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Featured, Industry News

Why should I care about the CRTC?

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I have been asked to write about regulatory activity for the TV, eh? audience. You might ask yourself – “why should I care about regulations – I am a fan/creator/broadcaster/distributor and I just want to know about Canadian TV”?

Without government policies, in their infinite and constantly evolving complexity, there would be no Canadian media. None. In particular, the Broadcasting Act and its stewards the CRTC ensure that we have a Canadian-owned broadcasting system and that each element of the system (primarily broadcasters and cable and satellite companies) contributes to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming.

Without these rules and regulations we would all be watching Masterchef and Under the Dome and other US shows on a US network. Well, we are anyway … but we have the choice to watch Canadian programming that reflects our world, our stories and how we see ourselves.

Nurtured, our talent pool has created terrific programming that has been extremely popular with audiences – Amazing Race Canada was the top show in Canada last week and during this summer season Rookie Blue and The Listener are both averaging over a million viewers each episode.

We also have the choice to watch high quality documentaries, children’s programming and Canadian feature films because of the regulatory support of the Broadcasting Act and policies and funding through Heritage Canada.

It is, however, an imperfect system. The CRTC is always trying to tweak the balance between consumers, creators and citizens and between broadcasters, cable companies and producers. The media world is constantly evolving with new technologies, new business models, new consumption patterns and new players. The system is constantly in tension and sometimes, often, you — the lover or creator of Canadian television — is forgotten.

My job here will be to translate regulatory activity (mostly CRTC but also changes in funding at Canada Media Fund or the independent funds or changes in policies at Canadian Heritage) and explain the impact on Canadian programming. Will there be more or less, what kind, should I be upset or excited about it?

Acronyms will unfortunately creep in. I have a decoder on my personal blog.

Coming up:  The big regulatory news is the TalkTV hearing which will take place September 8 – 19th, 2014. We could expect a decision on that hearing possibly before the end of the calendar year and then the following year we will likely have a number of follow up hearings on specific issues.

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Industry News

The Movie Network announces slate of shows in development

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From a media release:

  • Attached talent includes Oscar® nominees Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Joseph Boyden, and seasoned writer Stephen Tolkin
  • Production companies working with The Movie Network include Serendipity Point Films, Prospero Pictures, Halfire Entertainment, ICF Films, and Darius Films

The Movie Network announced today its current roster of 14 drama and comedy projects in development, featuring acclaimed writers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli), Joseph Boyden (Through Black Spruce), and Stephen Tolkin (BROTHERS & SISTERS). The diverse group of stories ranges from historical event series (THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES, UNCOMMON YOUTH), to provocative character drama FERAL, epic fantasy THE SEIGE, and a comedy about hicks, skids, and hockey players living in Letterkenny, Ontario LETTERKENNY.

In total, The Movie Network currently has 14 drama and comedy projects in development, including three previously announced comedies.

The Movie Network’s current slate of development projects include:

BEOWULF: BLOOD OF KINGS
Drama - A violent, romanticized, post-modern take on the classic saga. Attached:
Omni Film Entertainment: Brian Hamilton, Michael Chechik (DEFYING GRAVITY)
Matt Greenberg (1408) – Writer
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

DIVORCE PARTY
Comedy - A half-hour, single-camera comedy about a group of young, divorced women living the very definition of the term “hot mess”.
Attached:
New Metric Media -Patrick O’Sullivan and Mark Montefiore (Cas & Dylan)
Jessie Gabe (Cas & Dylan) and Linsey Stewart (BEING ERICA) – Writers

FERAL
Drama - A slightly unhinged child protection worker avoids her own life by throwing herself into her work.
Attached:
ICF Films: Ilana Frank (ROOKIE BLUE, SAVING HOPE)
Sherry White (ROOKIE BLUE, SAVING HOPE) – Writer
Semi Chellas (MAD MEN) – Story Editor
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

PRONS
Comedy - A famous porn star returns to his childhood home in Brantford, Ontario to get away from the business.
Attached:
Halfire Entertainment: Noreen Halpern (WORKING THE ENGELS, HUNG)
Kevin Smith (Clerks) and Aaron Martin (SAVING HOPE, BEING ERICA) – Writers
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

GUCCI WARS
Drama - Chronicling the House of Gucci’s notorious rise and fall.
Attached:
Bauman Entertainment: Ted Bauman (THE CLIENT LIST)Angus Fraser (ROGUE, TERMINAL CITY) – Writer
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

INCARNATE
Drama - An epic genre drama that follows an unlikely trio as they discover a shocking experiment has awakened an ancient conspiracy.
Attached:
Copperheart Entertainment: Steven Hoban (Ginger Snaps) and Clark Peterson (Monster) – Executive Producers; Clive Barker (Hellraiser) – Executive Producer and Creative Consultant
Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD) – Writers and Executive Producers
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

IRON BELLY
Drama - An epic adventure set on a 19th-century prison ship where the brutal journey becomes an intimate study of humanity, both above and below the decks.
Attached:
Darius Films: Nicholas Tabarrok (The Art of the Steal, Defendor)
Jeremy Boxen (LOST GIRL) and Jonathan Sobol (The Art of the Steal) – Writers
Co-developed in partnership with BBCA

LETTERKENNY
Comedy - Based on the YouTube sensation LETTERKENNY PROBLEMS, a series where hicks, skids, and hockey players have the last laugh.
Attached:
New Metric: Patrick O’Sullivan and Mark Montefiore (Cas & Dylan)
Jared Kesso (19-2) and Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) – Writers

METHOD
Comedy- A satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of a police procedural.
Attached:
ICF Films: Ilana Frank (SAVING HOPE), David Wellington (SAVING HOPE), Sonia Hosko (SAVING HOPE) – Producers
Peter Wellington (Cottage Country) and Peter Mooney (ROOKIE BLUE) – Writers

OPIUM
Drama - Set in Hong Kong and Victoria B.C., this epic historical drama charts the turbulent journey of the pious McLellan family as it takes control of the international opium trade.
Attached:
Reunion Pictures: Matthew O’Connor (CONTINUUM)
Nick Willing (NEVERLAND) – Writer
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

THE SIEGE
Drama - A fantasy/genre series set in New France in the early 1600s, a land of myth, magic, warriors, Jesuit assassins, and monstrous Wendigos.
Attached:
Prospero Media: Martin Katz (Maps to the Stars) and Karen Wookey (ANDROMEDA) – Producers
Chris Lavis (Madame Tutli-Putli), Maciak Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli), and Andrew Wreggitt (JACK) – Writers

THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES
Drama - A gripping whodunit set against the wild and captivating backdrop of Upper Canada in 1867, based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Stef Penney.
Attached:
Adlib Films and Origin Pictures: Greg Dummett (THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE), and David M. Thompson (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) – Producers

John Brownlow (Sylvia) – Writer
Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

THUNDERHOUSE FALLS
Drama - A wayward daughter returns to her family and is haunted by past and present dangers.
Attached:
Serendipity Point Films: Ari Lantos and Mark Musselman (Barney’s Version)
Joseph Boyden (The Orenda) – Writer

UNCOMMON YOUTH
Drama - Based on the gripping true story of the infamous 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in Rome.
Attached:
Sea to Sky Studios in association with Epix
Stephen Tolkin – Writer (BROTHERS & SISTERS)

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Featured, Industry News

Welcome to the new TV, eh?

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What’s new? Well, we’re back after a six-ish month hiatus that was meant to be a permanent cancellation, for one thing.

And we’re a “we” for another.

I’ll still do what I used to do – post the evening’s listings for new episodes, link to articles about Canadian TV from elsewhere on the web, and write the occasional interview or rant … I mean, op-ed.

But you’ll notice a big difference in the amount of original, professional content on the site. I’ve taken on a partner, Greg David, formerly of TV Guide Canada, and we recruited a team of contributors who will help us do reviews, interviews, features, and podcasts. Check out their bios.

We’ve been able to make this happen because of the incredible, unbelievable, generous support from you, our readers.

We launched a little Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise $1,500 so Greg and I could get the site up and running until we could find stable funding, and it exploded. In less than a week we exceeded our goal by over 1000%. We’re now stretching to $20,000 while seeking ongoing advertising and sponsorship.

The dream is to have a financially sustainable site that supports professional journalism about Canadian television. With your help we’re already on our way.

If you can contribute, or spread the word, the Indiegogo campaign is live until August 24.

If you want to talk to us about advertising or sponsorship, please get in touch.

And if you want to come to a place where Canadian television is worthy of serious discussion, welcome to the new TV, eh? We’re thrilled to be back.

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Auction, Industry News

Don’t call it a cancellation

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TVeh_icon_512x512

2006-2013

Thanks to all the winners, bidders, donors, and those who helped spread the word about the TV, eh? auction in support of Kids Help Phone. It was a much smaller auction than last time but we still raised $1770 for the charity.

But some of the reasons I took so long to mount the auction and why I wanted to keep it small are the same reasons I’ve decided to put TV, eh? on hiatus. There’s nothing wrong, just shifting priorities and wanting to move on from this commitment. I’ll continue to write about television and other topics on other sites as it moves me, and cheerlead Canadian TV from further on the sidelines. I won’t pull the site down — it will remain up as a resource and on the off-chance I or someone else decides to revive it in the future.

I’ll wrap things up by the end of the year, do a couple more podcasts with my fabulous co-host Anthony Marco, and then move on to other web adventures. It’s been a wonderful ride, these past seven years. I’m grateful to everyone for the support and will always feel like I was part of a great community of people — and hope to remain so to a lesser degree. But it’s time to retire at least for the foreseeable future from running the site.

Thanks again to everyone for the support.

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Featured, Industry News

Industry Update – Canadian International Television Festival

CITF-LogoThe Canadian International Television Festival debuts on November 15, 2013.  Perhaps TV, eh? readers forgot it existed.  Diane Wild – whose site I infrequently publish articles to – forgot it existed until I mentioned the CITF to her earlier this month.  CITF promotion will hit full force in the next few days, but then, it has to – there’s a press conference scheduled for November 5, after all.  As of the date I finish this article (November 3, 2013), the CITF confirms three things about itself – it’s real, there’s a Murdoch Mysteries-related event, and it promotes the #EyeOnCanada initiative.  Quite a feat, for a public festival that debuts in less than two weeks.

While I don’t know the CITF’s behind-the-scenes happenings, the festival cuts things close with its launch.  The CITF’s first Twitter posts were made on October 24, 2013.  The Canada Media Fund website has dates and times for certain parts of the festival, and the CITF’s first day is set aside for industry.  Murdoch Mysteries is the subject of the first announced screening and Q&A session.

Continue reading Industry Update – Canadian International Television Festival →

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