TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 108
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Featured

fuboTV lands EPL broadcast rights in Canada for the next three seasons

On-demand sports streaming platform fuboTV has obtained exclusive broadcast rights of the English Premier League (EPL) in Canada for the next three years. DAZN’s current deal expires at the end of the 2021/22 EPL season, with Canadians having to switch subscription plans to get access to all 380 EPL games next season. The EPL is one of the most covered competitions in world sport. As such, it’s also one of the most popular events for sports bettors, specifically those who receive sign-up offers from reputable sportsbooks, attributed as a reward for using their services for the first time. The final day of the 2021/22 EPL season is one of multiple events that bettors will watch and wager on this month, alongside the likes of the French Open tennis and golf’s US PGA Championship.

In Canada, the EPL is certainly one of the most popular soccer leagues among viewers, encouraging fuboTV to land its highest-profile media rights acquisition yet. The financial terms of the deal have not been publicly disclosed. The EPL’s media rights in the US would be an interesting comparison. NBC landed the current broadcasting rights of the EPL for the next six seasons at the cost of over $2.7 billion, according to The Associated Press.

fuboTV’s soccer coverage for 2022/23
In August 2021, fuboTV’s Canadian subscribers benefitted from an exciting media rights deal when it landed the English-speaking rights to the Italian Serie A in Canada, as well as the nation’s premier cup competition, the Coppa Italia. It has also tested the water with other major European leagues, notably the French Ligue 1, due to its partnership with OneSoccer. FuboTV is also the number-one port of call for soccer fans to catch a glimpse of Canada’s very own Premier League, which was only recently established in 2019.

Following the announcement of fuboTV’s EPL rights acquisition, its head of content strategy and acquisition, Ben Grad, labelled the move “fair value” for what the platform believes is “great property” for its loyal subscriber base. The platform’s co-founder and chief executive, David Gandler, also said this latest partnership gives Canadian soccer fans “another reason to cut the cord.”

FuboTV’s aggregated platform of broadcasters also includes BeIN Sports and Benfica TV, as well as OneSoccer, ensuring its subscribers will be able to catch every kick from the EPL, as well as the Canadian Premier League, the French Ligue 1 and all of Benfica’s Portuguese Primeira Liga games in 2022/23.

The platform has been on a steady upward curve since its owners’ decision to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. Outside of Canada, it landed media rights to broadcast all South American 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to its US-based subscribers.

Looking deeper into its financial credentials, fuboTV anticipates having over 1.1 million active subscribers by the end of its latest financial year. Meanwhile, its revenue forecasts for the same period have also been revised upwards to a projection between $617m and $627m.

Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash.

What’s next for DAZN?
DAZN’s Canada subsidiary still retains exclusive media rights for many of the biggest sporting events in North America and beyond. It still covers every play of the NFL, as well as Europe’s biggest soccer club competition, the UEFA Champions League. Norm Lem, senior vice president of revenue at DAZN Canada, says the platform is “continuously exploring opportunities” to add greater value to its sports streaming portal.

DAZN has had bigger fish to fry in recent months too, as it’s secured a new multi-year broadcast arrangement with Red Bull TV. The distribution deal gives DAZN freedom to stream the Red Bull TV channel to its subscribers, bringing Red Bull’s unique brand of sport and daredevil entertainment content to streamers worldwide. Red Bull’s extreme sports events like the Cliff Diving World Series and the Drift Masters European Championship will now be aired to DAZN subscribers.

This is a big deal for DAZN and a major pick-me-up for the brand overall after missing out on the chance to acquire British broadcaster BT Sport.

Featured image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Race Against the Tide returns for a second season with host Maestro Fresh Wes

From a media release:

CBC today announced the return of original competition series RACE AGAINST THE TIDE (10×30) for a second season, produced by marblemedia and premiering Sunday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem. New Brunswick-based, award-winning Hip Hop artist Maestro Fresh Wes hosts the new season, featuring a new group of sand sculptors who will compete head-to-head at the Bay of Fundy to create extraordinary sand art before the world’s highest tide comes in while attempting to avoid elimination.

Each week, the artists have six hours to create their sand sculptures before the tide washes them away. In the end, the two judges – five-time World Champion Karen Fralich (Burlington, ON) and Master Sculptor Rusty Croft (Carmel Valley, CA) – will decide which duo will walk away with the grand prize of $10,000.

RACE AGAINST THE TIDE season two host Wes Williams, otherwise known as “Maestro Fresh Wes,” was born in Toronto and is considered to be the godfather of Canadian Hip Hop. Maestro Fresh Wes recently became the first Hip Hop artist inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame for his 1989 signature song “Let Your Backbone Slide,” and is also the first Black Canadian artist to have a recording reach platinum status in Canada. He now resides in Saint John, New Brunswick.

This season’s 10 highly-skilled sand sculpting duos are:

Agnese Rudzīte-Kirillova and Sanita Ravina (Latvia) – Agnese is an accomplished mixed media artist who learned about sand sculpting over a decade ago and has been doing it professionally ever since. Sanita discovered sand sculpting when she was a young girl, but has only been doing it full-time for the past four years.

Bouké Atema and Jeroen Advocaat (Germany and The Netherlands) – Originally from Kenya, Bouké has been sand sculpting since 2002 and is well-versed in several different art forms. He is known for sculptures depicting nature, while his partner, Jeroen, prefers structural design. Jeroen, a professional sculptor of over 18 years, studied architecture and 3D design.

Carlos Pereyra and Francisco Valdez (Mexico) – Carlos and Francisco have a combined total of 23 years experience in sand sculpting. The friends met before a competition in Mexico, when Carlos’ original partner backed out at the last minute. He had heard about Francisco and his talent, but didn’t personally know him. Francisco filled in for that competition, and the rest is history.

Craig Mutch and Daeyoung Ji (Vancouver, BC and South Korea) – Craig and Daeyoung want to bring their East-meets-West sculpture style to the world’s toughest beach battle. Craig has been a professional sculptor for 35 years working in ice, sand and snow, whereas Daeyoung has been sculpting for seven years and was catapulted to international success after completing an apprenticeship in Australia.

Fred Dobbs and Guy-Olivier Deveau (Sidney, BC and Quebec, QC) – Fred, who has been sculpting for over 35 years and is considered a Canadian carving legend, is recognized around the world as a professional sand sculptor. Guy-Olivier, who has been sculpting for more than 15 years, is one of Canada’s premier sand sculptors and is known for his dark Gothic creations.

Jo (Stefanie) Hollick and Manuel Campos (Vancouver, BC and Columbia) – Jo began sand sculpting on the beaches of White Rock, BC over two decades ago. With many career achievements under her belt, her biggest personal feat was placing fifth in the Parksville Beach Festival. Manuel has been a professional sand sculptor for over 12 years and has been awarded many different awards at various competitions.

JT (Joseph) Estrela and Amanda Gafford (USA) – Originally a math teacher, JT switched careers and now owns and operates his own company called San Diego Sand Castles. He has been professionally sculpting for seven years while his partner, Amanda, is a registered nurse by day, and an artist by night.

Peter Vogelaar and Alex Avelino (Winlaw, BC and Nelson, BC) – Peter and Alex are a mentor/mentee team from Canada who have sculpted together all over the world in both sand and snow. Peter, a professional artist, has been sculpting for almost two decades while Alex, a graphic designer, has been sculpting for nearly eight years.

Walter McDonald and Christy Atkinson (USA) – Walter and Christy are a father/daughter duo from the United States. Walter is the world’s oldest, still working sand sculptor, who discovered sand sculpting in the early 80s. Christy has been sand sculpting since 2003 and was taught everything she knows by her father.

Wilfred Stijger and Edith van de Wetering (The Netherlands) – This husband and wife duo are professional sand sculptors who have over 25 years of experience and have competed in hundreds of festivals around the globe. Their mind-blown surrealist sculptures are recognized across the world.

In the inaugural season of the show, PEI’s Abe Waterman and Seattle’s Sue McGrew took the top spot. Catch up on episodes on CBC Gem.

RACE AGAINST THE TIDE is executive produced by Matt Hornburg and Mark Bishop of marblemedia; series producer and writer is Carly Spencer and Donna Luke of marblemedia serves as co-executive producer. Co-produced with Hemmings House. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Alexandra Lane is Senior Director of Production; and Ann-Marie Redmond is Executive in Charge of Production. RACE AGAINST THE TIDE is presented with support from Tourism New Brunswick.

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Featured, Podcast

TV, Eh? Podcast Episode 245: WGC Screenwriting Award winners announced, AMI’s Disability Screen Office opens and Kenneth Welsh passes away

This week, Greg and Amy go through debuts and returns on the Canadian TV calendar.

Then, we cover the latest Canadian TV news, including this year’s WGC Screenwriting Award winners, AMI’s Disability Screen Office opening, Michael Geyeyes joining the team behind Acting Good, the latest project between W Network and Nikki Ray Media and the death of Kenneth Welsh.

This episode is brought to you by Henry Westons Vintage Medium Dry Cider and Chateau Saint-Florin Bordeaux 2018.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Awards

Costume designs and costume crafts of Nightmare Alley, Sort Of and Schmigadoon! sashay with top honours at this year’s CAFTCAD Awards

The Annual CAFTCAD Awards premiered May 7th at 9 pm ET on YouTube and www.thecaftcadawards.com. With in-person screenings in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, industry insiders came together to celebrate new groundbreaking costumes for characters and stories.

Directed by Liz Whitmere and hosted by the dazzling Steffi Didomenicantonio and Anand Rajaram, whose on-screen chemistry and enthusiasm warrant their own comedic sitcom.

“These costumes from achingly gritty circus folk to futuristic explorers have now become part of our consciousness. I am astounded by the originality I see from Canadian costume designers and their teams. We’re becoming known internationally for our abilities to find new takes on garment construction, finishing techniques and colour palettes. I am always incredibly proud that we commend their immense talents with this event,” said CAFTCAD Awards Chair Joanna Syrokomla.

Excellence in Crafts – Illustration, Sponsored by IATSE 891
WINNER: Schmigadoon! 102, Lovers’ Spat – Keith Lau
Costume Designer: Tish Monaghan, Asst Costume Designer: Summer Dietz, 2nd Asst Costume Designer: Nancy Bryant, Costume Supervisor: Jennifer Grossman, Costume Illustrator: Terry Pitts

Excellence in Crafts Award – Building
WINNER: Nightmare Alley – Nightmare Alley Cutting Team
Costume Designer: Luis Sequeira, Costume Cutter/Tailor: Philip Atfield, Costume Cutters: Loreen Lightfoot, Carla Mingiardi, Tamiyo Tomihiro & Ahmad Zargaran

Excellence in Crafts Award – Textiles
WINNER: Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins – Lanny Campbell, Samantha Stroman, Ellie Schultz, and Carolyn Bentley
Costume Designer: Louise Mingenbach, Assistant Designer: Koreen Heaver, Costume Supervisor: Janice MacIsaac

Excellence in Crafts Award – SPFX Building
WINNER: Strangers- AirBnB – Tannis Hegan and Keith Arbuthnot
MastersFX shop, Creature Designer: Sonny Gerasimowicz

Costume Design in Short Film
WINNER: Kiri and the Girl – Carmen Thompson
Set Supervisor: Jason Pillay

Costume Design in Web Series
WINNER: Kidoodle TV, Story Snacks: What’s the Word? – Rebecca Toon

Styling / Design in Music Videos & Commercials, Sponsored by Berman & Co.
WINNER: Ontario Power Generation / Dam Ridiculous – Marie-Eve Tremblay
Assistant Costume Designer: Megan Bonenfant, Custom Built Chest Waders and Hat: Izzy Camilleri

Costume Design in Indie Feature
WINNER: A Nightmare Wakes – Jennifer Stroud
Assistant Costume Designer: Jasmine Murray-Bergquist, Wardrobe Assistants: Veundja Katuuo, Madeleine Shepherd, Natalie Wrubleski & Katie Kahut

Costume Design in TV West – Contemporary, Sponsored by IATSE 873
WINNER: Maid 109, Sky Blue – Lorraine Carson
Assistant Designer: Kevin Knight, Supervisor: Kurtis Reeves, Set Supervisor: Amy Spear, Truck Costumer: Jody Deruiter, BG Coordinator: Emily Laing, Set Costumers: Debbie Humphreys, Caitlin Krantz, Key Breakdown Artist: Karen Durrant, Breakdown Assist: Katharine Humber, Prep Costumers: Michelle Grossmith, Deborah Rodrigo-Tyzio, Royce Ribeiro, Buyers: Sheena Mair, Jordan Hintz, Caitee Williams, Meghan Paterson, Cutters: Djamila Hamani, Rosalie Boland.

Costume Design in TV East – Contemporary, Sponsored by IATSE 873
WINNER: Sort Of 101, Sort of Gone – Shelley Mansell
Assistant Costume Designer: Juliann Wilding, Costume Buyer: Jo Jin, Costume Set Supervisor: Lyndsay Reader, Costume Truck Supervisor: Jade Braithwaite, Costume BG Coordinator: Genevieve Pearson, Cutter/Sewer: Angela Elter, Office Assist: Chantel Bedward

Costume Design In TV- Period- Sponsored By IATSE 873
WINNER: Schmigadoon! 101, Schmigadoon – Tish Monaghan
Assistant Designer: Summer Dietz, 2nd Assistant Designer: Nancy Bryant, Costume Supervisor: Jennifer Grossman, Buyer/Prep Costumers: Suzette Soloman & Colette Storey, Prep Costumers: Kim Bejar, Corinne Mameli & Ulrika Rosenblad, Head Cutter: Rosalie Lee, Cutters: Kieu Nguyen, Laszlo Marton, Tannis Hegan & Savino Peragine, Seamstresses: Patrice Yapp, Karen McVey, Kristina Alary, Caroline Cheng, Sisi Chan, Holly Anderson, Susan Raglin & Petra Wright, Breakdown Artists: Sage Lovett, Lanny Campbell, Chance Lovett & Samantha Stroman, Set Supervisor: Jeffrey Fayle, Truck Supervisor: Ali Kennedy, Dancer Set Supervisor: J.Paul Lavigne, BG Set Supervisor: Gina Hopkins, Set Costumers: Cat Mudryk, Heather Mitchell, Heather Mitchell, Valeria Maichen, Lise Hache & Jessica Pantella, Costume Illustrators: Keith Lau & Terry Pitts

Costume Design in TV – Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Sponsored by IATSE 873
WINNER: Star Trek: Discovery 401 Kobayashi Maru – Gersha Phillips
Costume Supervisors: Sheryl Willock & Becky Mackinnon, Assistant Costume Designers: Carly Nicodemo, Camellia Koo, Christina Cattle, & Laura Delchiaro, Assistant Costume Designer/BG Coordinator: Heather Constable, Buyers: Rashmi Varma, Kaitlyn Fifield, Money Tracker: Tova Harrison, Costume Assistant/Assistant BG Coordinator: Bianka Meroe, Costume Assistants: Grace Whyte, Emmanuelle Kraus, Sam Baljet & Marlena Kaesler, Digital Asset Manager: Liam McCabe, Illustrators: Ciara Brennan & Christian Cordella, Head Cutter: Monique MacNeill, Cutters: Kim Crossley, Ashley McKee, Reilly Kizer & Glen McClintock, First Hand: Chloe Tekavcic, Sewers: Karen Merriam, Malia Janveaux, Marie Glass, Leanne Reimer, Jane Haselgrove, Tori Lang, Catherine Brodeur, Bianca Tufford, Iliana Harendorf, & Emaan El-Houini, Key Textile Artist: Bonnie McCabe, Textile Artists: David Webb, Chantelle Hermiston, and Urs Dierker, Key FX Costumers: James Bolton and Saman Hamid, FX Costumers: Ray Wong, Hayley Stolee-Smith, Gwen Barton, Matt Sherren, Monica Lee, Kiga Tymianski, & Heetesh Patel, FX Sculptor/Molders: Ananthy Rajah, Scott Patterson, Kevin Morra, Daniel Baker & Chris Cooper, Set Supervisor: Kymn Keating, Truck Supervisor: Chelsea Oliver: Assistant Set Supervisor: Tara Thompson, Assistant Set Supervisor: Melesia Llewellyn, BG Coordinator/Assistant BG Coordinator: Melanie Lian, BG Set Supervisor: Eyob Desalgne

Costume Design in Film – Contemporary
WINNER: Night Raiders – Kendra Terpenning
Assistant Costume Designer: Joey Watson, Set Supervisor: Kurupae Rikihana, Truck Supervisor: Ashley Offredi, Costume Assistant: Gwendolyn Preboy, Key Breakdown: Jennifer Lantz, Costume Apprentice: Theresa Stevenson

Costume Design in Film – Period
WINNER: Nightmare Alley – Luis Sequeira
Assistant Costume Designer: Ann Steel, Costume Supervisor: Suzanne Aplin, Costume Coordinator: Claire Levick, Costumes Tracker: Michele Kokkinakis, Costume On-Set Supervisor: Jozie Conte, Set Costumer: Christina Cattle, Costume Truck Supervisor: Susan Nycz, Cast #1 Personal Dresser: Wayne Godfrey, Cast #2 Personal Dresser: Elayne Alexander, BG Set Supervisor: Rebecca McDermid, BG Supervisor: Amy Sztulwark, BG Coordinator: Hanne Whitfield, Buyer Coordinator: Heather Crepp, Buyers: Anita Bacic, Nathalie Gysel, Sara Schilt, Gillian Steinhardt, Cat Wadden, Key Cutter: Tamiyo Tomihiro, Cutter/Tailor: Philip Atfield, Cutter/Milliner: Loreen Lightfoot, Cutters: Carla Mingiardi, Ahmad Zargaran, BG Cutter: Lise St. Germain, Sewers: Sylvie Bonniere, Jaya Ducharme, Rebecca Fowler, Judy MacDougall, Alyssa Nasvadi, Ying Zhao, BG Sewers: Teresa Artibello, Heather Rautiainen, Key Breakdown Artists: Meghan Ancheta, Melanie Turcotte, Co-Key Breakdown Artist: Tamara Rigby-Funke, Breakdown Artists: Katy Clement, Bob Welsh, Debbie Williams & Jonathan Girard, Costume Assistants: Tess Barbieri, Julia Campisi, Lisa Prince, Charlotte Robertson, Sidney Sproule, Jean Wong, Costume PA’s: Roberto Balinado, Leyla Godfrey, Shila Rashid, Jacqueline Rossini

Costume Design in Film & TV – International
WINNER: The Harder They Fall – Antoinette Messam
Assistant Costume Designer: Whitney Galitz, Supervisor: Conan Castro Jr, Coordinator: Margaret Flaszynska, Head Tailor/Cutter: Erica Ciaglia, Tailors: Paula Trujillo & Debra Chapman, Head Ager/Dyer: Jesse Trevino, Assistant Ager/Dyer: Susan Kohl, Set Costumers: Brian Barela, Bradford Booth, Tiffany Rink, & Michelle Kelly, 2nd Unit Set Costumer: Jeffry Cookie Compton, 2nd Unit Truck Costumer: Andrew Sanchez, Buyer/Truck Costumer: Kit Noller, Key Costumer: Jill Machlis, BG Costumer/Buyer: Neishea Lemle, Buyer: Catharine Stuart, Concept Artist: James Casey Holland

Nobis Industry Icon
Jeff Churchill

ABOUT CAFTCAD and the CAFTCAD Awards
For over a decade, the Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design (CAFTCAD) has worked towards bringing together Canadian costume professionals from all corners of the industry, regardless of union affiliation. CAFTCAD has succeeded in creating a thriving environment within which members can share, learn and advance their craft, while simultaneously raising the awareness of the contributions these artisans have made in the international industry of film, television, video, and commercials.

The CAFTCAD Awards, which held its inaugural event in 2019, is the culmination of these efforts to bring the costuming community together, recognize and reward talent, and usher CAFTCAD onto the world stage.

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