Etan Vlessing
Let’s Talk TV decisions signal altered specialty landscape
Genre protection is being removed and competition encouraged by the CRTC.
Bell Media to roadblock Orphan Black premiere
The season’s opening episode will debut simultaneously on Space, CTV, Bravo and MTV.
Quebecor sees fourth quarter loss, despite higher revenues
The Quebec media giant posted a net loss of $59.5 million, compared to a profit of $300,000 in Q4 2013.
Court orders Bell to pay $137M to Videotron, TVA
Satellite TV service Bell ExpressVu, a subsidiary of Bell, must pay compensation for failing to effectively fight piracy of its signals between 1999 and 2005, the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled.
Shaw Media orders third season of Chopped Canada
The latest cycle includes a first-time, five-episode competition for teen chefs.
Is digital not much more than a ‘direct mail’ business?
Media pundit Michael Wolff downplayed digital’s impact at the Prime Time conference in Ottawa, saying traditional TV, with its paid subscribers, was the “big media revolution of our time, not digital.”
Bell Media unveils reality pilot with Omnicom’s Highway Entertainment
Sportscaster James Duthie is to host Dream Fund: Let the Crowd Decide, which starts production in Toronto today.
CBC unveils new original productions, renewals for 2015/16
New titles added to the pubcaster’s lineup for 2015/2016 include The Romeo Section, from Da Vinci’s Inquest creator Chris Haddock.
Bell Media heads to court over CRTC’s Super Bowl ad ruling
The broadcaster tells the federal court of appeals that the CRTC has interfered with “Bell Media’s rights and benefits under the NFL Agreement.”
CraveTV to launch on four new carriers
Access Communications is among the carriers set to add the homegrown streamer in the coming weeks.
Sun News Network shuts down, costing 100 jobs
The 24/7 TV channel went off the air early Friday morning after failing to secure mandatory cable carriage in 2013 and, more recently, a new buyer.
Consumer groups challenge tied-selling of CraveTV, Shomi
Two consumer groups have asked the CRTC to force Bell Media, Rogers Media and Shaw Media to unlink their streaming services from a TV or internet subscription.
BCE posts higher fourth quarter earnings
The Bell Media division saw revenues fall due to higher sports rights costs and content investment in newly-launched CraveTV (pictured).
CTV/RDS scores with most-watched Super Bowl ever in Canada
The network reports an average audience of 9.2 million Canadians for Sunday night’s telecast, while parent co Bell Media challenges the CRTC on its simsub decision.
CRTC shuts down Super Bowl simsub starting in 2017
The regulator in its latest rulings following the Let’s Talk TV hearing also supported continuing to offer OTA signals to Canadian TV viewers, despite calls by broadcasters to shut down transmitters.
