CCR Short Takes

Cinar may disclose more information from internal auditCinar Corp plans to disclose some of the findings of an internal audit in the next few days. The company also appears close to striking a tax settlement with the federal and provincial governments. The company’s auditors, Ernst & Young, indicated recently they may not sign off on the company’s books for the next several months, leading some observers to speculate that Cinar will never produce audited statements. Meanwhile, the company’s shares have been delisted by the Nasdaq Stock Market, and remain halted on the Toronto Stock Exchange. CRTC wants media to work together on digital TVThe CRTC wants media companies to set aside their rivalry and work together to help set ground rules for the new age of digital broadcasting. The regulator is asking cable and broadcasting companies to help develop new guidelines for introducing the technology that will replace current analog systems (2000-104). More sophisticated digital cable can carry 600 channel signals, whereas traditional analog carries less than 100. About eight per cent of Canadian homes currently subscribe to digital cable. Friends lobbies for greater independence for TVOThe Friends of Canadian Broadcasting wants the CRTC to ensure the Ontario government does not interfere with its public broadcaster. In its August 22 intervention to TVOntario’s licence renewal application, Friends claims that "owing to a series of recent appointments, control of TVOntario’s Board now rests in the hands of active leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario." Friends wants greater independence for the public broadcaster, and assurances that it can act arms length from the government. Star Choice , Viewer’s Choice make digital dealSatellite TV provider Star Choice Communications and Viewers’ Choice Pay Per View are launching Canada’s first digital pay per view program. The final performance of the Broadway musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, will be broadcast from Broadway’s Virginia in HDTV format in early September. Vidéotron identifies problems with Quebecor’s new offerThe board of directors of Vidéotron ltée says it will not make any recommendation to its shareholders about Quebecor Inc’s $45-a-share cash offer for the company, citing "certain problematic conditions." The cable giant acknowledged in a release that the offer "represents an attractive price" and is a "significant" premium over the $33.20 closing price of Vidéotron shares on August 8. However, it cites one condition that cannot be met. It says if the board were to terminate its agreement with Rogers Communications Inc, it would have to pay a termination fee of $241 million to Rogers. The board also says the terms of the Quebecor offer would allow the printing company to withdraw the offer "if a material adverse change" occurs prior to the expiry of the offer. CRTC licenses new radio stations for MonctonThe CRTC has approved a proposal by Denis Losier to operate a French-language radio station in Moncton NB on the 99.9 MHz frequency – Decision 2000-361. It’s the first French-langugage private radio station in the bilingual city since 1985. The new station will offer a general format that combines theme programs with various musical styles, including pop, rock, blues and folk. The commission also approved two Christian music stations for the Maritime city – International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc and Houssen Broadcasting Ltd – Decisions 2000-358 and 359. Alliance Atlantis reports weaker earningsFor the first quarter of 2000, Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc earned $3.1 million or 10 cents per share, down from the 23 cents it made in the 1999 quarter. Last year’s figure of 23 cents a share includes a one-time gain of $2.5 million from the sale of investments. Revenues for the first quarter came in at $109.4 million, down from $163.3 over the same period last year. Alliance Atlantis said the first quarter is traditionally weak because the company’s production is linked to seasonal production cycles. Earnings before EBITDA for the first quarter rose 16 per cent to $20.8 million compared to $18.0 million last year, pushed higher by broadcast revenues, overall improved margins and control of operating costs. Grey market foes win in Alberta high courtThe Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld a decision by the Justice Clarke of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench that his court has jurisdiction over Echostar and USSB (now DirecTV) in the lawsuit claiming damages and an injunction in the matter of DTH grey marketing. The legal action can continue against these two parties in Alberta. Lawyers Greg Cheung and Bill Mackenzie, acting for WIC Communications, asked for an injunction against HBO, Showtime, Arts and Entertainment Channel, and several other U.S. specialty channels during a six-day hearing in the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench earlier this month. Intertooob goes live on the web from Alberta pubIntertooob, founded by Calgarian Chris Dores, began its real-time, interactive web show in August from a studio in the second-floor loft of a Calgary pub. Intertooob runs TV-style programming 24 hours a day, spiced with audience polling, chat functions and a chance to interact with producers to determine future programming. Dores, a former street kid who worked as a chef, computer consultant and deli owner before turning his attention to the web, says he nursed the idea for five years. Nine months ago, he began putting it together on a shoestring budget. Through casting calls in Vancouver and Calgary, he signed about 100 amateur actors willing to trade volunteer efforts for exposure. Actor and distributor open new kids’ films businessAmberwood International Inc, owned by film distributor Sheldon S. Wiseman and Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen, has made Ottawa its headquarters and plans to open a Toronto sales and acquisition office later this year. Amberwood, a new company created by the two partners, plans worldwide rights acquisition and distribution of family and children’s television productions. Andre Cauchi has been appointed director of sales and marketing effective Sept 1. As well as selling content in video and television format, a substantial effort will be undertaken by the company to deliver content to end users through the Internet, the company says. Corus Entertainment buysstake in Montreal broadcasterCorus Entertainment Inc has purchased 29.9% of Montreal radio broadcaster Metromedia. Corus has made a deal to acquire the remaining 70.1% subject to regulatory approval. Metromedia is the only radio broadcaster in Canada with five stations in a major market. Metromedia’s stations include CKOI-FM, a French rock station which is Canada’s largest radio station with 1.2 million listeners, and CFQR-FM, Montreal’s leading English station in the 25-54 age demographic, Info 690 and 940 News stations, and COOL FM, an all-hits station. Seagrams, Vivendi and Canal+ clear first regulatory hoopThe Canadian Competition Bureau says it won’t challenge the proposed US$30-billion merger of Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+. However, Industry Canada and Canadian Heritage must still look at the deal. Seagram’s Filmed Entertainment business produces and distributes motion picture, TV and home video products worldwide. It also owns several international cable channels, and licenses merchandising and film rights. CRTC wins public admin awardThe CRTC has won the gold award from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) for "its forward thinking and innovation in regulation". IPAC presented the CRTC with the IPAC Award for Innovative Management, at IPAC’s annual conference Aug. 29. The theme of this year’s award was "Collaboration: New Approaches to Policy and Management." The CRTC won for developing a collaborative approach to creating solutions for problems and issues in the telecommunications industry through the CRTC’s Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC). Regional-SaskTel share swapRegional Cablesystems Inc will issue 1,223,491 common shares to Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp for SaskTel’s 29.9% common shares in Regional’s subsidiary, Regional Cable TV (Western) Inc. Western currently serves more than 63,000 customers in Canada’s four western provinces, including 35,000 customers in 181 Saskatchewan communities.

CCR Short Takes

Broadcast | August 31, 2000

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