From James Bradshaw of The Globe and Mail:

Take U.S. networks off Canadian airwaves, Bell Media urges
The president of Bell Media fired a broadside at Canada’s broadcast regulator on Friday, saying its policies are hobbling the company’s profitability and suggesting that U.S. networks such as CBS, NBC and FOX should be kicked off the country’s airwaves.

In a speech to a TV industry audience in Ottawa, Kevin Crull argued the business model for traditional broadcasters is “fundamentally broken” and “unsustainable,” pointing a finger at Hollywood’s direct intrusion on Canadian TV dials. Continue reading.

From Michael Geist of the Toronto Star:

Behind the scenes of Ontario’s campaign for a Netflix tax
Despite the fact that a Netflix tax would yield less than one per cent of the annual expenditures on Canadian television financing (about $15 million dollars in support for a sector that spent $2.3 billion last year), most content groups called for mandatory Canadian content contribution funding from online video providers during the CRTC’s TalkTV hearings. Amidst the clamour for new funding, there was one voice that attracted the most attention — the Government of Ontario. Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Crull, Conway and others clash at lively Prime Time in Ottawa panel
This 20th anniversary edition of Prime Time in Ottawa included a sparkling panel who addressed the topic “Getting Ahead of Change.” For those of us who couldn’t make it to Ottawa this year the Thursday morning session was live streamed and it was, I must say, pretty compelling viewing. Continue reading.

From a media release:

− Based on the internet hit with more than 8 million views, half-hour comedy becomes first Canadian series commissioned for a Canadian SVOD service –
− Created, starring, and executive produced by 19-2’s Jared Keeso –

It’s a great day for hay, eh? Bell Media announced today from Prime Time in Ottawa that CraveTV^TM, in partnership with The Comedy Network, has commissioned its first original Canadian series. The six-part, half-hour comedy LETTERKENNY becomes the first original series commissioned for a Canadian SVOD service. In development at Bell Media since November 2013, LETTERKENNY is based on the internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, a five-part series of shorts which have garnered more than 8 million views and earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination in 2014 for Best Web Series. Click here to see the original Letterkenny Problems shorts.

LETTERKENNY is created by Listowel, Ontario native Jared Keeso, co-star of Bravo’s critically-acclaimed, original drama series 19-2. Hot off the heels of a Canadian Screen Award win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, Keeso will star in LETTERKENNY, and also acts as executive producer and co-writer. Nathan Dales (KING & MAXWELL) stars as Wayne’s quick-tongued sidekick, Daryl. Produced by New Metric Media in partnership with DHX Media and in association with Four Peaks Media Group, Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Patrick O’Sullivan and Mark Montefiore are executive producers for New Metric Media. Production begins in Northern Ontario this summer.

LETTERKENNY is about Wayne (Keeso), a good-ol’ country boy in Letterkenny, Ontario trying to protect his homegrown way of life on the farm, against a world that is constantly evolving around him. The residents of Letterkenny belong to one of three groups: Hicks, Skids, and Hockey Players. The three groups are constantly feuding with each other over seemingly trivial matters; often ending with someone getting their @ss kicked.

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with DHX Media and in association with Four Peaks Media Group, in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy, Bell Media. Executives for Bell Media are Kara Haflidson and Bill Lundy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Tracey Pearce is Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. Phil King is President, CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.