilers hockey, the In Concert series that was broadcast worldwide, and numerous episodes of SCTV. He was so well-liked on the SCTV set that the cast often mentioned “Mocker” as a character in their skits. In retirement, he moved back to Regina and dedicated himself to collecting coins and brass, which turned into a successful business.
TV & FILM:
CBC News Explore has launched, the public broadcaster’s new free ad-supported streaming (FAST) news channel, available on digital and connected TV platforms. The channel features a curated selection of CBC journalism from across the country in addition to original programs, led by new Andrew Chang vehicle About That – a look at the day’s most compelling stories in a blend of conversation and feature interviews. CBC News Explore is streaming free on CBC Gem, CBCNews.ca, and the CBC News app, and is also available on Smart and Connected TV platforms, including The Roku Channel (105 in Canada). Some Explore programming will also be available on demand via CBC Gem, the CBC News app and the CBC News YouTube channel. Read more here and more about CBC’s multi-platform winter schedule here.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC have announced that Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, will return for a second year as host of the 2023 JUNO Awards Broadcast. The 52nd annual celebration of Canadian music is set to air Monday, March 13 from Edmonton. Liu most recently wrapped production on Netflix science fiction thriller Atlas opposite Jennifer Lopez and is set to star and executive produce Seven Wonders, an action-adventure series based on Ben Mezrich’s novel for Amazon Prime Video.
Bell Media says Canada’s second appearance at the FIFA World Cup on Sunday set more records, attracting an average audience of 4.4 million viewers across TSN, CTV and RDS. Canada’s 4-1 loss to Croatia surpassed the Men’s National Team opener vs. Belgium (which attracted an average audience of 3.7 million viewers), to become the most-watched FIFA World Cup Group Stage match on record, according to overnight data from Numeris. Overall, the match reached 9.8 million unique Canadian viewers, with more than one-in-four Canadians tuning in to watch some or all of the live broadcast. Bell Media says thus far, a total of 18.8 million unique Canadian viewers have tuned in for live FIFA World Cup game coverage across the three networks. Read more here.
CTV has renewed The Amazing Race Canada for Season 9, with casting now open. Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, Season 8 of the franchise was the top summer program and top Canadian program for the 2021-22 broadcast year, with a season average of 1.6 million viewers.
TVOkids and Big Jump Entertainment have announced their collaboration on 2D-animated series Griffin and Turner. In development right now, the series is based on the real Canadian brothers, one of whom has Down Syndrome, who have grown a significant online following. The series is being developed in consultation with the Down Syndrome community.
CTV holiday programming includes holiday-themed episodes of hit CTV series, movies, seasonal classics, and festive new specials, including JANN: Alone for the Holidays (Dec. 9), featuring guest appearances by Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams. Four-part holiday-themed CTV Original competition series Cross Country Cake Off gets a two-night premiere event Dec. 15-16, while Chef Gordon Ramsay takes his pals Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix on a road trip in Gordon Ramsay’s Road Trip: Christmas Vacation on Dec. 17. Other highlights include The Original Santa Claus Parade (Dec. 3) and CMA Country Christmas (Dec. 8), featuring Dan + Shay, Scotty McCreery, Steven Curtis Chapman, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Molly Tuttle, The War And Treaty, and Carly Pearce. Additionally, the CTV Holiday Hub, available on CTV.ca and the CTV app, features more than 150 movies and festive-themed episodes of throwback series.
WildBrain Television has unveiled its lineup of special holiday programming on Family Channel and Family Jr. It features the Canadian premiere of WildBrain original special, Caillou’s Perfect Christmas. Additional network premieres include The Snowman and the Snowdog, a sequel to the Oscar-nominated The Snowman; the hour-long special, Abominable and the Invisible City; a brand new episode of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir; and two specials from the Shaun the Sheep franchise. The lineup will also include holiday marathons and festive episodes of fan-favourite series throughout December.
The NFB Ho Ho Holidays channel is once again offering seasonal classics, recent works and family favourites. The collection of 53 films that can be viewed for free, include Jeff Hale’s The Great Toy Robbery; Sheldon Cohen’s iconic The Sweater, adapted from Roch Carrier’s much-loved hockey story; Alanis Obomsawin’s classic Christmas at Moose Factory; and the stop-motion adventures of Ludovic, the teddy bear in Co Hoedeman’s series for kids, among many others.
Hollywood Suite is running its free preview event, Dec. 1 – Jan. 5. Available to Canadian households from participating TV service providers, including Amazon Prime Video, viewers have unlimited access to movies and series on four HDTV channels and Hollywood Suite On Demand (where available). In the spirit of the season, Hollywood Suite’s programming team has drawn up “Naughty” and “Nice” lists. Anchoring the “Naughty List” is the broadcast premiere of 5’7 Films’ holiday comedy caper Vandits, premiering Dec. 15, starring Robb Wells (Trailer Park Boys), Enrico Colantoni (A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood), Jann Arden, Tony Nappo (Saw II), Francesco Antonio (Wayne), newcomer Victoria Turko, and Jesse Camacho (Locke & Key).
The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) has announced the recipients of the first-ever David Miller Legacy Award. Named in honour of Canadian producer David Miller (The Righteous, The Child Remains, Amal), who passed away unexpectedly in April 2021, the fund provides support for producers attending WFF Talent Programs to further their projects and careers. Each recipient will receive a $500 award. This year’s recipients include: Kent Donguines (BC), Kate Green (BC), Luke Humphrey (ON), Tanis Parenteau (AB), Christina Saliba (QC), Sina Sultani (BC), and Shelley Thompson (NS).
Global News Toronto is partnering with the Toronto Firefighters’ Toy Drive and primary sponsor Spin Master for the 16th consecutive year. From Dec. 1-31, people are encouraged to make monetary donations, text to donate at TOYDRIVE (45678), or donate new, unwrapped toys to a local fire station in the Toronto area. In 2022, a record-breaking $200,000 was raised over the month-long campaign. Global News will also run Toy Drive Week, Dec. 12-16, where local hosts Susan Hay, Liem Vu, Ross Hull, and Anthony Farnell will share stories highlighting how donations impact people’s lives, and the various ways viewers can help make a difference during the festive season.
Global Edmonton and Global News Radio 880 have launched the 19th annual Give Me Shelter campaign, running Nov. 29 – Dec. 15. For almost two decades, the campaign has provided countless items and Christmas gifts for women and children who are the victims of assault, as well as thousands of dollars in donations. The focal point of the campaign is an all-day donation drive-thru happening Dec. 14 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Global Edmonton news and radio personalities will be outside the station at 5325 Allard Way, accepting cash and gift card donations. The campaign supports six Edmonton and area women’s shelters – A Safe Place, Jessie’s House, La Salle, Lurana Shelter, WIN House, and WINGS.
CTV Atlantic will host the 59th Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon on Dec. 3, beginning at 11 a.m. AT on CTV2, CTVAtlantic.ca and the CTV News app. With the increased demand for support, the telethon has collaborated once again with The Salvation Army to distribute food, toys, and gifts throughout the holiday season. Co-hosting this year are Steve Murphy and Todd Battis, joined by Maria Panopalis, Jayson Baxter, Katie Kelly, Kalin Mitchell, and Ana Almeida, among many others. The seven-hour special will also feature performers across all three Maritime provinces, including Myles Goodwyn, The Trews, Makayla Lynn, David Myles, Jenn Grant, Carleton Stone, Natalie MacMaster, The Barra MacNeils, and The Men of The Deeps. Since it began in 1964, Christmas Daddies has raised more than $34.5 million for Maritime families.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Media Technology Monitor (MTM) says almost 80% of English-speaking Canadian adults and 74% of French speakers are now reading news online. MTM’s data indicates TV and internet remain the key ways of getting news with just over three in five English and French speakers saying they watch content on a news specialty channel. Four-fifths of English speakers, aged 65+, are watching news specialty channels, compared to half of those aged 18-34. Younger anglophones are more likely to watch news video content online with the highest viewing among 35-49 year olds, while viewing of the same content among Francophones is highest among 18-34 year olds. News broadcaster websites represent the most popular sources for online news among English-speaking news readers. Social media is now the second most common source for online news, reaching two in five online news readers. Read more here.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Ontario Creates have announced a new partnership to fund early-stage, interactive digital media development projects from emerging and equity-deserving Ontario companies. The program is intended to provide funding for early-stage project-related development to companies that have either completed Ontario Creates’ Futures Forward training in Fall 2022 or meet the eligibility criteria for the Ontario Creates IDM Fund, where the majority or owners self-identify as members of an equity-deserving community including women, 2SLGBTQIA+, those with disabilities, and/or Francophone. Eligible projects must be Interactive Content or Video Content for digital platforms like video games, mobile content apps, e-learning content, XR experiences, digital publishing projects, web series, and video content for online magazines. Click here to access program guidelines. Applications close Jan. 23.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Sports Media Canada recognized its 2022 honourees at the 25th SMC Achievement Awards Luncheon on Nov. 17. Those honoured this year included CBC and TSN sportscaster Brian Williams, who received the Career Achievement honour; Andi Petrillo, CBC Sports & OneSoccer, recognized in the Broadcasting category; TSN’s Rick Westhead who won this year’s Sportswriting honour; Vancouver freelancer Nick Didlick won in the Photography category; while Sportsnet’s Jamie Campbell received this year’s President’s Award. John Atkinson, High Performance Director & National Coach, Swimming Canada, was recognized as Sports Executive of the Year.
CBC/Radio-Canada has released its Q2 2022-23 quarterly report. Revenue decreased by 38.3% this quarter, mainly because last year’s results included additional advertising and licensing revenue from broadcasting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Excluding the impact of Tokyo 2020, revenue from ongoing activities increased by 0.6%, primarily due to higher ad revenue on both conventional and digital platforms. Government funding recognized in the quarter increased by 4.3%, consistent with anticipated operating needs. Expenses were down in Q2 by 9.8%, as last year’s results included the rights and costs to broadcast Tokyo 2020. Excluding the impact of the games, expenses from ongoing activities increased by 8.5%, mainly due to additional programming costs, as well as inflationary pressures and higher costs to travel.
Shaw Communications has announced consolidated financial and operating results for the quarter ended Aug. 31. Q4 consolidated revenue decreased 1.5% year-over-year to $1.36 billion, adjusted EBITDA increased 1.6% year-over-year to $624 million, and net income decreased 32.9% to $169 million. Fiscal 2022 consolidated revenue decreased 1.1% year-over-year to $5.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA increased 1.4% year-over-year to $2.53 billion. Fiscal 2022 results reflect year-over-year growth in Consumer Internet, Wireless service and Business revenue, offset by declines in Wireless equipment and Wireline Video, Satellite and Phone revenue. The prior year results included Consumer revenue of approximately $20 million related to the release of a provision following the CRTC decision on final aggregated Third Party Internet Access (TPIA) rates and higher equity-based compensation costs of approximately $29 million due to the significant increase in Shaw’s share price following the Rogers-Shaw transaction announcement on March 15, 2021.
The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) has released its 2021-22 annual report, which shows complaints to the CCTS as a whole decreased by 25% from Aug. 21, 2021 to July 31, 2022. While billing problems were the number one issues for wireless and TV customers, service delivery issues were the top complaint among internet and phone customers. 83% of complaints were filed against just 10 service providers. Bell led service delivery complaints (down 30% year-over-year), followed by Rogers (-15%) and TELUS (-19%).
Édith Cloutier, Rogers’ Regional President for Quebec and VP, Sales, and Nicole McCormick, Senior Manager of Newsgathering at CityNews Toronto, have received the Role Models for Inclusive Leadership, Workplace Progress for Women award from global non-profit Catalyst, which recognizes corporate leaders who have made transformational contributions to women through workplace inclusion. Cloutier was recognized for developing a mentoring program for BIPOC employees in Quebec which launched in 2021. Under her guidance, a second cohort was launched this year with a third beginning in early 2023. McCormick is an established leader in the CityNews newsroom and plays an instrumental role in Rogers Sports & Media’s ALL IN initiative. She also co-chairs the Indigenous Peoples Network (IPN) at Rogers, advocating for team members through various events and employee engagement opportunities.
