From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:
Link: Canadian cable TV pioneer Israel “Sruki” Switzer dies at 87
Canadian cable pioneer Israel “Sruki” Switzer, who built and consulted on cable systems from the U.S. to Hong Kong and New Zealand during the 1970s and ’80s, died of a heart attack on Wednesday at his winter home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 87. Continue reading.Â
From CBC News:
Link: Amazon set to stream new Jeremy Clarkson show in Canada
Amazon’s streaming video service is about to launch in Canada, if the former host of Top Gear is to be believed.
Jeremy Clarkson seemingly let the cat out of the bag in a tweet promoting his new show on Thursday, telling his followers that his new Amazon-produced show The Grand Tour will be available in Canada next month, because Amazon has “gone global.” Continue reading.
From Emily Jackson of the Financial Post:
Link: CRTC chairman knocks Rogers, Shaw for axing video streaming service Shomi
Jean-Pierre Blais, the head of Canada’s telecom regulator, took a swipe at two telecommunications giants for killing their nascent video streaming service in an age in which the Internet has disrupted traditional platforms and the “viewer is emperor.â€
In a speech in Ottawa Wednesday, Blais revealed he was shocked at the September news that Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. planned to shutter Shomi, a joint venture in which the cable companies had sunk hundreds of millions of dollars. Continue reading.Â
From Victoria Ahearn of The Canadian Press:
Link: Canadian film and TV academy to rebrand
The new head of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television says she’s taking inspiration from some powerhouse U.S. producers in an effort to get Canadians more interested in homegrown fare.
Beth Janson says she’s planning a “big rebrand and refresh” in January meant to improve the organization’s mission to promote and discover different kinds of content. Continue reading.
From The Globe and Mail (via The Canadian Press):
Link: Media personality Mike Bullard charged with criminal harassment
A published report says Toronto media personality Mike Bullard has been charged with criminal harassment but his lawyer isn’t commenting on the matter.
Asked about the report, Bullard’s lawyer, Arthur Stern, told The Canadian Press that the charges are a matter of public record but says he has no instructions from his client to comment. Continue reading.Â
