REVOLVING DOOR:
Martin Stringer has retired from CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel) after 27 years. Prior to joining CPAC in 1996, Stringer was a producer on CBC Radio’s As It Happens for seven years. He started his career as a producer on CBC Radio’s Quebec AM in the early 1980s.
Pat Tabler has parted ways with Sportsnet after 17 seasons contributing to Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts. Tabler, 64, joined Sportsnet in 2005 after previously serving as a colour analyst with for TSN, starting in 1993 after retiring from his playing career. “Tabby” played three seasons with the Jays with his final season marked by the team’s 1992 World Series win. His 12-season MLB career also included stops with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Kansas City, and the New York Mets.
Kraig Krause is joining CTV Vancouver from CTV Barrie where he’s been a videographer, anchor and weather presenter for the last two years. Originally from the Fraser Valley, Krause has also worked for CTV Winnipeg, Global Kingston, 980 CKNW Vancouver, and CJDC-TV Dawson Creek. His first day is Jan. 16.
Isabella Zavarise has joined CTV Vancouver as a freelance videographer. Zavarise was most recently with Insider, based in Los Angeles, while she pursued an M.A. in Specialized Journalism at the University of Southern California. She’s also spent time as a videojournalist at CBC Prince Edward Island.
Jaden Lee-Lincoln is joining Global News Toronto as an anchor and producer. Lee-Lincoln arrives from CTV London where she was a journalist, producer and the late-night anchor for CTV News at 11 p.m. She began her career in Saskatchewan as a journalist for CTV Yorkton before accepting a role as the Live on Location reporter and segment producer for CTV Morning Live Regina.
Joe Scarpelli is joining Global News Toronto as weekend reporter/producer. Most recently a reporter for CTV News Edmonton, Scarpelli has also worked for Global Winnipeg, Global Lethbridge, and CHEX-TV Durham (now Global Durham).
Samantha Payne has been named the new Program Manager for Corus Radio in Barrie and Collingwood. Payne has been with Corus for 12 years, starting as an overnight op on 900 CHML Hamilton, then spent time as a morning show producer, announcer, programming assistant and most recently program manager in Cornwall where she covered a paternity leave. She’ll take up her new role at the end of January.
Leeanne Whitehouse and TJ O’Halloran have been named the new morning hosts on London’s Pure Country 93 (CJBX-FM). Pure Mornings with Leeanne and TJ will air from 6 – 10 a.m. ET, beginning Monday, Dec. 12. Whitehouse was most recently heard on Corus Radio’s Country 104 (CKFK-FM) London in middays and Magic 106.1 (CIMJ FM) Guelph on weekend afternoons. O’Halloran arrives from 99.9 Virgin Radio Toronto (CKFM-FM) where he’s been part of Mornings with Adam, TJ & Jax for the last four years. Prior to joining Virgin Radio Toronto in 2016, he held various roles at Virgin Radio Calgary (CIBK-FM), including hosting afternoon drive. The duo succeeds Dave Collins and Rachel Gilbert, who helmed mornings on the station for 11 years, up until their departure in June.
Corey Bullock is CBC’s new reporter in its Cranbrook, BC bureau. Bullock arrives from Black Press Media where she’s been reporting for publications including the Kimberley Bulletin and Cranbrook Daily Townsman.
Julia Lipscombe is the new Senior Producer of CBC Vancouver morning radio show, Early Edition. Lipscombe, who has been working with CBC since 2016, was previously an associate producer and director on CBC Edmonton afternoon drive show Radio Active, prior to relocating to Vancouver last year.
Peter Wagner is departing CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver to return to Western Washington University to finish his undergraduate degree. Wagner had been with the station since 2017, most recently as Managing Editor, News & Programming. He previously held anchoring and producing roles with Saga Communications’ Bellingham, WA stations KGMI News/Talk 790, AM930 Progressive Talk KBAI, and KAFE 104.1, and was on-air at myRadio 102.5 FM (KRAO-FM) Moscow, ID.
Dustin Godfrey, Marco Ovies, and Kaija Jussinoja have been caught up in layoffs at Overstory Media Group (OMG). Godfrey was a reporter for the Burnaby Beacon and New West Anchor, while Ovies was a contributor to the Burnaby Beacon and recently-acquired Vancouver alt-weekly the Georgia Straight. Jussinoja had been a reporter with Halifax alt weekly, The Coast for the last eight months.
Christianne Laizner, the CRTC’s Vice Chair of Telecom, is retiring effective Jan. 4, six months before her term was set to end in July. Laizner had been in her current role since 2017 and with the commission since late 2010 when she joined as general counsel. Laizner previously spent time as a civil litigator in the Department of Justice and Global Affairs Canada, where she provided advice on dispute settlements under the then-North American Free Trade Agreement.
Manon Brouillette has stepped down from her position as CEO of Verizon Communications. Brouillette took on the role in January after joining the American telco in 2021 as COO and Deputy CEO. Brouillette previously spent 14 years with Videotron, ending her tenure in early 2019 as President & CEO.
AMI, in partnership with the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Telefilm Canada, has announced the founding board members of the Disability Screen Office (DSO). Yazmine Laroche, Canada’s first Deputy Minister for Public Service Accessibility; autistic entrepreneur Sasha Boersma, Co-Founder/Producer of Sticky Brain Studios; Kenneth J. Fredeen, Managing Director, Return on Disability Group; and Prasanna Ranganathan, former Head of Diversity and Belonging at Shopify, have been onboarded to the DSO board of directors, while Line Gendreau, VP Finance & Technology Services at AMI, will remain active with the board until the organization has transitioned to a fully independent organization in March 2023. Andrew Morris will remain Interim Executive Director until a permanent Executive Director is hired in the new year.
The Jack Webster Foundation, fostering and celebrating excellence in journalism in British Columbia, has added four new members to its Board of Trustees. They include former Global National correspondent Robin Gill; Denise Williams, member of Cowichan Tribes and CEO, First Nations Technology Council; and Andy Yan, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University. Former journalist turned security/communications specialist Rob Webster McKee, Jack Webster’s grandson, joins as an Honorary Trustee.
RADIO & PODCAST:
The CRTC has released the results of its commercial radio review, allowing broadcasters to operate one more FM station in the same market, under certain conditions, while upholding Canadian Content requirements. The first commercial radio policy update since 2014, one of the review’s key changes offers greater flexibility to Common Ownership Policy. For markets with eight commercial radio stations or more operating in a given language, an individual may now be permitted to own or control as many as four stations, with a maximum of three stations within one frequency band (FM or AM) in that language. For markets with fewer than eight commercial radio stations operating in a given language, one may be permitted to own or control as many as three stations, with no limits on frequency band. The CRTC has maintained the quota for Canadian Content and French Vocal Music (FVM) for French-language broadcasters, while eliminating the “hits policy” in Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau. In reference to the current MAPL (Music, Artist, Performance and Lyrics) formula, the point system that determines whether a song is Canadian, the commission says it is moving towards new criteria and refining some content categories that will broaden the eligible songs that stations can play to meet their Canadian content requirements. Read more here. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) is calling the review “a profound disappointment,” while Music Canada says it’s looking forward to helping the commission modernize the MAPL system. Read more reaction here.
The CRTC has approved Acadia Broadcasting’s purchase of Classic Hits radio station CKQV-FM (Q104) Kenora, ON from Golden West Broadcasting. The acquisition of the station and its repeater transmitters increases Acadia’s existing presence in Northwestern Ontario where it already owns and operates 89.5 The Lake (CJRL-FM) Kenora. The purchase is Acadia’s fifth market where it operates two radio licences, increasing its broadcasting licenses to 18 across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.
The CRTC will hold a virtual hearing on Feb. 23 to hear several radio applications, including one from Four Senses Entertainment, which has applied for a licence to operate an English-language commercial FM station in Squamish, BC. Operating at 99.7 MHz with a maximum ERP of 5,000 watts, Four Senses is proposing to broadcast a mix of news, talk and adult alternative music. The company already operates Whistler FM (CKEE-FM). The commission will also hear Pickering College Campus Radio’s application for a broadcast licence to operate an English-language community FM station in Newmarket to replace the current low-power campus radio station. Pattison Media’s application to acquire the assets of CKLF-FM and CKLQ-FM Brandon from Westman Radio will also be heard, in addition to Kenner Media (Edmonton) Limited’s application to acquire CKFT-FM Fort Saskatchewan from Golden West Broadcasting. The deadline for interventions and comments is Jan. 23.
David Bray has a breakdown of the Fall 2022 PPM ratings for Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, covering the 13-week period from Aug. 29 to Nov. 27. Among the ratings winners were Toronto’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM), which was once again well out in front with men, 25-54, posting an 11.5 % share. boom also led the way for M18-34 with a 13.7% share, and F18-34 with a 15.7% share. In Edmonton, UP! 99.3 (CIUP-FM), NOW! Radio (CKNO-FM) and CISN Country continue to perform well, while in Calgary, CBC Radio One and CHQR were tied for first place A12+ with a 9.7% share. Read more here.
The New Classical FM and Zoomer Radio’s Holiday Hope Fund, in support of The Scott Mission, is running until the end of the year. Since its inception 14 years ago, the fund has raised just over half a million dollars for The Scott Mission, which provides food, clothing, shelter and children’s toys to those in need.
Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto is presenting Q107’s third annual Festive 50/50 in support of Abuse Hurts. Fifty percent of tickets sold will go to the lucky winner and the other half to Abuse Hurts to further support their mission to raise awareness about the cost of neglect and abuse. The goal this year is to reach a jackpot of one million dollars. The last day to purchase 50/50 tickets is Dec. 21.
102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto presents Feliz Navi Claws, coming to Ren’s Pets in Toronto’s Liberty Village on Friday, Dec. 9 from 3-7 p.m. Listeners are invited to join hosts Kolter Bouchard and Meredith Geddes for an afternoon of pet-friendly fun, including pics with the Grinch in support of Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. The event will include a special busking performance from The Trews.
980 CFPL London is once again supporting the annual Salvation Army of London Christmas Hamper Program with the annual Gift a Gift campaign. Listeners can join the 980 CFPL team on Dec. 8 as they broadcast LIVE for 12 hours to help make sure every child wakes up with a toy under their tree this year. People can make contactless donations in-person at the Salvation Army drop off centre, at the Delta London Armouries or make e-donations on the website.
LISTEN: CKIQ-FM Iqaluit recently took the bold step of revamping its format to an all-Canadian playlist. The move, in part, was in response to a previous CRTC violation for failing to meet Canadian Content quotas because of challenges presented by the MAPL formula, which determines how Canadian or un-Canadian a song is, regardless of whether it’s recorded by a homegrown artist. On this episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, Glenn Craig, President of Northern Lights Entertainment, joins us to talk about embracing CanCon, his enduring passion for radio, and how a kid from Mira Bridge, Cape Breton ended up the licensee of two radio stations in the far north.
LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Wendy Mesley – the longtime Sunday host of CBC’s The National, among other shows – joins Matt Cundill to talk about everything from her early years as a reporter at CFCF Montreal to her controversy-mired retirement from the public broadcaster in July 2021. Mesley currently co-hosts the Women of Ill Repute podcast with good friend and fellow CBC alum Maureen Holloway, which in its first week hit #1 on Apple Podcasts in Canada. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
The Pro Bono Group, a collection of advertising and media pros who offer radio creative at no charge to worthwhile organizations, have written and produced a series of PSAs rolling out between now and April to stations across the country. The first PSA entitled “Food Banks – Pretend” is now available to stations for download in support of Canada’s food banks. Contact [email protected] for more info.
Benztown is set to release its 9th Annual Benztown 50 List of Radio’s Biggest Imaging Voices, recognizing the top 50 voiceover artists in the U.S. and Canada. Voice talent can apply for the Benztown 50 until Jan. 13. The list is based on several criteria, including number of radio station affiliates, station size and market.
SIGN OFFS:
Michael Blake, 66, on Nov. 29 after a year-long battle with cancer. Prior to entering broadcasting, Blake had a goaltending career that began with the Waterloo Siskins and the Guelph Platers (Biltmore), followed by Ohio State University (1977-81), and the Los Angeles Kings (1981-84). Blake infamously let in Wayne Gretzky’s record-breaking 92nd goal in 1982. Following his hockey career, he pivoted to radio sales and sales management. Over a 20-year period, he worked with CJOY Guelph, CHYM-FM Kitchener and the FAN 590 (CJCL-AM) Toronto. He went on to co-own local company, Don’s Produce, with his brother, Gerry.
Norm Slater, 68, on Nov. 29, after a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Slater spent four decades in the cable and telecom industry, starting in 1976 after his graduation from the University of Western Ontario. He joined Cablesystems Engineering, the forerunner of Rogers Engineering, assisting with Rogers expansion into the U.S. in the early 1980s. He later joined Comlink. In 1993, he helped found Capella Telecommunications Inc., going on to serve as president of the broadcast/cable/telco solutions provider for 23 years. He retired from the company in 2016.
James Watson, 80, on Nov. 17. Watson left school to join local radio station CFAR “The Voice of the North” in Flin Flon, MB, getting an education along the way as a disc jockey, newsman, sportscaster, copywriter and salesperson. From there he landed at CFSL/CJSL in Weyburn/Estevan, and CKRC Winnipeg, before heading to the West Coast to join Selkirk Communications’ sister station, CJVI Victoria. He stopped at CJIB Vernon on his way to Victoria where the station manager convinced him to stay and do the mid-morning show. Within a short period of time, he was promoted to production manager. Watson went on to spend many years working with CKOV Kelowna, while also operating a small restaurant. He eventually moved to Vancouver to take a job with All Canada Radio & Television. He spent a decade with the company before joining Frank Griffiths’ Western Broadcast Sales. Using his combined media skillset, he went on to run a number of capital campaigns for not-for-profit organizations. Among his accomplishments was serving as Chair of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour. He was also Past National President of Kinsmen Clubs of Canada. In 2018, he was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by Governor General Julie Payette.
Nikos Evdemon, 82, on Oct. 30. An award-winning cinematographer with a career spanning more than three decades, Evdemon got his start in the mid-1970s working on Canadian series like CBC’s For The Record. He went on to serve as cinematographer on numerous series and TV movies, including Seeing Things (1981-87), La Femme Nikita (1997-99), Mutant X (2001-02), Monk (2002) and ReGenesis (2004), among many other projects. Evdemon had numerous Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) and Gemini Awards to his name, including a 2003 CSC Award for Best Cinematography in TV Series for Mutant X, a 1998 CSC Award for Best Cinematography in a TV Drama for Peacekeepers, and Geminis for Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series for The Lust of His Eyes (1996), TV movie Glory Enough For All (1989), and two Geminis for Seeing Things in 1986 and ‘87, among other nominations.
TV & FILM:
Pluto TV has made its debut in Canada, in partnership with Corus Entertainment, launching with more than 20,000 hours of free programming. The Paramount-owned FAST (free ad-supported) streaming service offers both live linear channels and thousands of on-demand titles, currently boasting a global audience of 72 million monthly active users across 30 countries and territories. Pluto TV’s Canadian offering includes over 110 thematic and single-series channels from Classics, Drama, and Reality, to Comedy, Sports, Gaming, and numerous Movie channels organized by genre. More than 30 channels are dedicated to Canadian content including 14 News & Opinion channels giving Canadian viewers access to around-the-clock Global News channels from Toronto, Montreal, B.C., Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Kingston, Lethbridge, Okanagan, Peterborough, Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon. Corus will act as the Canadian ad representative for Pluto TV. Read more here.
toober, the Toronto-based live television app designed to connect viewers to specialty television from around the world, has launched eight new channels with in-browser viewing to become available in the coming weeks. The additional channels, available to all subscribers, include NewsMax, GB News Channel (UK), D5 Channel Punjabi, Studio Canal +, French entertainment channel M6 International, Arab entertainment channel Alaraby 2, Syria TV, and immersive nature channel Wild Earth. toober is available in Canada on Rogers, Shaw, Videotron, Apple TV, Google TV Playstore, Samsung, and Roku, as well as in the U.S. and Mexico via LG, Roku and Apple TV.
VIDAA, the Hisense-owned smart TV operating system and streaming platform, has announced an agreement that will see Google TV and other Android TV OS devices carry VIDAA’s premium sports content, which includes FIFA+. This year’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, of which Hisense is an Official Sponsor, is expected to draw five billion viewers around the world.
Hockey Night in Canada in Cree is back. Starting Dec. 10, Sportsnet and APTN team up once again to deliver NHL games in Plains Cree. Clarence Irons returns with the call, alongside host Earl Wood and analysts John Chabot and Jay Chamakese. The broadcasts include: Calgary Flames vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Dec. 10); Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks (Jan. 21); Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens (Feb. 25); Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets (March 4); Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators (April 1).
TSN and RDS will serve as the official broadcasters of the upcoming Canadian Tire Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) All-Star Weekend, in partnership with the Ottawa Senators, live from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Dec. 10-11. The weekend features an all-star broadcast team, led by host Tessa Bonhomme, alongside analyst Jayna Hefford on-site in Ottawa. On the call is Kenzie Lalonde with analyst Cheryl Pounder, and Julia Tocheri reporting rinkside.
The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), Scotiabank, Secret and Sportsnet have unveiled plans for a live national broadcast of a PWHPA game during the 2023 Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada festivities on Saturday, Jan. 21. Team Scotiabank and Team adidas are set to meet in Owen Sound, ON at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. The game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and feature marquee players, including Rebecca Johnston, Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Nurse and Kendall Coyne Schofield. Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada returns for its 23rd year with the 14.5 hour marathon broadcast featuring all seven Canadian NHL teams in action across Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Citytv, SN NOW, OMNI, and CBC. Hosted by Ron MacLean live from Owen Sound, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will also include a variety of special guests.
Showcase has unveiled its winter schedule headlined by The Calling, a new drama from Emmy-winning executive producer David E. Kelley, Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson, and co-composers Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, which debuts Jan. 16. The series tells the story of an NYPD detective (Jeff Wilbusch) whose belief in mankind is his superpower. Cyber thriller The Undeclared War, directed and co-written by seven-time BAFTA winner Peter Kosminksy and starring Academy Award winner Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg, Adrian Lester, Alex Jennings, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Hannah Khalique-Brown, also joins the lineup premiering Jan. 19.
Wes Williams (aka Maestro Fresh Wes) is adding “chef” to his long list of talents. Upbeat cooking show Maestro Chef Wes premieres Jan. 26 on Bell Fibe TV1. The six-episode series shows off Williams’ cooking skills, conversations, and recipes from celebrity guests. Created, written, and produced by Williams and Lauchlan Ough, with Chet Wesley as executive producer, the series follows the Canadian hip-hop legend as he travels the Maritimes sourcing local ingredients, culture and hanging with celebrity chefs and musicians, turning each episode into a classic East Coast kitchen party with a live performance.
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has announced Damon D’Oliveira and the producing trio of Sara Blake, Magali Gillon-Krizaj and Tyler Hagan, as the recipients of its annual Indiescreen Awards. The winners were announced Friday at a ceremony at the Whistler Film Festival, in partnership with Telefilm Canada, marking the Indiescreen Awards return to an in-person format for the first time since 2019. D’Oliveira (Conquering Lion Pictures) is the recipient of the $20,000 Established Producer Award. A champion of diversity and giving voice to underrepresented Canadians, D’Oliveira’s credits include The Grizzlies (2018), The Book of Negroes (2015), Poor Boy’s Game (2007), and Rude (1995). His most recent feature film, Brother, directed by Clement Virgo, premiered at TIFF in September to critical acclaim. Blake, Gillon-Krizaj and Hagan (SSMT Productions) were awarded the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. The trio’s collective project, Until Branches Bend had its official premiere at TIFF and was also selected at Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), and the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), where it won Best BC Film. Read more here.
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced the 22nd edition award winners including the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature awarded to Coyote, directed by Katherine Jerkovic. Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, BC, in association with Telefilm, the $223,500 prize is the second-largest festival award in Canada. Coyote’s Jorge Martinez Colorado was also recognized with Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film. The Audience Award will be announced Dec. 28. Find the full list of winners here.
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced B.C.-based producer Jonathan Chuby and his project Duck Race as the winner of the 2022 Power Pitch Competition, which includes a $36,000 production prize package and a spot in the WFF 2023 Producers Lab. Designed to set talent up for success by fine-tuning their project packages and pitching skills, the program includes a workshop and one-on-one consultations with facilitator Kevin Wright, former SVP of Programming for The Movie Network, HBO Canada and the Family Channel, and principal at The Optimal Pitch.
William F. White International (WFW) has closed on its acquisition of Studio City Toronto, one of Toronto’s busiest studio complexes for film and television production, as well as Studio City Rentals, a provider of rigging and scaffolding to the film and television industry. Studio City Rentals, with locations in Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles, was founded by Chris Nethercoat and Mike Kirilenko in 1999. Studio City Toronto, also owned by Nethercoat and Kirilenko, is situated in the east end of the city’s downtown core and boasts 148,000 sq. ft. of purpose-built studio facilities through its six sound stages and work areas. Studio City Toronto is also home to WFW’s LED volume for virtual production.
TARO PR, the Toronto-based agency specializing in arts and entertainment, has announced a company rebrand to The TARO Group. Under the new brand, The TARO Group will continue to provide publicity and communications strategy, as well as offer strategic planning, corporate communications, digital promotions, marketing and advertising, media training, national partnerships and product launches, data analytics, event and film production, test screenings, personal brand campaigns, award shows/festival strategy and execution, recruitment, content creation and social media. For nearly a decade, The TARO Group has represented film, television and arts clients including Paramount Pictures Canada, Elevation Pictures, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Canada, Disney+ Quebec, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures Quebec, Quiver Entertainment, Scotiabank Giller Prize, Paquin Entertainment Group, Photon Films, Project 10 Productions, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and IndieCan Entertainment, among others.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
The Economist and PressReader have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to broaden the publication’s digital distribution and increase group subscriptions. As part of the expanded partnership agreement, PressReader will become the exclusive third-party digital replica distributor of The Economist, in the public library, hotel, aviation, marine and healthcare spaces. PressReader will also help drive group subscription adoption across those verticals for the magazine’s digital products and content, including economist.com and The Economist and Espresso apps, driving opportunities for increased readership and monetization. The deal comes into effect Jan. 1.
abbyTV is a newly-launched YouTube channel, featuring news from Abbotsford, BC and surrounding area. Helmed by radio veteran Don Lehn, who serves as news director, and executive producers Berris Karden of Eco Video and Wayne Bjorge of VBN Sports, the channel is a sister entity to ChillTV, which covers and livestreams events happening in the Chilliwack area. Lehn also operates online news portal, Fraser Valley News (FVN).
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Canadian Heritage Min. Pablo Rodriguez has announced a newly-reconstituted independent advisory committee that will recommend candidates to serve on the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors. Rodriguez says the government is committed to ensuring that the process is “independent, merit-based and results in the recommendation of high-quality candidates” as some current board members near the end of their mandate. Read more here.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is now accepting entries for its CAJ Awards program. The CAJ Awards program features 18 categories, rewarding journalistic excellence across multiple platforms and frequencies. The deadline to submit entries is Jan. 11.
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has announced the recipients of its 2022 AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship. The program, which launched in 2012, is open to Canadian students with a disability enrolled in a diploma or degree program at a Canadian post-secondary school. Two scholarships valued at $5,000 each are awarded annually to students with a disability, one in English and one in French. This year’s recipients are Selali Tettevi of Regina and Élise St-Laurent from Rouyn-Noranda, QC. Selali is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Thompson Rivers University while Élise is enrolled in year two of a Masters of Psychoeducation at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. AMI partners with the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) to administer the program.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
The Rise Awards, celebrating exceptional women in the media technology industry, has announced its 2022 winners. Over 300 nominations were received from around the globe with four new awards announced this year: Ally, Business Operations, Project Management or Delivery and Special Achievement. Among this year’s winners were Deluxe, which captured the Company Award for Investment in Women and Ross Video’s Sandra Hernandez, Regional Sales Manager, Gulf States U.S., who was recognized with the Sales award.
Halter Technical has appointed GerrAudio Distribution the exclusive distributor for its lineup of products in Canada. GerrAudio will spearhead the launch of the company’s new Microsone Discreet Audio Monitoring System in Canada. Los Angeles-based Halter Technical offers professional audio monitoring solutions for the broadcast, film, and video production markets, including a lineup of Premium, Comfort and IFB headphones specifically designed to meet the needs of the live set environment. GerrAudio’s first public display of Halter Technical products in Canada will be at its 11th Annual Demo Days showcase and training event in Toronto, Dec. 14-15.
SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) has collaborated with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Motion Pictures Laboratories Inc. (MovieLabs), a technology joint venture of the major Hollywood studios, to publish “Media in the Cloud: Ontology and Semantic Web Technology Navigation Guide.” The new guide, available for free on the SMPTE website, is a primer on the use of ontologies and other semantic web technologies within a modern media landscape characterized by the movement of workflows into the cloud. The guide explains media ontologies in simple terms, discusses mapping data across different information systems, and offers practical examples of how media organizations are using semantic web technologies to bring greater efficiency to real-world workflows.
