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TV, Eh? Industry Update – DVD, Apple iTV, CTS, More

February 10, 2012 Cameron

Canadian TV-on-DVD news

Flashpoint‘s third season debuts on DVD in Canada May 22, 2012, through Phase 4 Films. A Blu-ray set has not yet been announced.

More information on the Rookie Blue second-season DVD/Blu-ray set. The set was first mentioned at TV, Eh? last Friday.

Apple iTV to launch in Canada?

Rogers and/or Bell might partner with Apple for iTV in Canada. Essentially, iTV is a television version of Apple’s iPad. Prototypes of the device are in Rogers and Bell’s possessions.

This should not be confused with Apple TV, a five-year-old product already available in Canada. Apple TV mainly streams online content from iTunes, and other selected sources, to television screens.

According to Best Buy’s American branch, a 42-inch Apple iTV, with a built-in webcam and iCloud support, will hypothetically retail for $1499 US. As the product is still in testing stages, prices may vary if/when Apple iTV actually hits the market.

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Featured, Industry News

TV, Eh? Industry Roundup: The Mostly-CRTC Edition

February 7, 2012 Cameron

Astral executive shuffle

Astral’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Claude Gagnon, has left the company after more than twenty years. Gagnon joined Astral in July 1991, announcing his retirement effective January 31, 2012. Taking Gagnon’s place as SVP/CFO is Robert Fortier, Astral’s Vice-President, Finance.
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Dramas and Comedies, Industry News

How The Bridge helped Canada conquer US markets

February 6, 2012 Diane Wild

From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:

How CBS Crossing ‘The Bridge’ Helped Canada Conquer U.S. Primetime
Adam Shully is back pitching homegrown dramas in Hollywood two years after his cop drama got U.S. networks buying affordable Canadian hours like “The L.A. Complex” and “Rookie Blue” as never before. Read more.

Featured, Industry News

TV, eh? Industry Roundup

January 31, 2012 Diane Wild

By Cameron Archer for TV, eh?

CRTC Introduces Capacity Based Billing

The CRTC will introduce capacity-based billing starting February 1, 2012. Under CBB, smaller ISPs buy a set amount of network capacity per month from major players MTS Allstream, Cogeco, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, and Shaw Communications.

In essence, the smaller ISPs are capped, much like individual consumers. Bell is exempt from this new billing, while it resolves its problems with the Canadian Network Operators Consortium.

Under this new billing, oversubscription and higher average usage could slow average speeds. Quite a way for new interim CRTC chairman Leonard Katz to begin his run.

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Industry News, Republic of Doyle

CBC’s future depends on digital success

September 24, 2010 Diane Wild

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 Ã¢â‚¬Å“people metersÃ¢â‚¬Â 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.