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HGTV Canada greenlights two new original series

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From a media release:

The blueprints are complete and the foundation has been poured for two new, original HGTV Canada series featuring returning and new talented hosts ready to showcase trendsetting projects. Home to Win builder Sebastian Clovis partners with the budget-savvy DIY designer Sabrina Smelko in Save My Reno. This energetic and imaginative pair helps cash-strapped homeowners transform their struggling spaces into spectacular reveals, with savings to spare. The action continues outdoors with Backyard Builds, a new series starring contractor Brian McCourt and designer Sarah Keenleyside as they produce one-of-a-kind designs in ordinary backyard spaces. Whether it’s a custom-made container guest suite sleeping four or a man cave complete with games area and home theatre, this visionary duo creates endless possibilities with a blank backyard. Casting is currently underway for both series at hgtv.ca/castingcall with productions slated to begin in August across the GTA.

In the upbeat new series Save My Reno (14×30), cash-conscious homeowners finally catch a break when Sebastian Clovis, the savvy contractor with contagious energy, and Sabrina Smelko, the resourceful DIY designer, toss out overpriced reno quotes and make dreams come true with a slashed budget and spectacular renovation. Sebastian and Sabrina save by putting homeowners to work and hunting for salvaged goods. Fresh off an appearance as a guest judge on an episode of W Network’s Game of Homes, Sabrina is a wiz at finding restored pieces at great prices while creating amazing designs and crafted items. Sebastian is the master at smart spends for breakout builds and custom surprises. Together, they give homeowners the reno they want on a budget they can afford. Produced by Great Pacific Television and developed in association with Corus Entertainment, Save My Reno is currently slated to premiere in Spring 2017.

When indoor space isn’t enough, Backyard Builds (8×30) showcases the endless opportunities outdoor areas can provide without breaking the bank. The series stars contractor and designer Brian McCourt and design expert Sarah Keenleyside who work with homeowners to maximize their backyard potential to create tailored, one-of-a-kind structures. Whether it’s a yoga studio, recording facility, whimsicle jungle gym, tiki bar, bowling alley or an al fresco dining area with a kitchen, this contractor and designer duo can extend any living space on a budget. Sarah is a bright, outgoing designer with a knack for creative projects. Brian completed his first home flip by 19 and can now take a project from demo through to construction and design. Together, they can design and construct any structure that a homeowner can imagine. Produced by Frantic Films and developed in association with Corus Entertainment, Backyard Builds is currently scheduled to premiere in Spring 2017.

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Subscriptions to cable, IPTV and satellite declined but revenues remained steady

From a media release:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission today released statistical and financial information on Canadian cable, Internet Protocol television (IPTV) and satellite companies for the year ending on August 31, 2015.

In 2015, Canadian cable, IPTV and satellite companies reported a slight decline in revenues of $11.8 million (0.1%) to $8.9 billion, while expenses increased by 1.3% to $7.2 billion.  As a result, the operating margin decreased to its lowest level in five years, but remained healthy at 19%. These companies employed 27,244 in 2015, down 6.3% from 2014.

The overall number of subscribers decreased from 11.4 million in 2014 to 11.2 million in 2015, continuing a two-year trend.  However, the average total revenue per subscriber increased from $65.25 in 2014 to $66.08 per month in 2015. IPTV companies continued to grow reporting double-digit increases in subscribers for 2015.

Spending by television service providers on the creation and production of Canadian-made content decreased by $38.1 million in 2015 to $436.9 million.  Of this amount, $219.6 million was directed to the Canada Media Fund, $64.7 million to independent funds and $152.6 million to community channels and other sources of local content.

Quick facts

  • In 2015, cable and IPTV companies reported revenues of $6.6 billion from programming services. This total represents an increase of 1.7 % from $6.5 billion in 2014.
  • Satellite companies’ revenues decreased by 5.2% from $2.4 billion in 2014 to $2.3 billion in 2015.
  • The number of Canadian households that subscribed to a cable or IPTV company increased from 0.3% to 8.9 million.
  • The number of Canadian households that subscribed to a satellite company’s television service decreased by 7.2% from 2.6 million to 2.4 million.
  • The operating margin for cable and IPTV companies increased from 15.8% in 2014 to 16.1% in 2015.  The operating margin for the satellite companies decreased from 32% in 2014 to 27.7% in 2015.
  • Operating expenses for the cable, IPTV and satellite companies increased by 1.3% from $7.1 billion to $7.2 billion.
  • In 2015, cable and IPTV companies spent over $2.6 billion on affiliation payments for the pay and specialty services they carry. This total represents a 5.7% increase compared to the $2.5 billion spent in 2014.
  • Satellite companies’ affiliation payments decreased by 2.9% from $809 million in 2014 to $786 million in 2015.
  • The CRTC produces a series of reports annually that provide information on the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
  • The CRTC recently published the financial results for specialty, pay, pay-per-view and video-on-demand services, conventional television stations and AM and FM radio stations.
  • The CRTC’s annual reports help interested parties to stay informed about the state of the Canadian communication industry and participate in the CRTC’s public consultations.

The CRTC’s report on cable, IPTV and satellite companies does not include information on Internet access, telephone services and other non-programming items. The CRTC will publish information on these services in the upcoming edition of the Communications Monitoring Report, in fall 2016.  

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Link: Canadian producers stymied by Brexit waiting game

From Eli Glasner of CBC:

Link: Canadian producers stymied by Brexit waiting game
Like navigating through a thick London fog, Canadian TV and film producers trying to understand the changing terrain of Europe see only uncertainty.

The results of the EU referendum, where a slim majority of Britons voted to leave, caught many Canadian producers off guard. John Weber is the CEO and president of Take 5, the company responsible for a string of European co-productions including the The Tudors, Camelot and Vikings, currently shooting its fifth season. Continue reading. 

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Link: A lament for the days of bad Canadian TV

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From Joel Rubinoff of Torstar News Service:

Link: A lament for the days of bad Canadian TV
All I hear about these days is the Golden Age of Television.

Mad Men, The Wire, Breaking Bad — shows that set a new standard for quality on the small screen the same way auteuristic films by Coppola and Scorsese did on the big one four decades ago.

But there’s another golden age, long lamented, fondly remembered, sporadically revisited, that also deserves attention: the Golden Age of Bad Canadian Television. Continue reading.

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On September 10, Canadians to make history with CTV’s Canada in a Day

From a media release:

In advance of Canada Day celebrations this weekend, CTV confirmed this morning that it has chosen Saturday, September 10, 2016 as the day when Canadians from across the country and around the world will reveal what it means to them to be Canadian as part of the ground-breaking project CANADA IN A DAY. As previously announced, CANADA IN A DAY is a two-hour event broadcast revealing the lives and culture of our country as demonstrated by footage shot and submitted by Canadians.

Inspired by Academy Award® and Golden Globe®-nominee Ridley Scott and Academy Award-winner Kevin Macdonald’s highly successful Life in a Day, CANADA IN A DAY will capture one day in the life of our country, and will air on CTV as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. CTV also confirmed today that the project’s website, CanadaInADay.ca, is now live.

From countless individual moments and stories, one film will be crafted by director Trish Dolman (Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson; LUNA: SPIRIT OF THE WHALE) to capture Canada on a single day – engaging people across the country, and Canadians around the world, to share – in any language – their hopes and fears, their personal stories and, in doing so, what it means to be Canadian. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, footage submitted may be included in the final film project set to air on CTV or featured on the film’s online archive at CanadaInADay.ca.

How it Works:

  • CANADA IN A DAY is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or landed immigrants across the country, or Canadians living abroad.
  • Participants can film as much or as little footage as they want during the 24-hour period on Saturday, September 10, 2016.
  • Canadians have until midnight on Saturday, October 22, 2016 to submit their footage online at CanadaInADay.ca.
  • CANADA IN A DAY is looking for people to be creative, honest, and real, filming themselves and the people or places that mean the most to them. Participants should capture their passions, loves, fears, hopes, and dreams.
  • Canadians are encouraged to film and submit videos in their own languages.
  • To help Canadians decide what they want to film, there are four main questions they can ask themselves:
    What do you love?
    What do you fear?
    What do you hope for?
    What does Canada mean to you?

Participants can answer the above questions directly to camera, or showcase their answers with a visual response.

For more information, including video submission requirements and tips from director Trish Dolman on how to create a great video, people are encouraged to visit CanadaInADay.ca. Canadians can also sign up to receive alerts and updates during the countdown to the Saturday, Sept. 10 film day.

Celebrity ambassadors supporting the project and helping to bring awareness to the CANADA IN A DAY Saturday, Sept. 10 film day include Russell Peters, Shawn Ashmore, Karine Vanasse, Rick Hansen, Jacob Tremblay, Patrice Bernier, Jason Priestley, Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Giacomo Gianniotti, Jessica Lucas, Roger Frappier, Chan Hon Goh, and more.

CANADA IN A DAY is inspired by the original award-winning Ridley Scott film, Life in a Day. Shot in 2010 and released in 2011, Life in a Day was the remarkable story of one day on Earth. The project garnered more than 80,000 submissions around the world, and contained more than 4,500 hours of deeply personal, powerful moments shot by contributors from Australia to Zambia – from the heart of bustling major cities to some of the most remote places on Earth. Since then, several countries have launched their own In a Day films, including Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, India, and Japan.

CANADA IN A DAY is produced by Screen Siren Pictures Inc. in association with CTV, with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, Bell Fund, Creative BC, FIBC, and the Government of Canada. Executive producers are Scott Free Films, Trish Dolman, and Christine Haebler, with Trish Dolman and Michael Ghent producing for Screen Siren Pictures Inc. Switch United is the web producer and Innovate by Day is the Social Media producer.

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