Everything about Industry News, eh?

CBC’s future depends on digital success

From Kate Taylor of the Toronto Star:

  • How to make the CBC viable in the digital age
    “Everybody’s ratings were up in 2009-2010 as the new, portable “people meters” began recording a lot of casual viewing that had previously been missed, and sports ratings in particular went through the roof. But the CBC still regularly placed shows in the top 30, especially the entrepreneurship contest Dragons’ Den, the family ranch drama Heartland and that unabashed bid for Canadian hearts, Battle of the Blades.” Read more.
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TV, eh? podcast episode 3: Gordon Pinsent and CBC’s fall schedule

Episode 3: Listen or download here or subscribe via iTunes or with any other program via the TV, Eh? feed

Co-hosts Anthony Marco and Diane Wild discuss the CBC fall schedule, including arguing about the merits of Battle of the Blades, deciding Rick Mercer and the gang at 22 Minutes should never have holidays so we can have a Daily Show/Colbert type show in Canada,cheering Being Erica‘s renewal, and cynically deciding CBC had nothing better in development. In other news, 18 to Life was picked up by The CW, Haven got decent ratings, Degrassi introduced a transgendered character, and The Pillars of the Earth premieres Friday on The Movie Network/Movie Central.

Plus, a 20-minute interview with Gordon Pinsent about his role in The Pillars of the Earth, his 80th birthday celebration at the opening of his new play, Due South, the new series he has in development with son-in-law Peter Keleghan, what progress he’s seen in the Canadian TV industry over the years, his relationship with Sarah Polley, and how he’s been in every Canadian TV show and movie ever made.

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Podcast featuring interview with TV, eh? – Gemini Awards, Local TV Matters & how I want to punch the Canadian TV industry

From Dyscultured, includes an interview with me:

  • Episode 56 – ACTA’s Got No Seoul
    My segment starts 31 minutes in. We talk about the Gemini Awards, the Local TV Matters campaign, the history of TV, eh? and how talking about the Canadian TV industry makes me want to punch everyone involved (but I say it with, um, affection). Listen here or download from iTunes.
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VIFF forum session on co-ventures

From the Vancouver International Film Festival website:

TV TALK – Wednesday, September 30
3:30– 4:45 PM
Co-ventures in TV Land (FTV11)
Defying Gravity, Copper, Flashpoint, The Guard, and The Listener – these are a few of the Canadian-made scripted television series that have recently met with co-venture success in the US. The upside to the squeeze on production financing internationally is that US networks are looking to Canadian producers with renewed interest to carry the freight. But putting together an international TV deal is far from easy. It takes skill, talent and great timing – not just a great concept. Stop by for an in-depth session on getting a green light on scripts, budgets, cast, crew and financing on a series produced in Canada for the North American and, hopefully, world TV market.

Click here for more information and registration.

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In the news: Canadian dramas bellwether for industry

From Jason Anderson of The Walrus magazine:

  • Point of No Return: Making Canadian television drama worth watching remains a challenge
    “Even with the global recession slowing production (shortfalls forced CBC to cut the number of episodes in The Border’s third season), all this activity would seem to indicate a reversal of fortune for makers of Canadian television. As ACTRA’s Stephen Waddell told Playback Daily, ‘Canada is ready for the big time. If you look at the programs being produced now, they’re interesting, they’re innovative, they bring a new perspective.’ He might also have mentioned that the US networks buy them for a fraction of what it costs to produce their own programming.” Read more.
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