The time has come for Sirius and XM Satellite Radio in Canada to face the financial music. Many say that one Satellite radio network can survive but tow can’t. Here’s proof of that in the U.S.
The satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio posted its first quarterly profit since its merger and said it expected to add 500,000 new subscribers in 2010 as the recovery in the car market increased demand.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/technology/26radio.html?emc=eta1
Congratualtions to all our clients and fellow broadcsters who were nominated for the 2010 Broadcast Industry Awards. The awards will be handed out on Thursday, March 11th at CMW in Toronto.
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
ADAM THOMPSON, SONIC 102.9, EDMONTON
AMY D’ORNELLAS, HOT 89.9, OTTAWA
BARRY STEWART, 104.5 CHUM FM, TORONTO
CHRIS LYNCH, X92.9, CALGARY
CORY PRICE, 99.3 THE FOX, VANCOUVER
JEFF WINSKELL, VIRGIN RADIO 953, VANCOUVER
JUSTIN DUMONT, NEW FLOW 95.3,TORONTO
MATT WREGGITT, Z103.5, TORONTO
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
ANNA ZEE, Q104, HALIFAX
DJ T-BONE, WIRED 96.3, SASKATOON
JACQUIE BECKETT, KROCK 105.7, KINGSTON
MARK CAMERON, FM96, LONDON
MIKE REID, 98.9 THE DRIVE, KINGSTON
PAUL MORRIS, HTZ FM, ST. CATHERINES
PAUL O’NEIL, BIG DOG 92.7, REGINA
TRAPPER JOHN, 104.9 THE WOLF, REGINA
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
BRENNAN RICHARDS, FOX FM, YORKTON
CARRIE BUCHANAN, COUNTRY 103.9, SARNIA
DARREN ROBERTSON, 99.9 SUN FM, KELOWNA
HEATHER KLAGES, 95.9 LLOYD FM, LLOYDMINSTER
JD ANDERSON, THE GOAT, LLOYDMINSTER
KENT MATHESON, MOOSE FM, NORTH BAY
MARK JEFFRIES, 101.5 SILK, KELOWNA
ON AIR TALENT
THE BROTHER JAKE SHOW, CLASSIC ROCK 101, VANCOUVER
DERRINGER IN THE MORNING, Q107, TORONTO
THE JEFF O’NEIL SHOW, 99.3 THE FOX, VANCOUVER
MAD DOG & BILLIE, VIRGIN RADIO 999, TORONTO
MATT & ERIC, 96.9 JACK FM, CALGARY
MORNING HOT TUB MAULER (MAULER, RUSH, JENNI, & JOSIE), HOT 89.9, OTTAWA
NAT HUNTER & DREW SAVAGE, VIRGIN RADIO 953, VANCOUVER
THE PAUL BROWN SHOW, THE BEAR, EDMONTON
ROGER DARREN AND MARILYN, CHUM FM, TORONTO
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
AL FORD, SONIC 102.9, EDMONTON
DAVID COREY, CHUM FM, TORONTO
JOSIE GEUER, HOT 89.9, OTTAWA
JULIE ADAM, 98.1 CHFI, TORONTO
PHIL KALLSEN, COUNTRY 105, CALGARY
RONNIE STANTON, VIRGIN RADIO 953, VANCOUVER
ROSS WINTERS, 102.1 THE EDGE, TORONTO
RYAN ZIMMERMAN, THE BEAR, EDMONTON
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
BRAD HILGERS, ROCK94, THUNDER BAY
DARYL HOLIEN, LITE92, REGINA
DON KOLLINS, KICX 106, KITCHENER/WATERLOO
DOUG ELLIOTT, K ROCK 105.7, KINGSTON
EARLE MADER, C100, HALIFAX
JC DOUGLAS, Q104, HALIFAX
JIM MCCOURTIE, FM96, LONDON
MIKE SHANNON, BIG DOG 92.7, REGINA
SARA PARKER, THE ZONE @91.3, VICTORIA
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
BRAD BAZIN, GX94, YORKTON
BRAD GIBB, FM96, KINGSTON
CRAIG PICTON, MIX 103.7, FORT MCMURRAY
DAN WYLIE, 104.9 JR FM, BROCKVILLE
GRANT BIEBRICK, THE GOAT, LLOYDMINSTER
JASON MANNING, ROCK 105.3, MEDICINE HAT
MARK BURLEY, 99.9 SUN FM, KELOWNA
MIKE FRY, THE MOOSE, NORTH BAY
PROMOTION OF THE YEAR
HEADS OR TAILS 2, VIRGIN RADIO 953, VANCOUVER
K ROCK SAVES A LIFE, KROCK 105.7, KINGSTON
MAULER AND RUSH ALMIGHTY, HOT 89.9, OTTAWA
ON THE RECORD, CLASSIC ROCK 101, VANCOUVER
PAUL VS YUKON, THE BEAR, EDMONTON
PEAK PERFORMANCE PROJECT, 100.5 THE PEAK, VANCOUVER
SONIC BOOM, SONIC 102.9, EDMONTON
WIN A HOME, 96.7 CHYR/THE ROCK 100.7, WINDSOR
X929 IPHONE APP, X929, CALGARY
STATION OF THE YEAR – CHR
91.7 THE BOUNCE, EDMONTON
THE BEAT 94.5, VANCOUVER
HOT 89.9, OTTAWA
KISS 92.5, TORONTO
THE NEW FLOW 93.5, TORONTO
VIBE 985, CALGARY
VIRGIN RADIO 999, TORONTO
Z103.5, TORONTO
STATION OF THE YEAR – HOT AC
101.5 ENERGY FM, CALGARY
99.9 SUN FM, KELOWNA
C100, HALIFAX
CHUM FM, TORONTO
KISS, OTTAWA
KOOL FM, KITCHENER
VIRGIN 953, VANCOUVER
VIRGIN 96, MONTREAL
STATION OF THE YEAR – MAINSTREAM AC
104.9 EZ ROCK, EDMONTON
98.1 CHFI, TORONTO
K-LITE, HAMILTON
LITE 104.3, KINGSTON
LITE 92, REGINA
LITE 96,CALGARY
MAGIC 100, OTTAWA
QM-FM, VANCOUVER
STATION OF THE YEAR – CLASSIC GOLD
CHOM 977, MONTREAL
CLASSIC ROCK 101, VANCOUVER
JACK FM, CALGARY
JACK FM, VANCOUVER
K97, EDMONTON
Q107, CALGARY
Q107, TORONTO
XL103, CALGARY
STATION OF THE YEAR – COUNTRY
CISN COUNTRY 103.9, EDMONTON
COUNTRY 105, CALGARY
FX101, HALIFAX
JR FM, VANCOUVER
KICX106, KITCHENER/WATERLOO
KX96, OSHAWA/TORONTO
QX104, WINNIPEG
Y101 – OTTAWA
STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
104.9 THE WOLF, REGINA
98.3 FLY FM, KINGSTON
FM96, LONDON
HTZ-FM, ST. CATHARINES
K-ROCK 105.7, KINGSTON
Q104, HALIFAX
ROCK94, THUNDER BAY
WIRED 96.3, SASKATOON
STATION OF THE YEAR – MULTICULTURAL
101.7 WORLD FM, EDMONTON
96.1 FM, VANCOUVER
CHIN, TORONTO
CIAO-AM, TORONTO
CINQ FM, MONTREAL
CJJL, OTTAWA
CJMR 1320, MISSISSAUGA
FM947, CALGARY
NCI FM, WINNIPEG
STATION OF THE YEAR – NEWS/TALK
570 NEWS, KITCHENER/WATERLOO
680 NEWS, TORONTO
AM1150, KELOWNA
AM770 CHQR, CALGARY
CHED, EDMONTON
CJAD, MONTREAL
CKNW, VANCOUVER
NEWS 1130. VANCOUVER
STATION OF THE YEAR – ROCK
THE BEAR, EDMONTON
102.1 THE EDGE, TORONTO
99.3 THE FOX, VANCOUVER
CJAY 92, CALGARY
KROCK 105.7, KINGSTON
Q104, HALIFAX
SONIC 102.9, EDMONTON
X92.9, CALGARY
STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
104.9 JR FM, BROCKVILLE
FM96, KINGSTON
THE GOAT, LLOYDMINSTER
GX94, YORKTON
MIX 103.7, FORT MCMURRAY
Q91, DRUMHELLER
ROCK 105.3, MEDICINE HAT
99.9 SUN FM, KELOWNA
We are hearing that Chris Ebbott, who’s spent the last five years as operations manager at KCBS-FM (93.1) in Los Angeles, takes up his new job in March as PD of CKFM (Virgin Radio 99.9) and CHBM (Boom 97.3) in Toronto.
We often wonder what our American neighbours feel about us. For most of us, its a love/hate relationship. Our differences aside, there’s so much that we share with Americans that is good. We have been linked through rich history. The Vancouver Olympics gives us a chance to reflect on this bond we share.
Tom Brokaw explains the relationship between Canada and The United States, in a pre-recorded short film that aired on NBC prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Feb. 14th, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoTJItSPt0
Courtesy of Warren’s List (Warren Cosford)
Catalyst Capital Group announced an 11th-hour bid for Canwest’s broadcasting assets, with the support of the Aspers, and two former executives of Rogers Communications – including John Tory, former head of Rogers Cable.
However, the court approved the Shaw offer, which had the backing of an ad hoc committee of key creditors and the company.
The investment by Shaw still requires approval by several groups including Canwest creditors and the CRTC. Shaw must also reach a deal with U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs, which is a partner with Canwest on some of its special channel assets.
Under the deal, Shaw has agreed to purchase $95 million in class A voting shares of the restructured Canwest for 20 per cent of Canwest’s equity and 80 per cent of its voting stock. Based on this investment, the restructured company has an implied equity value of $475 million, Canwest said.
Shaw has also agreed to make cash payments to certain affected creditors and pay Canwest’s existing shareholders about $11 million, in exchange for additional class A shares, which would further increase its stake.
Under the terms of the recapitalization, creditors who would be entitled to receive at least a five per cent stake in the restructured company can choose to receive cash or stock.
All other affected creditors will receive cash equal to the value of the equity that they would have otherwise received.
The agreement would give Shaw 11 local TV stations across the country, and ownership of a group of specialty channels, including Showcase, MovieTime and HGTV, some of which were acquired from Alliance Atlantis in 2007.
Canwest would remain a standalone company with its own board of directors and its own management team.
Under Catalyst’s plan, Canwest CEO Leonard Asper would have become non-executive chairman of the company founded by his father and the role of chief executive would go to Rael Merson, a former president and CEO of Rogers Broadcasting.
Catalyst’s offer of $120 million would have given the investment group a 32 per cent equity interest in Canwest and voting control of the company.
A lawyer for Shaw made it clear at a hearing that the cable operator wasn’t willing to extend its bid past a Friday deadline and risk heading into an auction for the assets.
“Shaw participated within the parameters of this restructuring process,” lawyer Robin Schwill said.
Newton Glassman, managing partner of Catalyst, said his offer was “superior to the Shaw proposal in terms of value, certainty and timing.”
“The Catalyst Group proposal treats all the company’s unsecured creditors equally and the continuance of a publicly listed Canwest provides creditors and other stakeholders with an immediate path to liquidity,” Glassman said in a statement.
Catalyst is already a substantial owner of Canwest’s bonds and the group said its proposal has the support of Goldman Sachs.
Catalyst was founded in 2002 by Glassman and became a major player in the winding down of Hollinger Inc. when it filed motions to remove Conrad Black from the company’s board, cancel his move to take the company private and investigate Hollinger’s finances.
It is reported, the Catalyst Group includes two veteran broadcast executives, Rael Merson, who would become the Chief Executive Officer of the new company and John Tory, currently with Toronto’s Newstalk 1010 and former head or Rogers Cable
Catalyst Capital will provide the bulk of the financing, with the Asper family to contribute up to $15-million in the refinancing of the company. Mr. Merson and Mr. Tory are also reported to be making signigicant investments in the new company.
The Asper offer was made on the same day Shaw is scheduled to be before a judge to obtain court approval for their offer to purchase 20% of Canwest’s broadcasting assets
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters will cease to exist as of 1 June 2010, a casualty of infighting amongst the major Television and Cable operators.
This should come as no surprise to those who have been watching this situation unfold over the past few months and it was clear there was an impasse between TV operators like CTV and Canwest who couldn’t find a common ground with cable companies like Rogers Communications which have broadcasting assets.
Chairman Elmer Hildebrand says the organization, which represents Canadian radio and television broadcasters, has decided close this June. Hildebrand has been trying since December to help the CAB find common ground between broadcasters and cable operators, who have been forcing increasingly different views on the industry.
Both Canwest and CTV have been pushing for a tax on cable operators like Rogers for carrying over-the-air television signals, an approach that has created a major rift between the two sides.
“In its place, he says, will rise a national association comprised of radio members” says Hildebrand . “Documents relating to the formal dissolution will be forwarded to members in due course.”
The goal is to have a new association in place by 1 June. Regional associations — British Columbia, Western, Ontario and Atlantic — are not affected by this decision, although for some, membership was contingent on a station being a member of CAB.
Meantime the Canadian Broadcast Standards council was quick to send out the following notice
To all CBSC members:
You may have received the e-mail from the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters advising that the CAB will cease operations effective June 2010.
The purpose of this e-mail is to advise you that the CBSC will continue from today on to provide its customary services to members without interruption. The CBSC will in due course be sending out invoices for its membership fees directly to you. We will provide you with all necessary information as soon as possible regarding these arrangements.
If you have any questions, please contact either:
Ron Cohen – ron.cohen@cbsc.ca or 613-233-4607 x14
John MacNab – jmacnab@cbsc.ca or 613-233-4607 x11
Lots of talk following the opening cermonies in Vancouver where is was very obvious that Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were lip syncing the song “Bang the Drum.”You can see Bryan Adams completely miss his singing part 32 seconds into the song. We could hear his voice but he didn’t put put the microphone up for a couple of seconds
Lip syncing is nothing new at Olymics… you may remember the Chinese did it in Bejing.
But on the positive Sarah McLachlan seemed to be singing live and she sounded great. But the singer who stole the show was KD Lang who did an amazing version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” She looked like she performed this song live.
Congratulations to long time Regina PD Daryl Holien who has been promoted to General Manager and PD for the yet to be launched Harvard radio station in Red Deer. No word yet on a replacement PD for the Regnia cluster.
Kim Fjellner wil be the General Sales Manager of the new station in Red Deer.
Shaw Communications has arranged to buy a controlling stake in Canwest Global Communications Corp. Shaw would own at least 20% of Canwest’s equity and 80% of its voting stock after the deal.
Canwest currently owns the Global Television Network, a large newspaper chain and several specialty cable channels.
Canwest also owes billions of dollars to creditors and has been operating under court supervision since last year. The company says the proposed deal with Shaw has the support of key creditors.
Canwest Chairman Derek Burney is quoted as saying that Canwest is “very pleased” with the firm
commitment from Shaw and support from the group known as the ad hoc committee of creditors.
The amount that Shaw would pay wasn’t disclosed.
The deal with Shaw, a publicly traded company controlled by the founding Shaw family, would manage a restructured Canwest as a stand-alone business with its own board of directors.
If the deal goes through it would give Shaw 11 local TV stations across the country, and ownership of a group of specialty cable channels, including History Television, Showcase, MovieTime and HGTV, some of which were acquired from Alliance Atlantis in 2007.
Canwest shares, which would be delisted after the takeover, closed Thursday at six cents on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Shaw owns and operates Shaw Cable and StarChoice satellite TV.