From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:
Link: Whither Canadian culture: Where’s the quality?
What’s exceptionally frustrating, especially in the matter of television in Canadian culture, is the lack of emphasis on quality. Said it before and saying it again: We make an awful lot of TV in this country and we are, frankly, accepting of a great deal of mediocrity. Money is thrown at all manner of drivel. Continue reading.
From Dan Levin of The New York Times:
Link: APTN, a TV voice for largely ignored Indigenous Canadians
Better known as APTN, the network is mainly aimed at viewers in Canada whose cultures existed long before the first Europeans arrived. But its reach is far larger, available to more than 11 million Canadian cable and satellite subscribers with news and entertainment programs designed to reflect the values, spiritual traditions and political priorities of indigenous people across Canada. Continue reading.
From a media release:
Corus Entertainment, the leader in specialty entertainment with six of the top 10 specialty channels in Canada, announced today that it is introducing Cooking Channel, a 24-hour network that caters to avid food lovers, in Canada on December 12, 2016. From the creators of Food Network, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing appetite for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension; from global cuisines to international travel, to food history and unconventional how-tos. A perfect pairing to Food Network Canada, Cooking Channel expands Corus’ dominance in the food and lifestyle genre and joins the company’s roster of lifestyle channels including: Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, W Network, Slice, DIY Network and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada.
The launch of Cooking Channel in Canada is an extension of Corus’ long-term partnership with Scripps Networks Interactive, leading developer of engaging lifestyle content whose media portfolio includes: Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network. Since Scripps Networks’ launch of Cooking Channel in the United States in 2010, ratings and impressions have grown exponentially for core demographics (A25-54 / W25-54), averaging gains of more than 50% to date while growing its distribution to US households by 20%. The network most recently wrapped Q3 2016 notching its highest-rated, most-watched quarter to date marking 15 consecutive quarters of quarter-to-quarter growth.
Cooking Channel in Canada is a rebrand of W Movies.
A few of the highly-anticipated series confirmed for launch include:
Man Fire Food
Man Fire Food stars Canadian chef Roger Mooking and features the inventive ways to cook with fire. From small campfires to creative custom-made grills and smokers, they visit home cooks, pitmasters and chefs who are fascinated by fire and food. The smoke signals take Roger Mooking across the country, including the American South for different styles of regional barbecue, the Pacific Northwest for a tribal salmon bake and New England for a unique seafood feast. Man Fire Food celebrates the passion for building and cooking with fire.
Dinner at Tiffani’s
Tiffani Thiessen invites her celebrity friends over for good company, great stories and delicious food. With guests like Jason Priestley, Seth Green, her White Collar co-stars and more, it’s a wonderful blend of dinner, drinks and fun. Come for the party, stay for the food.
Unwrapped 2.0
Unwrapped 2.0 is a fun and fascinating look at the amazing processes, great stories and interesting people behind the creation of some of the most popular snacks. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, Unwrapped 2.0 features everything from classic childhood treats to the latest candy crazes. Whether you like your snacks sweet or savoury, crispy or gooey, Unwrapped 2.0 offers behind-the-scenes access to get you a front row seat to see them made.
Cake Hunters
The perfect party needs the perfect cake, and that’s where Cake Hunters comes in! From weddings to family reunions and more, party hosts meet with three cake designers who present their jaw-dropping concepts to make the perfect complement to their big bashes. And once the winning design is picked, will the cake make it to the big day on time and in one piece?
Unique Sweets
Unique Sweets is an insider’s peek into innovative eateries that are creating the most unique and exciting desserts today. These sweet spots cover the gamut: restaurants with revolutionary pastry chefs; candy shops inventing eye-popping confections; chocolate boutiques with wild artisanal flavours and bakeries producing one-of-a-kind pastries, cakes and cookies in the middle of the night. Wherever there are gooey, crunchy, sticky and sweet treats that you won’t find anywhere else, Unique Sweets will take you there.
From Sophia Harris at CBC:
Link: Internet price hikes could be coming as Ottawa reviews cultural policy, critics warn
Like it or not, your internet bill might soon go up to help pay for something you may not care all that much about — Canadian content.
The federal government has launched a massive review of Canadian-made content in the digital age that will include who should be footing the bill.
One option on the table: a mandatory contribution or so-called tax on internet service providers (ISPs) to help fund home-grown programming. Continue reading.Â
From a media release:
It’s happening. Soon-ish. The Comedy Network announced today that new original satirical series THE BEAVERTON will premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, conveniently debuting the night after the U.S. Presidential election and leading into THE DAILY SHOW.
Also revealed today are the correspondents rounding out THE BEAVERTON’s news team. Helmed by co-hosts Emma Hunter and Miguel Rivas, the 13-episode, half-hour satirical series features “hard-hitting†news reporter Aisha Alfa; resident provocateur Donavon Stinson; delightfully corrupt financial correspondent Laura Cilevitz; and sharp-tongued foreign correspondent, Marilla Wex.
Among topics on THE BEAVERTON:
A so-called televised adaptation of the immensely popular online satirical site TheBeaverton.com, THE BEAVERTON files fake news stories of the utmost importance, informed by real events, the cultural zeitgeist, and national news media. With nearly 6 million views in 2016 and averaging more than half a million unique visitors a month, TheBeaverton.com has become a go-to source for Canadian satire. Viewers who need a daily dose of biting Canadian satire can check in with TheBeaverton.com for hourly updates.
THE BEAVERTON is the brainchild of co-creators Luke Gordon Field and Jeff Detsky (CALL ME FITZ, SEED) of TheBeaverton.com, as well as website senior editors Jacob Duarte Spiel and Alexander Saxton. Directors are Henry Sarwer-Foner (THE RICK MERCER REPORT) and Shelagh O’Brien (JUST FOR LAUGHS GALAS). Producer is Paula J. Smith. Pier 21 Film’s Laszlo Barna and Melissa Williamson serve as Executive Producers.
THE BEAVERTONÂ is produced by Pier 21 Films in association with The Comedy Network, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
