|
COMING UP... |
|
START TO SUBMIT YOUR
PROPOSALS FOR |
|
THE SPORTSNET CBA |
|
CLICK ON
DEADLINE FOR
SUBMISSIONS
IS AUG 31ST |
|
9TH ANNUAL
CEP 79M
CHILDREN'S WISH
FOUNDATION
GOLF
TOURNAMENT
SEPT 12TH
|
|
LINKS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INFORMATION) |
|
INFORMATION) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS |
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY
JUNE 21ST
NOTICE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
G8 AND G20 RALLY
|
|
CTV to lay off 26 in Halifax, union says
Management disputes number, says it's 'in the single digits'
By JOHN McPHEE Staff Reporter | UPDATED 3:10 p.m.
Wed, Jul 28 - 1:49 PM
Technical workers at CTV Atlantic in Halifax have been hit by layoffs.
Management informed workers today that 26 positions could be affected, though a management spokesman disputes that figure.
The
jobs include master control operators, who control the transition
between commercials and regular programming, and video tape operators,
who control feeds and commercials from CTV affiliates from other areas.
"There
have always been rumours and unfortunately today, it has been
announced," said Andre Benoit, president of Local 1318 of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents 11 of
the workers.
The other employees are represented by the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union.
Benoit
believes the work will be centralized in Toronto. He said similar
layoffs have been done in technical fields at other CTV stations,
including Vancouver.
He said the union hopes the number of job losses can be reduced through early retirement and transfers to other CTV stations.
"The company has expressed willingness to work with the union and try to limit the amount of layoffs," Benoit said.
"Twenty-six was the number but we’re trying to get that down to a minimum."
The official layoff notices will be sent out in September, Benoit said.
Mike Elgie, vice-president of CTV Atlantic, disputed that 26 layoffs had been announced.
“In the next month, we’ll be working with the union to reduce the number as low as possible,” he said in an interview today.
“They were also told today it would be in the single digits. There will be jobs that will be leaving here.”
The
centralization of control work at CTV has been ongoing across the
country as a cost-saving measure, he said. He couldn’t say how much CTV
Atlantic would be saving by taking control work out of Halifax.
TSN Classic Bowl Championship Debuts in August
JULY 26, 2010
TSN has launched a new original series, marking the return of ten pin bowling coverage to the sports network.
The made-for-TV TSN Classic Bowl Championship will see Canada's Top
tenpin bowlers compete for $10,000 in cash prizes. To be televised
nationally on TSN2, TSN Classic Bowl Championship will be the first
Canadian bowling event to be featured on a TSN network since 2009.
TSN Classic Bowl Championship is owned and operated by TSN Events and
is conducted in cooperation with Bowl Canada. TSN Classic Bowl
Championship takes place on August 20-22 at Classic Bowl in Mississauga,
Canada's largest bowling centre and a designated venue for the 2015 Pan
American Games.
TSN Classic Bowl Championship will be broadcast on TSN2 over ten weeks beginning on Tuesday, August 31 at 8 p.m. ET.
"TSN has a long history with Bowl Canada, and we are thrilled to
create an original branded event that puts the spotlight on some of the
country's top bowlers in front of a national audience," said Randy Paul,
Managing Director, TSN Events.
"The bowling community across Canada is very excited to see our sport
return to the TSN family," said Paul Oliveira, Executive Director, Bowl
Canada. "We anxiously look forward to great competition at Classic
Bowl, and appreciate our continued relationship with Canada's sports
leader."
The TSN Classic Bowl Championship is open to a maximum of 120 bowlers
who meet the qualifications. Registration fee is $100. Details are
available at www.bowlcanada.ca
"Classic Bowl is thrilled to be hosting the TSN Classic Bowl
Championship," said Edward Sousa, Director, Classic Bowl. "Canada's top
tenpin bowlers have been anticipating a tournament of this magnitude.
Best of luck to all participants."
Established in 2003, TSN Events was created to develop a wide-variety
of original branded programming and event platforms to supplement TSN's
traditional live sports and news coverage. TSN Events acquires sports
marketing rights, develops original programming and grassroots
initiatives, and leverages the strength and capabilities of the TSN
brand to meet customer objectives and exceed fan expectations. TSN
Events' assets include NASCAR Canada, TSN Curling Skins Game at Casino
Rama and the Degree Poker Championship.
COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND PAPERWORKERS UNION OF CANADA
Union Leader Dave Coles wants to force the Quebec Police Ethics Committee to reveal who ordered "agents provocateurs" to foment violence at Montebello summit in 2007
OTTAWA, July 23 /CNW Telbec/ - The Union leader who busted the "agents provocateurs" operation at the Montebello summit has taken new steps to unmask the men who gave the orders.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) will argue a motion Monday, July 26, 2010, to give union president Dave Coles standing at the Quebec Police Ethics Committee. The Committee is investigating the police operation at the "Security and Prosperity Partnership" summit at Montebello, Québec in 2007.
During the SPP summit, Coles singled out three masked men dressed in black with police issue boots. One had a rock in his hand. Coles charged they were police officers bent on stirring up violence.
The incident has been viewed on You Tube over half a million times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St1-WTc1kow.
After initially denying that they were police, the SQ confirmed that the three masked men were SQ officers. Now the union is fighting to find out who gave their orders.
"This is important because we suspect that a similar police operation was used against demonstrators at the recent G20 Summit in Toronto. If we find out who gave the orders at Montebello, it may give us a smoking gun for who issued the orders in Toronto," says Coles.
The Police Ethics Committee will hear the motion on Monday, July 26, 2010, at 9:30 am in Montreal, at 500 René-Levesque West, 6th Floor.
Dome Productions Named Exclusive Supplier of Mobile Facilities for MLSE
JULY 22, 2010
Dome
Productions has announced its exclusive agreement with Maple Leaf
Sports & Entertainment Ltd. as the television mobile production
facility for all Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and
Toronto Marlies home games.
The deal, which took effect July 1, 2010, also provides Dome Productions with exclusivity for visiting NHL and NBA teams.
Dome Productions offers mobile
production trucks and fly packs (high definition and digital),
telecommunications services (transmission via fibre and satellite,
satellite media tours and playouts), and full turnkey host broadcast
services (complete management of design, production, engineering, and
operations).
"As MLSE's facilities partner,
we understand the importance of not only meeting the technical
specifications mandated by the sports leagues, but to continue to
explore and support new initiatives and leading edge technologies," Mary
Ellen Carlyle, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Dome
Productions, said in a release. "With our fleet of six HD mobiles, soon
to be seven with the launch of Echo in the fall, plus an additional two
standard definition mobiles, Dome Productions is well positioned and
equipped to supply MLSE with the capacity and state-of-the-art broadcast
technology required to meet the ever-increasing demands for
high quality HD production facilities."
"We're excited to renew our
agreement with Dome Productions," said Chris Hebb, Senior Vice-President
of Broadcast and Content for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
"Dome Productions is an industry-leader. Their cutting edge
capabilities do an exceptional job of supporting all of our programming
and production needs."
Dome Productions previously provided mobile production services to MLSE from 1995 through 2007.
Currently, Dome Productions is
also the exclusive mobile production provider for all NHL and CFL games
in Edmonton and Montreal, all NHL games in Ottawa, plus all NHL, CFL and
Toronto Blue Jays home and road games that are televised on TSN and
Rogers Sportsnet.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is one of the biggest producers of live sports programming in Canada. MLSE owns and operates Leafs TV, Raptors NBA TV and GOLTV Canada.
Dome Productions is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc. and Rogers Broadcasting Ltd.
CTV's Comedy Gold Launches August 2nd.
JULY 21, 2010
CTV's
Comedy Gold pays tribute to the series that helped shape the cultural
landscape of the last 40 years, featuring iconic and ground-breaking
comedic series from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s is launching August 2nd.. The all-new channel launches with an all-day marathon of comedy’s classic funny females: Comedy Gold digs out the hairspray and shoulder pads with the fierce, funny and fabulous ladies of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Murphy Brown and Designing Women.f
“Comedy
Gold is the destination for classic comedy programming in Canada,” said
Michelle Daly, Director of Content for The Comedy Network and Comedy
Gold. “With the enduring appeal of sitcoms and their classic stars,
viewers have an appetite for this kind of programming. We’re happy to offer the funniest line-up out there.”
Comedy
Gold’s regular programming kicks-off August 3. Viewers can tune in
every day to catch a line-up of classics from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s
that helped shape the culture of the day and change the landscape of TV
history. These include Full House, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Murphy
Brown, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Designing Women Also included in
Bob Newhart Show, Newhart and Night Court.
CRTC Provides Update on Canada's Digital Television
Transition
JULY 16, 2010
Consumer
education is a must, changes in regulation will take place, and extra
costs will be incurred as Canada makes its way towards digital
television.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (or
CRTC) today issued additional information concerning the transition from
analog to digital television, which must be completed by August 31,
2011.
The CRTC says it's making this data available to assist the
broadcasting industry in its preparations for the switchover.
Canadians
who subscribe to cable or satellite television services will not be
affected by the digital transition. Only viewers who watch television
stations using a "rabbit-ears" antenna may experience some change in the
way they receive television signals.
It is estimated that up to
857,000 households in larger markets do not subscribe to either cable or
satellite. These consumers may need to purchase digital converter boxes
to continue watching local stations on their existing television sets.
The boxes cost up to $75 for each television in the home.
In
smaller markets, some local stations may decide not to convert to
digital, but instead rely solely on cable and satellite companies to
deliver their signal to viewers.
The CRTC reports it will modify its regulation to allow television
distributors to provide a free alternative to affected viewers in those
smaller markets. These companies will be able to offer a package of
local and regional stations at no charge to viewers. In order to receive
the free local package, some consumers may have to purchase a satellite
receiver and dish at a minimum cost of $300, depending on the number of
televisions in the home. At most, 31,500 households could be affected.
Consumer
awareness and education is a key component of the digital transition.
Members of the broadcasting industry are expected to actively
participate in the creation and implementation of a national consumer
education program. Such a program should start no later than March 2011
to ensure Canadians are well informed.
At the request of the
industry, the CRTC is prepared to support trials in certain markets
ahead of the August 2011 deadline. This would provide an opportunity to
assess the adequacy of all measures for the DTV transition, including
consumer education measures.
For more information, see the
CRTC's fact sheet on the digital transition.
StatsCan Releases 2009 Television Revenues
JULY 13, 2010
The
television broadcasting sector's operating revenues
totalled $6.5 billion in 2009, up 0.6% from 2008. This was the lowest
year-over-year increase since 1997, when a decrease in revenues had been
reported. However, the financial picture varies widely across the
various segments of the industry.
Revenues of public and private conventional television broadcasters
fell 3.9% from 2008 to $3.4 billion in 2009, the steepest decline
in 10 years. It was a particularly difficult year for private
conventional television. Compared with 2008, the operating revenues of
this segment dropped 7.7% in 2009, the largest annual decrease in more
than 30 years. Public and non-commercial television posted a 1.9%
increase in operating revenues between 2008 and 2009.
The specialty (+3.3%) and pay television (+16.6%) segments posted
operating revenue gains in 2009 compared with 2008. Revenues for the two
segments combined totalled $3.1 billion. Nevertheless, revenue growth
for pay and specialty television has been diminishing each year for the
past few years in both absolute and percentage terms. The year-over-year
increase was $230 million in 2007, $200 million
in 2008 and $175 million in 2009.
Canadian television broadcasters' advertising revenues fell 8.4%
from 2008 to $3.1 billion in 2009, the first decline in 15 years. The
weak growth of operating revenues in the television industry as a whole
in 2009 was largely due to the decrease in advertising revenues, as
other revenue sources were up.
Advertising revenues have long been the largest source of income for
the television sector, accounting for more than half of its revenues.
However, for the first time in a number of years, advertising revenues
represented less than half (47.8%) of the sector's total revenues. A
decade earlier, these revenues accounted for nearly 60% of the sector's
total revenues.
Private conventional television has faced a myriad of financial
challenges in the past several years, especially in the area of profits.
Although the profit margin before interest and taxes of this sector
was 11.2% in 2005, it obtained a negative result (-5.7%) in 2009. While
profits before interest and taxes totalled $4.8 million in 2008, losses
amounted to $113.4 million in 2009. It was the first time in 30 years
that profits were negative. Pay and specialty channels, on the other
hand, generated a profit margin in excess of 20% for the fifth
consecutive year. Their profit margin rose from 22.1% in 2008 to 23.5%
in 2009, and their operating profits increased from $648.2 million
to $728.7 million.
Canadian Broadcasters Intro New Newsroom Anchors --
UPDATED
JULY 13, 2010
The major Canadian TV networks are making big splashes with
newsroom news, and are announcing new anchors for their flagship news
programs. Women will soon anchor the country's major commercial network
newscasts.
Last week, CTV announced that Lisa LaFlamme will replace Lloyd
Robertson as host of CTV National News. After 34 years securing CTV's
National News, Robertson' finally confirmed retirement plans that had
been circulating for some time.
"There comes a time and this is it! I want to leave a suitable period
for my successor to have a smooth and seamless transition," he said.
"While I'll be hoisting anchor next year, I'll be continuing at CTV for
some time."
"I am so proud of Lisa and so very happy for her," Robertson
continued. "She's an extraordinary talent and a wonderful human being.
Canadians will appreciate it's the right choice."
LaFlamme is currently CTV's national affairs correspondent. "To
follow in the footsteps of Lloyd Robertson is an enormous honor and
extremely humbling," she said in a release.
Meanwhile, rival Global Television held its media event Tuesday in
Toronto, at which it Emmy Award-winning journalist Dawna
Friesen was been named Anchor & Executive Editor of Global
National, replacing Kevin Newman on the flagship newscast.
Newman's replacement will take up the full-time position in
September, while Robertson's replacement will ease into her position in
preparation for her full-time role starting sometime next year.
Newman,
who has worked both for CBC and CTV News in the past, was co-host of
CBC's Midday in the early 90's, which may have fuelled industry
speculation about his possible return to the CBC.
Friesen will make her inaugural broadcast this September.
"Dawna's credentials and accomplishments are at an elite level - and
in keeping with the new generation of anchor and correspondents
Canadians have come to rely on at Global National," said Peter
Viner, President of Canwest Broadcasting. "Today's announcement builds
powerfully on the commitment to excellence established by Kevin Newman
and the Global National team over the last decade."
As the London-based correspondent and anchor for NBC News, Today
and MSNBC since 1999, Friesen's engaged, inclusive style -
whether with world leaders, entertainers or everyday people - earned a
2009 Emmy Award for her part in team coverage of Barack Obama's U.S.
Presidential victory.
"I'm honoured and excited by the opportunity to return to Canada as
part of the Global National team," Friesen said in a release.
"Kevin and all the staff have created a rock-solid broadcast reputation,
one that I want to preserve and develop. I can only hope to connect
with Canadians the way he has. It's a fantastic challenge that I am
eager to take on."
Born in Winnipeg and raised in rural Manitoba, Friesen began her news
career in Canada in 1985, working in local postings then as a
correspondent and anchor for both CBC and CTV at the national level.
"I know Dawna Friesen is the right person to help the dream thrive,"
said Newman, Founding Anchor & Executive Editor (Global National
launched in September, 2001). "She is an accomplished journalist which
ensures she will continue the tradition of having a hands-on and engaged
anchor."
Lisa LaFlamme To Replace Lloyd Robertson
JULY 9, 2010
CTV announced today that Lisa LaFlamme will succeed Lloyd Robertson
as host of CTV National News next year. The announcement follows last
night's revelation from Robertson that he will step down in mid-2011.
LaFlamme, who began her broadcast career at CTV's CKCO affiliate in
1988, is currently National Affairs Correspondent for CTV News. She will
be featured in the anchor chair on CTV National News frequently during a
year of transition, in addition to Robertson, before she assumes the
full-time anchor title later next year.
"To follow in the footsteps of Lloyd Robertson is an enormous honour
and extremely humbling," said LaFlamme. "He is an institution, the very
foundation that fair and honest journalism is built on, and has
personally taught me so much about this business that I love. I remain
dedicated to upholding the solid tradition that Lloyd has created and
preserving CTV National News as Canada's most trusted news source."
"I am so proud of Lisa and so very happy for her," said Lloyd
Robertson. "She's an extraordinary talent and a wonderful human being.
Canadians will appreciate it's the right choice."
"CTV is fortunate to have the strongest news team in the country, so
it was natural to promote from within," said Ivan Fecan, President and
Chief Executive Officer, CTVglobemedia, and Chief Executive Officer, CTV
Inc. "Lisa is a first-rate journalist. We've all seen her hard news
coverage around the world and here at home, most recently with the G20.
In addition, we've seen her as a skilled interviewer and a warm host,
especially at Vancouver 2010. This is Lisa's time and I am sure she will
bring all her experience to the anchor position, maintaining CTV
NATIONAL NEWS as Canada's #1 national newscast."
For almost a decade, LaFlamme has been on the road as a hard news
journalist, covering the most important stories unfolding at the time,
from wars and elections, to natural disasters, from some of the world's
most dangerous locations.
Since 9/11, she has covered every angle of its aftermath - from New
York to Afghanistan to Iraq. LaFlamme was on the ground in New York City
covering the immediate after effects of the 9/11 attacks on World Trade
Centre. Since then she has been in and out of Iraq several times
covering the American invasion, elections, the Saddam Hussein trial and
the region's ongoing civil unrest. In 2006, LaFlamme spent two months in
Afghanistan reporting on the Canadian mission while embedded with
Canadian troops on a gruelling 12-day mission to track the Taliban. She
has returned to the country three more times to report to Canadians on
our mission there.
Never far from the heart of the story, LaFlamme was in Rome to report
on Pope John Paul II's sickness and eventual passing; has reported from
Sri Lanka on the devastation from the Tsunami that hit South Asia; was
in New Orleans to cover the impact Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans;
and was one of the first reporters on the ground in Haiti where she
covered a devastating flood that killed close to 2,000 in one small
town. Most recently, she reported from the environmental disaster in the
Gulf of Mexico, from the World Cup in South Africa, and from the heart
of the G20 riots that shook Toronto.
LaFlamme follows in the footsteps of colleague Sandie Rinaldo as a
trailblazer for women in Canadian news broadcasting. As one of Canada's
top journalists, she has been a regular fill-in anchor for Canada's #1
national newscast since 2003. She recently played an integral part of
CTV's national broadcast team at Vancouver 2010 as co-host of OLYMPIC
DAYTIME. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, LaFlamme began her
broadcasting career in 1988 at CTV's CKCO affiliate in
Kitchener-Waterloo, her hometown.
LaFlamme has received five Gemini nominations in the Best News Anchor
category and has won several RTNDA awards. Most recently, she received
an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in
Waterloo, Ontario and was awarded the Distinguished Canadian Award from
the University of Ottawa.
Career Summary:
2010 - Appointed successor to Lloyd Robertson as full-time anchor of
CTV NATIONAL NEWS
2003-2010: National Affairs Correspondent, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH
LLOYD ROBERTSON
2001-2003: Co-Host of CANADA AM
2000-2001: Parliamentary correspondent, CTV News
1998-2000: Prime News Anchor for CTV Newsnet (now CTV News Channel)
1997-1998: Consumer Reporter, CTV News
1997-1998: Weekend Anchor/Reporter for CTV Newsnet
1991-1997:Reporter and News Anchor for CKCO
1989-199: Radio News Reporter for CFCA/AM109
1988: Joined CKCO as copy writer and script assistant.
Internet Providers Not Broadcasters, Court Rules
JULY 9, 2010
Internet
service providers don't act as broadcasters, the Federal Court of
Appeal has decided, but industry changes may force a re-evaluation of
its ruling.
"In providing access to 'broadcasting', ISPs do not transmit
programs," the Federal Appeal Court said in a statement, and so they are
not subject to regulations contained in the Broadcast Act.
The decision also indicates that a levy or surcharge on wireline and
wireless Internet providers cannot be applied under the Broadcast Act to
be used to help fund and finance Canadian new media content.
The court said its decision was "based on the content-neutral role of
ISPs and would have to be reassessed if this role should change."
Recent industry developments have shown that larger ISPs are not only
transmitting content, but are in fact commissioning and creating their
own content for distribution.
A coalition of cultural groups may still appeal the decision to the
Supreme Court, claiming that ISPs are broadcasters because they do
transmit content.
It was the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) that asked the Court to determine the ISP's status, as
it was updating its Internet policy and looking at overlaps between the
Broadcast and the Telecommunications Act.
The court's ruling does include an order for providers to report
details about broadcasting activities, including content aggregation,
content development and related revenues and expenditures, although ISPs
that only provide access may be exempt.
OBITUARY -- MURRAY CHERCOVER
JULY 5, 2010
Murray
Chercover, former President and CEO of CTV, died Saturday from
complications following pneumonia. He was 80.
Chercover was born in Montreal in 1929. In 1944, at the age of 15,
Chercover began the career that would take him to the presidency of
Canada's first private television network with a job at radio station
CFPA in Port Arthur.
Pursuing his love of theatre, Chercover spent time in Toronto before
heading to New York City. There, he worked as an actor, director and
producer of various theatrical productions with companies in New York,
Atlantic City and Kennebunkport, Maine.
Chercover also directed his first television production -- a drama
for the Louis G. Cowan agency -- before returning to Canada to join the
newly-formed CBC Television in 1952. During the next eight years, his
credits at the CBC included dramas for General Motors Presents, Procter
& Gamble's On Camera, The Ford Motor Company's Playbill, and Space
Command.
In 1960, Chercover again sought new challenges when he left CBC to
join Baton Broadcasting's newly licensed private station, CFTO-TV. From
his first job as Executive Producer for all production, he went on to
assume the titles of Director of Programming for CFTO in 1961, and then
Vice-President of Programming later the same year.
When the CTV Network was formed in 1961, he chaired its Program
Committee. When the CTV affiliates acquired ownership of the Network in
1966, Murray was appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager
of CTV. By 1967 he became its President and Chief Operating Officer; in
1968 he became President and Managing Director. Finally, Chercover was
made President and CEO in 1986.
He retired from CTV just four years later, but continued as a special
consultant to the network while also developing his own business
Chercover Communications.
During his 24 years at CTV, Chercover oversaw the launch of many
famous programs including W5 and morning television pioneer Canada AM.
Investigative Sports Series from TSN, Globe and Mail on
TV, In Print, Online
JULY 2, 2010
In
a joint venture between TSN and The Globe and Mail, sister operating
divisions at CTVglobemedia, a six part multi-platform investigative
series will examine the viability of a new NHL hockey franchise in
Canada.
Led by veteran journalist Dave Naylor, the series, called Why Not
Canada?, appears in print, on TV and online. It promises to look at new
wide-ranging and in-depth socio-economic data that program producers say
clearly illustrates the viability of an NHL franchise expanding or
relocating in the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and
Quebec City markets.
The multi-platform investigation includes a six-part TV series on
TSN's Sportscentre beginning Monday, July 5. Daily features appear in
The Globe and Mail and online at www.globeandmail.com.
TSN.ca will also post a new page dedicated to the series, with
written features, extra video and in-depth statistical breakdowns for
the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City
markets.
Naylor has spent months examining the case for an NHL franchise in
four Canadian markets looking at as many angles as possible. Naylorturns to a host of leading economists, market research
specialists, potential owners, competition lawyers and fans for input.
Other important factors taken into consideration for each market include
existing arenas, corporate presence, regional interest in hockey and
demographics. Based on Naylor's research, a formula was developed based
on quantitative facts that assign a grade based on the realistic
viability of an NHL franchise in each of the four Canadian markets in
question.
"Six of the league's 30 teams are located here, yet estimates are
that more than 30 per cent of NHL revenue comes from Canada," Naylor
said in a release. "Many Canadians ask themselves: if U.S. franchises
are struggling, why not Canada? We will look at that question and try to
separate the emotion from the facts to definitively answer if another
franchise could survive in Canada."
As part of the series, Naylor sits down with NHL Commissioner Gary
Bettman for his opinion and reactions to the research regarding each of
the potential Canadian NHL markets considered.
The TSN Why Not Canada? broadcast schedule is as follows:
- Monday, July 5 - Part 1: Introduction
- Tuesday, July 6 - Part 2: Winnipeg
- Wednesday, July 7 - Part 3: Hamilton
- Thursday, July 8 - Part 4: Greater Toronto Area
- Friday, July 9 - Part 5: Quebec City
- Saturday, July 10 - Part 6: Conclusions
Growing Multi-platform Media Company a 'New Independent
Voice' in Canada
JULY 2, 2010
Canadian
media mogul Moses Znaimer and his Zoomer-focussed media company has
taken another giant step on the road to becoming a major multi-platform
content company, securing its hold over significant TV, radio, Web and
print properties.
ZoomerMedia has completed its take-over of Vision TV: Canada's Faith
Network/ Reseau Religieux Canadien, MZ Media Inc. and its radio stations
and other complementary companies.
It has some new commercial property to house its growing holdings,
and ZoomerMedia closed a $17.6 million private placement with a major
financiual holdings company.
"The VisionTV group of channels deliver unique and original
programming to the millions of Canadians interested in spirituality,
wellness and personal growth, Moses Znaimer, President and CEO of
ZoomerMedia Limited, said in a release. "Joining the ZoomerMedia family
of radio, magazine and Web properties devoted to the 45plus will ensure
that they are able to continue fulfilling this unique mission. It will
create new benefits and synergies, and will position the channels to
prevail in the face of technological and regulatory change."
"Viewers 45 plus represent VisionTV's core audience, making it a
natural complement to ZoomerMedia's existing media properties and
opening up new opportunities for cross-platform promotion," said Bill
Roberts, President and CEO of VisionTV, adding "ZoomerMedia and VisionTV
share a strong commitment to diversity and high-quality Canadian
content. This transaction creates an important new independent voice in
Canadian broadcasting. There are almost none left."
Details of the transactions include the acquisition by ZoomerMedia of
the following assets:
from VisionTV: Canada's Faith Network/Reseau Religieux Canadien,
Zoomer acquired (the "Vision Assets"):
(a) the assets and undertakings of the business of VTV used
exclusively and predominantly in connection with VTV's ownership and
operation of the Canadian specialty television programming service known
as and operating under the name "VisionTV";
(b) all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of
Christian Channel Inc. ("CCI") owned by VTV, with the primary assets
owned by CCI being the CRTC licenses for the television programming
undertakings CHNU- TV Fraser Valley and CIIT-TV Winnipeg, also known
respectively as "Joytv 10" and "Joytv 11"; and
(c) all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Vision
TV Digital Inc. ("VTVDI") owned by VTV, with the primary asset owned by
VTVDI being its 47.22% ownership interest in ONE: The Body Mind and
Spirit Channel Inc., being the holder of the CRTC license for an English
language Category 1 specialty television service known as ONE: The Body
Mind and Spirit Channel ("ONE");
and from Zoomer's President, Chief Executive Officer and majority
shareholder, Moses Znaimer, Zoomer acquired (the "MZ Assets"):
(d) all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of
MZMedia Inc., with the primary assets of MZMI being the CRTC licenses
for the radio undertakings CFMZ-FM, The New Classical 96.3 FM and 103.1
FM and CFZM, Zoomer Radio AM740;
(e) all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of MZTV
Production and Distribution Inc., with the primary assets of MZTV
P&D being a television production and distribution business;
(f) all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Zoomer
Management Limited ("Zoomer2"), with the primary assets of Zoomer2
being the management services operation providing creative, production,
communications and financial administration services to a variety of
companies;
(g) all of the assets and undertakings of the business used
exclusively and predominantly in connection with the operation of the
annual Canadian conference known as and operating under the name
"ideaCity"; and
(h) an office building situated on 2.6 acres of commercial property
in downtown Toronto, known municipally as 64 Jefferson Avenue, Toronto
Ontario.
Zoomer purchased the Vision TV Assets for an aggregate purchase price
of $25 million. The purchase price was paid at closing through the
payment to VTV of $14 million in cash and $11 million by way of a
promissory note payable over 10 years at an interest rate of 7% per
annum in blended monthly payments.
Zoomer acquired the MZ Assets for an aggregate purchase price of $30
million. The purchase price was paid at closing through the issuance to
Moses Znaimer and Olympus Management Limited , a company controlled by
Moses Znaimer, of 250,000,000 non-voting Series 2 Class A Preference
Shares (the "Series 2 Shares"), all issued at a price of $0.10 per
share, and cash consideration of $5,002,255.31. Contemporaneously, at
the time of closing, OML exercised warrants to acquire 20 million common
shares of Zoomer at a price of $0.10 per share (an aggregate of $2
million) and OML subscribed by way of private placement for 4,094,970
common shares of Zoomer and 5,905,030 Series 2 Shares at a price of
$0.10 per share (an aggregate of $1 million).
Zoomer also completed today a private placement with Fairfax (95
Wellington Street West, Suite 800, Toronto Ontario M5J 2N7) pursuant to
which Fairfax purchased 44,025,901 common shares and 131,974,099
non-voting Series 1 Class A Preference Shares (the "Series 1 Shares).
All of the shares were issued by Zoomer at an issue price of $0.10 per
share for an aggregate price of $17.6 million. The common shares and
Series 1 Shares were acquired by Fairfax on the basis of an "accredited
investor" exemption under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus and
Registration Exemptions. Fairfax acquired the common shares and Series 1
Shares for investment purposes. Fairfax continually reviews its
investment alternatives and may purchase additional common shares or
Series 1 Shares of Zoomer from time to time in accordance with
applicable laws.
All Class A Preference Shares are non-voting and the holders of the
Class A Preference Shares on any distribution of assets of Zoomer among
its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, shall be
entitled to receive from the assets and property of Zoomer for each
Class A Preference Share (with all series within the class treated
equally) held by the holder $0.10 plus all declared and unpaid dividends
thereon, before any amount shall be paid or any property or assets of
Zoomer distributed to the holders of the common shares. The Series 1
Shares can be exchanged at the option of Fairfax or Zoomer into common
shares of Zoomer at any time provided that upon such conversion Zoomer
will continue to satisfy the requirements of the CRTC relating to
foreign ownership. The Series 2 Shares can be exchanged at the option of
Moses Znaimer, OML or Zoomer into common shares of Zoomer at any time
provided that upon such conversion Zoomer will continue to satisfy the
public float share distribution requirements of the TSX Venture
Exchange. Each Class A Preference Share is exchangeable into 1 common
share of Zoomer.
Moses Znaimer now controls 165,157,970 common shares of Zoomer,
representing 66.27% of the outstanding common shares and 255,905,030
Series 2 Shares, representing 65.98% of the outstanding Class A
Preference Shares. Fairfax now owns 44,025,901 common shares of Zoomer
representing 17.67% of the outstanding common shares and 131,974,099
Series 1 Shares, representing 34.02% of the outstanding Class A
Preference Shares.
TSN Announces Finalists for Kraft Celebration Tour
JULY 1, 2010
Kraft
Canada and TSN today announced the Top 20 communities selected as
finalists for the Kraft Celebration
Tour. The
fate of these 20 communities rests in the hands of Canadians as
they vote for the 10 most-deserving tour stops to host TSN and
SportsCentre this summer during 10 days of intense, head-to-head
online voting from July 12 to 23. As part of the Kraft Celebration Tour, each winning community
receives a $25,000 community refresh from Kraft Canada to be used for
improvements to a facility in the prize-winning area.
During
the voting period (July 12-23), the Top 20 communities are paired up. One pair of
communities is featured per day and Canadians can vote for their favourite Kraft Celebration Tour nominations. Sportscentre on TSN and SPORTS 30 on RDS highlight the
day’s featured match-up with a look at the duelling communities and their proposed community
refreshes. Results of each vote are announced the following day on SPORTSCENTRE and SPORTS 30.
The
Top 20 communities, along with their match-ups and scheduled voting
dates, are as follows:
· Monday, July 12: Bay Roberts, NL vs.
Stephenville, NL
· Tuesday, July
13: Port Dover, ON vs. Victoria Village (Toronto), ON
· Wednesday, July 14: Gagetown, NB vs.
Pictou, NS
· Thursday, July 15: Pinawa, MB vs.
Steinbach, MB
· Friday, July 16: Abrams Village, PE vs.
Georgetown, PE
· Monday, July 19: Indian Head, SK vs.
Outlook, SK
· Tuesday, July 20: Wakefield, QC vs.
Beauceville, QC
· Wednesday, July 21: Fort Macleod, AB vs.
Wetaskiwin, AB
· Thursday, July 22: Elmvale, ON vs.
Brighton, ON
· Friday, July 23: New Westminster, BC vs.
Nelson, BC
The 10 winning
communities serve as a backdrop for a live broadcast of SPORTSCENTRE with hosts Darren
Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger in Eastern Canada, and Jay Onrait and Dan
O’Toole in Western Canada. In addition, SPORTS 30 featuring Chantal
Machabée and Marc Labrecque joins the Kraft Celebration Tour,
broadcasting live from any winning Francophone communities.
A total of 460 nominations were received for this
year’s Kraft Celebration Tour, with 3,553 (and counting!)
comments submitted by community members in support of their local
nomination. The 20 finalist communities were selected based on their essay
and photos describing how a $25,000 community refresh from Kraft Canada
would make a difference in their community. In addition, the
nominations had to demonstrate their community’s spirit and passion for
sports and a healthy and active lifestyle.
The Kraft Celebration Tour is supported by a
multi-faceted marketing campaign utilizing TSN and RDS broadcasts and
platforms, as well as media platforms throughout the CTVglobemedia
family. In-store displays were set up in grocery stores across Canada.
|
|
MAILING LIST
STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL UNION ACTIVITIES
|

|