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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Children's Programming

DHX Media’s Make It Pop Commissioned by Nickelodeon for Season 2

From a media release:

DHX Media Ltd. (“DHX” or the “Company”) (TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), a key player internationally in the creation of content for families and children, has been commissioned by Nickelodeon to produce a second season of its hit live-action, tween series, Make It Pop. The 20-episode order will be filmed at DHX’s Epitome Studio, in Toronto, Canada. Make It Pop season one will debut on Nickelodeon’s international channels beginning this summer.

Make It Pop is Nickelodeon’s #1 show with K6-11 and G6-11. The series ranks as the most-watched long-form content on Nick.com and on the Nick App.

Make It Pop is co-created by Thomas W. Lynch and Nick Cannon and produced by DHX Media. Lynch and Cannon also serve as executive producers with DHX Media’s Steven DeNure and Anne Loi. DHX Media also handles global distribution and brand management for Make It Pop, as well as merchandising and licensing through appointed agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG). Music supervision is by Peter Coquillard and Pilar McCurry of Silva Music Publishing, and the show’s band XO-IQ, is managed by Bill Silva Entertainment.

The show is a half-hour comedic, music-infused daily scripted series that follows three unique girls – social-media maven Sun Hi (Megan Lee), bookish Corki (Erika Tham), and fashion-forward Jodi (Louriza Tronco) – who come together with DJ hopeful Caleb (Dale Whibley) over their love of music to form their own K-pop inspired band. Each episode features original songs and performances with a K-pop twist and an EDM beat from the show’s band, XO-IQ.

Filled with new songs, lots of laughs and heart, season two sees Sun Hi, Corki, Jodi and Caleb continue their coming-of-age journey.  After their triumph with the school musical, the band XO-IQ is called upon to represent Mackendrick Prep at a high stakes battle of bands and a new musical rival emerges.

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Big Brother Canada, Remedy

Tonight: Big Brother Canada, Remedy

Big Brother Canada, Global
One houseguest will win the coveted Power of Veto—the ability to veto a nominee up for eviction!

Remedy, Global – “Everything in Moderation”
When a peculiar woman turns up at Beth-H complaining of a migraine, Allen quickly discovers there is much more going on with her than a headache and he’ll need to employ all of his ID skills in the ER. Mel reattaches a reluctant construction worker’s severed hand while also contemplating what Cutler’s move to Dallas means for her. Also, a patient of Sandy’s refuses to eat while Griffin’s misguided effort to help nearly leads to disaster.

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Featured, Polls

Poll: What is your favourite Canadian TV show of the 1970s?

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The second round of the NHL playoffs are in full swing, the perfect time to hold our own little set of playoffs—with a distinct Canadian TV flare. Unlike the Stanley Cup playoffs, however, TV, Eh’s Great Canadian TV Playoff boasts solely homegrown head-to-head matchups of television shows.

Starting today and through the rest of the month, we’ll pit eight television shows (just like the NHL) from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and 2000s against one another until the final showdown to name the top Canadian TV series of all time on May 29.

It all kicks off with the 1970s (voting for the 1980s begins Thursday), so cast your vote now and spread the word.

What is your favourite Canadian television series of the 1970s?

  • SCTV (39%, 30 Votes)
  • The Beachcombers (21%, 16 Votes)
  • The Friendly Giant (14%, 11 Votes)
  • Mr. Dressup (9%, 7 Votes)
  • The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (8%, 6 Votes)
  • King of Kensington (5%, 4 Votes)
  • The Trouble with Tracy (3%, 2 Votes)
  • Swiss Family Robinson (1%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 77

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Blackstone, Featured, Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Orphan Black, Republic of Doyle, Schitt's Creek, Sensitive Skin, Sunnyside, Vikings, Young Drunk Punk

He Said/She Said: Canadian TV Shows to Binge-Watch this Summer

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Join Greg and Diane every Monday as we debate what’s on our minds. This week: Key Canadian TV shows to binge-watch this summer.

He Said:

The Canadian TV calendar is starting to thin out as we get into the summer months. Big Brother Canada, Remedy and Orphan Black continue to chug along, Rookie Blue returns and Between debuts on May 21 and CBC’s Fool Canada hidden camera series starring Will Sasso is scheduled to bow in June. Other than that, there’s not a heck of a lot on, which means it’s the perfect time to binge-watch a homegrown program or two (or four or five) during the rest of the spring and into the summer. Here are my picks:

Young Drunk Punk, City
Bruce McCulloch’s peek back at the 1980s is tender, funny and sweet, and showcases wonderful performances from its young cast in Tim Carlson and Atticus Mitchell alongside vets McCulloch and Tracy Ryan. Catch all 13 episodes on City’s website.

Sunnyside, City
Co-created by Gary Pearson and Dan Redican, Sunnyside is brash, envelope-pushing sketch comedy starring Kathleen Phillips, Pat Thornton, Patrice Goodman, Alice Moran, Rob Norman and Kevin Vidal playing a wide range of offbeat characters, from meth heads to meat heads, murderers to cops. Wacky co-stars include ponies, clowns, a bleeding wall and a guy who lives in the sewer. Season 1 is available on City’s website.

Vikings, shomi/History
If historical drama is more your thing, you should be watching Vikings. Game of Thrones may grab more headlines, but I like Vikings because it’s based on real history and Viking mythology. Travis Fimmel is Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking farmer who yearns for a better, more exciting life. With the help of his wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), brother Rollo (Clive Standen) and buddy Floki (Gustaf SkarsgÃ¥rd), Ragnar successfully reaches England and begins a bloody campaign seeking riches and fame. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on shomi for Rogers and Shaw subscribers and Season 3 can be watched on History.ca.

Republic of Doyle, CBC
Allan Hawco’s co-creation is like The Rockford Files if it was set in Newfoundland. Jake Doyle (Hawco) and his dad, Malachy (Sean McGinley) tool around St. John’s in a GTO, solving crimes as PI’s and getting into trouble with the local RCMP detachment. Funny and dramatic, Doyle is one hell of a ride. The entire run of Republic of Doyle can be watched on CBC.ca.

Orphan Black, CraveTV
My apologies to die-hard fans of Orphan Black, but I like Season 1 more than the sophomore go-round or this current season. I think it’s because I was so blown away by Tatiana Maslany playing Sarah, Alison, Helena, Rachel and Cosima for the first time and the tight storytelling that made it so memorable. This was OB before the accolades and awards, when it still felt like a small #CloneClub was tuning in to greatness. Season 1 is available on CraveTV.

Blackstone, APTN
Created by Ron E. Scott, this gritty Gemini Award winner spotlights the fictional Blackstone First Nations band just outside of Edmonton. Issues of drugs, alcoholism, unemployment, corruption and abuse are acknowledged through an unflinching lens that is entertaining and thought-provoking. All four seasons of Blackstone can be seen on APTN’s website.

She Said:

The problem with recommending a binge-watch of Canadian series is many can be difficult to find. You can’t just sign up for CraveTV or shomi unless you’re with a qualifying cable or Internet company, and some of the binge-worthiest shows aired on cable channels that don’t offer episodes online, or aired years ago before online access was a consideration and a broadcaster or producer might not think getting those rights is worth the effort. Does anyone buy DVDs anymore? A handful are available that way.

I’d echo Greg’s Blackstone recommendation — I need to get caught up myself — and add that the first season of Young Drunk Punk will come to CBC in the fall, but you could be one of the cool kids (and possibly help the low-rated show get a second season) if you catch up now. Besides those, here’s my two cents:

slings_and_arrows-image

Slings & Arrows, DVD
If you’ve seen it already, isn’t it time to rewatch? If you haven’t seen it, you have to at least give a try to the show that tops my list of best Canadian series of all time. If you don’t fall in love, fine, be that way, but at least get a taste of the pathos and humour behind the scenes of not-Stratford starring Paul Gross, Martha Burns, Stephen Ouimette, Mark McKinney, Susan Coyne and, in the first season, a luminous Rachel McAdams. All three seasons are on DVD.

Twitch City, DVD
I dare you to find a more intentionally surreal Canadian show than this, co-created by and starring my favourite oddball Don McKellar (see also: Slings & Arrows) as a TV addict shut-in. Costars included Callum Keith Rennie, Molly Parker, and both Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney as the same character, believe it or not. As far as I can tell, DVD is your only hope.

19-2, CraveTV
The ratings of this acclaimed cop series suggest many of you, like me, haven’t been watching as it aired. I got part way through season one during my CraveTV trial, and a seemingly random selection of season two episodes are on bravo.ca. I’ll likely wait to complete my binge until Bell starts selling their shows to Netflix (aka when hell freezes over), or if they do the smart thing and rerun the series from the beginning on CTV this summer.

Sensitive Skin, HBO Canada on demand
If  you have access, check out this Kim Cattrall-starring black comedy about a woman’s mid-life crisis, with Don McKellar and Elliot Gould.  It never got its due while it aired, but it is getting a second season so binge away if you can … unlike me.

Schitt’s Creek, Netflix
Ah, CBC, a Canadian channel that actually allows their shows to be sold to Netflix. One of my favourite shows of this past season (no “Canadian” qualifier needed), Schitt’s Creek is my choice for a binge rewatch of the antics of Eugene and Dan Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Emily Hampshire, Annie Murphy and Chris Elliot. You can also find the season on CBC.ca but let’s be honest: Netflix is a much better user experience.

Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, CBC
A surprise renewal years after its cancellation means you need to catch up on season one before season two arrives likely next year. Starring Bob Martin and Matt Watts as a codependent therapist and patient, the series is hilarious and heartfelt. All episodes are available on CBC.ca.

What about you? What Canadian shows will you be binge-watching, and how? 

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Industry News

CRTC releases 2014 financial results for Canadian local TV stations

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From a media release:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today released statistical and financial information on Canadian local television stations for the broadcast year that ended August 31, 2014.

In 2014, private stations invested $619.3 million in the creation of programs made by Canadians, including local news and drama series, and employed over 5,900 people. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada (CBC/SRC) invested an additional $789.8 million in this type of content. In total, local television stations spent more than $1.4 billion to fund the creation of new Canadian programs for viewers.

Canada’s local television stations continued to operate within a challenging advertising market. Private stations brought in $117.1 million less in advertising revenue, which contributed to a 7.2% decrease in overall revenues, from $1.94 billion in 2013 to $1.8 billion in 2014.

For its part, CBC/SRC reported $474.6 million in advertising revenues in 2014, a 43% increase from the $331.1 million generated in 2013. This increase is largely attributable to the broadcast of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the FIFA Soccer World Cup in Brazil, and an entire season of National Hockey League games.

Each year, the CRTC compiles financial data on Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications sectors to produce a series of reports. The CRTC will soon publish the financial results for cable and satellite companies, specialty, pay, pay-per-view and video-on-demand services, and AM and FM radio. Following the publication of these reports, the CRTC will issue its annual Communications Monitoring Report.

These annual reports help interested parties to stay informed about the state of the Canadian communication industry and to participate in the CRTC’s public consultations.

Quick facts

  • Private local television stations saw their revenues drop by 7.2%, from $1.94 billion in 2013 to $1.8 billion in 2014. Expenses went from $1.85 billion in 2013 to $1.84 billion in 2014, a slight decrease of 0.4%. Profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) declined from -$2.3 million to -$138.7 million, and the PBIT margin decreased from -0.1% to -7.7%.
  • Investments by private local television stations in Canadian-made programs increased by 2.3%, from $605.4 million in 2013 to $619.3 million in 2014.
  • Private local television stations invested $60.4 million for drama series, $5.3 million for feature films, $84.7 million for general interest programs, $361.1 million for news programs, $6.3 million for long-form documentaries, $29.3 million for other information programs, $22.3 million for music and variety shows, $1.1 million for sports programming, $19 million for game shows, $25.5 million for reality TV shows, $3.7 million for awards shows and $0.5 million for other programs.
  • As part of these investments, local television stations paid $138.6 million to Canadian independent producers.
  • Revenues from the sale of local advertising declined from $351.2 million in 2013 to $333.6 million in 2014, a 5% decrease. Private local television stations also experienced a 7.8% decline in national advertising revenues, from $1.28 billion in 2013 to $1.18 billion in 2014.
  • In 2014, CBC/SRC reported advertising revenues of $474.6 million, which represented a 43.3% increase from the $331.1 million generated the previous year.
  • CBC/SRC’s programming expenditures totalled $810.8 million, 97% of which was spent on Canadian programs.
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