Columnist comments on CBC lockout, controversy over changes to CBC Radio One, arrival of satellite radio; concludes that independent artists "ingenuous" to expect vigorous support of U.S. satellite radio applications would result in greater airplay.
Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec labour unions launch coalition to support French-language public broadcasting.
In antithesis to 'convergence', the Internet is accelerating the unbundling of media such as television channels, songs, and books with consequences for cultural products historically subsidized by more commercial media.
Article says that Telefilm should be reformed so as to facilitate accountability and that it should prioritize quality over quantity.
CRTC made satellite radio licensing process easy for Canadian representatives of U.S. satellite radio companies, who stand to reap large financial rewards despite minimal requirements to invest in Canadian content.
Industry representatives say Canadian production funding system is in need of overhaul.
Article says that arts and culture supporters must come up with viable election strategies in order to achieve their goals.
FRIENDS says next federal government will be forced to address the scarcity of funding for production of Canadian television programs; notes current funding model effectively helps to subsidize the cost of acquiring U.S. shows.
Columnist takes issue with Auditor General's report, says cultural spending must be justified in cultural, not just arithmetical terms.
CBC to contract out advertising for CBC.ca to AOL Canada, rumoured to be in discussions to outsource rich historical program archives, cultural assets paid for by Canadian taxpayers, to the BBC.
Auditor General criticizes oversight, controls, objectives of over $800-million in federal culture spending.
20th Annual Gemini Awards air on Global on a Saturday night, competing with Hockey Night in Canada; columnist says event smacks of insider affair, with major stars absent.
U.S. satellite radio licensee to launch IPO to fund rollout of Canadian service, which will feature minimal Canadian content.
Despite impact of CBC lockout on promotion and scheduling of Trudeau prequel, CBC Television executive vice president Richard Stursberg concludes that low ratings mean viewers are simply not interested in docudramas.
Producers blame 1999 CRTC television policy for lack of Canadian drama in prime time, say part of the solution is to restore expenditure requirements for conventional broadcasters' investment in drama production.
Joint press release by ACTRA and FRIENDS reaffirms criticism of CRTC decision to license U.S. satellite radio services with low Canadian content requirements, welcomes CRTC decision to proceed with radio policy review, calls on CRTC to reject demands for reductions in Cancon by conventional radio broadcasters.
Media reporter writes that if Parliamentarians care about the future of CBC, they must properly fund it.
Astral Media agrees to supply programming to U.S. satellite broadcasting licensee Sirius, seals fate of collaborate venture with CHUM for CRTC-approved terrestrial digital radio service.
FRIENDS tells Finance Committee pre-budget consultations that the Committee should focus on two broadcasting issues: increasing the size and stability of CBC's parliamentary grant, and ensuring increased resources are deployed at the grassroots level in communities across the country, rather than in Montreal and Toronto operations.
Canadian Film and Television Production Association releases study showing that changes to film and television financing framework benefit broadcasters, hurt producers; broadcasters spending much more on foreign programming, especially drama, than on Canadian.
CFTPA releases study, calls for new policy framework, including programming expenditure requirements for conventional broadcasters, improved tax credits, and a redesigned Canadian Television Fund.
Lockout, delays responsible for low audience to critically-acclaimed CBC miniseries.
Data show that increased expenditures at CBC over the five-year period 2000-2005 have significantly exceeded growth in revenues.
Lockout can be explained in part by a cult of management at odds with CBC's public broadcasting mission; author notes management has never faced consequences of its bad decisions, including other lockouts, reductions in local programming.
CRTC hearings to decide whether to open Canadian pay television market to new entrants.
Column criticizes current CBC management for lack of vision, Parliament for lack of funding to support a truly relevant national broadcaster.
CBC Radio interview with CBC President Robert Rabinovitch about the lockout and the future of the national public broadcaster.
BBC director general announces need for additional 5.5 billion pounds for programming and technological improvements over seven years, to be met in part by a 40 percent increase in BBC licence fees paid by households owning television sets.
Bertrand Hall condemns CBC lockout decision, says CBC permanence, excellence and relevance should be affirmed.
Article estimates cost savings resulting from seven-week CBC lockout.
Columnist says CBC lockout would not have happened if the public broadcaster had sufficient federal funding.
The federal government's feature film policy, introduced in 2000, is failing; only 1.6 per cent of English language box office films were Canadian in 2004.
Royal Canadian Air Farce producer responds to Patrick Watson op-ed.
Study commissioned by federal Department of Canadian Heritage from Nordicity Group concludes that federal film subsidy policies are not bearing fruit in English Canada.
National Film Board has banner year, but says additional long-term funding will be required to repeat the success.
Quebecor to consolidate Toronto 1 television channel (renamed SUN-TV) with existing newspaper and web businesses.
U.S. satellite radio licensee announces plans to increase French-language offering to four channels from three in effort to address concerns behind calls for reversal of CRTC licensing decisions.
U.S. satellite radio licensees believe insufficient French-language content the only issue behind calls to overturn CRTC licensing decisions.
Liberal MPs from Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes have all reportedly urged federal cabinet to overturn CRTC satellite radio decisions.
Government sources suggest Cabinet will ask CRTC to rescind satellite radio decisions.
Canadian Satellite Radio says it has pre-signed three thousand Canadian customers in anticipation of launching its satellite radio service.
Article claims that quality of CBC Sports, once extolled as a broadcasting standard, has gone downhill.
Online marketing company that caters to independent artists calls for reconsideration of CRTC pay radio decision.
CRTC expected to make a decision on four new pay tv applicants in late winter or early spring.
Los Angeles film economy once again affected by runaway production.
Columnist laments that federal funding of arts and culture has withered at the same time as their economic importance has grown.
CCA Study shows that between 1991-93 and 2002-03 government expenditures on the arts decreased, while the economic importance of the cultural sector grew.
U.S. satellite pay radio service licensed by CRTC announces financial support for Quebec artist.
Quebec artists say they will have to be convinced that the CRTC ruling on subscription radio will benefit them, or they will appeal.
Heritage Minister Liza Frulla announces the new roles of the various organs of the Canadian production funding structure at Banff in hopes of achieving increased accountability and transparency.
CRTC authorizes all three applicants for digital pay radio.
The CBC and Telefilm announce $2-million documentary co-venture called the Theatrical Feature-Length Documentary Program.
Producers praise decision for Telefilm to take over the administration of the Canadian Television Fund.
Federal government promises one stop shopping, less bureaucracy in single production funding agency.
Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla announces $100 million in new money for the Canadian Television Fund; advises public and private broadcasters alike to accelerate conversion to HDTV.
CCAU recommends significant regulatory changes to improve the level of drama on English Canadian television and increase investment by private conventional broadcasters.
The Canadian Television Fund announced $99.2 million in production funding for Canadian television, but shows that lost out take issue with the points system used to award funds.
Columnist says Telefilm efforts to create a new film festival in Montreal are a disaster.
Canadian actors tell government committee to create shelf space for Canadian films - more room on theatre screens and more airtime on television for Canadian films.
Federal government tables second response to June 2003 Lincoln Report on the Canadian broadcasting system.
StatsCan reports that based on fall 2003 data, Canadians are increasingly choosing homegrown news and public affairs shows over other programming on Canadian television.
Charts showing annual investment by private conventional broadcasters in Canadian and foreign programming between 1994-2004, adjusted to 2004 dollars.
The Quebec film industry is doing something right that goes beyond the natural protection offered by the language barrier.
Film review says we have the CBC to thank for national cinema generally having "an irritating self-aware quality".
CCAU says the federal government must address the crisis in Canadian drama in its upcoming parliamentary response to the Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
Telefilm head Wayne Clarkson tells Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that Canadian production funding should increase and that the new aim should be for Canadian films to occupy 10% market share.
Survey by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, affiliated with Columbia University, says that journalism is increasingly focused on pre-packaging and presenting information rather then gathering it.
CBC rumoured to be in line for a funding increase to revive local programming.
Sources expect the federal budget to fulfil the CBC's request for a budget increase, but Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has not confirmed the rumour.
The federal budget to be tabled Wednesday is expected to meet the CBC's demand for extra funding to revive regional programming; but government must take measures to ensure that the money is used for that purpose.
Government sources say Wednesday's federal budget will grant the CBC extra funding to revitalize regional programming.
The federal budget will demonstrate how successful Heritage Minister Liza Frulla's lobbying efforts on behalf of the cultural industry have been.
Article says federal production funding agencies have gone too far in their attempts to define Canadian content.
Television producers and broadcasters criticize Canadian Television Fund's strict interpretation of Canadian content rules.
Speaking points for speech by Minister of Canadian Heritage, Liza Frulla, to the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.
Article says that the way to revitalize the Canadian film and television industry is to give grants to local producers and improve the distribution system instead of hiking tax credits.
