Everything about Industry News, eh?

Television Bureau of Canada relaunches as ThinkTV

From a media release:

Building on the legacy of the Television Bureau of Canada (TVB), thinktv launches today as the organization’s new brand identity reflecting its ongoing evolution, as well as its vision for the future. The distinctive new name and logo speak to the energy and passion the organization brings to its mission – to help advertisers and agencies get the best out of the amazing medium that is television.

thinktv is dedicated to promoting the benefits of television advertising to the marketing community and helping them use the power of television to drive business results. As a resource for advertisers and agencies, thinktv will provide a broad spectrum of services to the marketing community including education, thought-provoking and leading-edge research, as well as tangible insights on collected and curated data.

Television’s effectiveness is unrivalled.  It is both the most effective and efficient way to drive business results for brands and the most impactful way to reach consumers:

  • Last week, more than 34 million Canadians watched TV
  • Commercial TV reaches 98% of the Canadian population each week, and 96% of millennials
  • On average, adults watch 28 hours of TV a week*; this compares to an average of 1.5 hours of YouTube and only 36 minutes of Netflix per week**
  • TV trumps social media: Canadian adults spend a fraction of time with social media compared to television – 4 hours per week with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram combined,** compared to the 28 hours with TV.

thinktv’s brand identity is a vibrant new take on the prior name and logo, which represented the company since its inception in 1961. The launch of the new logo and brand identity was developed in collaboration with Frontier, a creative exploration company known for its design driven ideas and idea driven design.

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Link: A new era for CBC, hopefully: Things could finally start looking up for the beleaguered public broadcaster in 2016

From Cassandra Szklarski of The Canadian Press:

A new era for CBC, hopefully: Things could finally start looking up for the beleaguered public broadcaster in 2016
It’s been a heck of a year for the CBC — a scathing report denounced managers for their handling of the Jian Ghomeshi affair while former anchors Amanda Lang and Evan Solomon faced controversies of their own.

All the while, the CBC continued to grapple with steep budget cuts that slashed news broadcasts, gutted sports and documentary divisions and put for sale signs in front of aging facilities.

But with a more CBC-friendly Liberal government now holding the purse strings, could things finally be looking up for the beleaguered public broadcaster?

Many observers seem to think so. Continue reading.

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Link: Toronto film studio cuts fees in half for women

From Bruce DeMara of the Toronto Star:

Toronto film studio cuts fees in half for women
“The initiative came from years of working with actors and writers and producers, where everyone is sort of trying to get their next shot. We found that the guys were getting ahead of the game so far quicker than the ladies were,” Apostolopoulos said in an interview.

To level the playing field, Apostolopoulos announced in June that any production with a female director or showrunner would get a 50 per cent discount on studio fees at the 70,000-square-foot facility in East York. Continue reading.

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Lost & Found Music Studios debuts Jan. 8 on Family

This winter, Family Channel raises its voice with the premiere of Lost & Found Music Studios, an all-new original series from Temple Street Productions and creator Frank van Keeken, the forces behind The Next Step. Debuting Friday, January 8 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, the pitch perfect drama follows a group of aspiring musicians who are part of a unique music program, run by a musician-turned-producer. From pop to rock and hip-hop to R&B, the series showcases some of the best young voices Canada has to offer with original songs and stellar performances featured in each episode. For music aficionados who want to get in the studio earlier, Family’s got a special presentation of the series this Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, immediately following the epic season three finale of The Next Step beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

A live music venue, recording studio and jam space, Lost & Found is an amazing place where young musicians go to become great. Members immerse themselves in music, write songs record tracks and form bands in hopes of turning their passion into a profession. But, if making it in the music industry wasn’t hard enough, these aspiring artists also have to deal with the many issues teens face including first crushes, peer pressure, difficult home lives and trying to fit in. Following the series premiere, new episodes of Lost & Found Music Studios will air regularly Fridays at 6 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes will also be offered on Family OnDemand as they become available weekly beginning January 9.

On Friday, December 11, Family gets into the holiday spirit, gifting viewers with a special presentation of Lost & Found Music Studios at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. In the series preview, titled “Lost and Found,” the musicians prepare a goodbye party for graduates of the studio. Audiences are introduced to overachiever Leia, who hopes to write and perform a song with her crush, Luke; band member John, who’s having a hard time expressing his feelings for dancer, Michelle; and talented but shy singer-songwriter Eva, who is eager to break out of her shell. The exciting episode is ushered in by the season three finale of The Next Step at 7 p.m. ET/PT which sees the A-Troupe dancers lay it all on the line as they compete for the title of “International Champions.”

Lost & Found Music Studios stars include Shane Harte as Luke; Keara Graves as Leia; Alex Zaichkowski as John; Sarah Carmosino as Rachel; Deshaun Clarke as Jude; Ella Jonas Farlinger as Eva; Levi Randall as Theo; Maranda Thomas as Mary; Alyssa Baker as Maggie; Rakim Kelly as Isaac; Olivia Solo as Annabelle; Jeni Ross as Clara; Katrina Hachey as Hannah; and Matthew Bacik as Nate. Michael Torontow and Ali Milner play Mr. T and Parker who oversee the music program. A companion to The Next Step, the series also features familiar faces from the popular dance drama including Trevor Tordjman as James; Victoria Baldesarra as Michelle; Jordan Clark as Giselle; and Brittany Raymond as Riley. Fans of both series can see select cast members perform live in venues across the country this winter, as they embark on the international The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour. Tickets are currently available at Family.ca.

Lost & Found Music Studios is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Family Channel and is executive produced by creator Frank van Keeken (The Next Step, Wingin’ It), Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (The Next Step, Orphan Black) and Laura Harbin (The Next Step, Wingin’ It). Temple Street controls the distribution rights internationally, and has secured deals with CBBC and Netflix. Lost & Found Music Studios is also produced with the financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund and the Canada Media Fund.

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Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Sherry White

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Women Behind Canadian TV: Sherry White
“I have mentored a fair number of younger women and I really believe in fresh, young voices. I know I’m not the only woman or writer that feels that way. One thing people can do is find somebody who is willing to mentor them, or work as an assistant because any kind of foot in the door is the best way to get in there. Many of our great, fantastic writers–Ley Lukins, Noelle Carbone, Katrina Saville–all began as assistants and worked their way up. I have worked with this woman Lisa Rose Snow who is my assistant, and she’s someone who would do everything from edit my scripts to run my errands, but I, over time, have really invested in her voice and she’s somebody I want to hire and want to work with. So taking those jobs that might not be an immediate start as a writer, I think still pay off if you can do a good job at them.” Continue reading.

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