CNM Short Takes

CCTA asks for consideration in JumpTV issueThe Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) has asked the Copyright Board for status as a party to any proceedings related to the tariff objection filed by JumpTV. The CCTA didn’t originally have any objection to the proposed 2001-2003 tariff, but has asked to be granted the right to participate in any proceedings stemming from JumpTV’s request. It has also asked for the right to receive copies of all correspondence, to serve interrogatories on third parties, to submit evidence and call witnesses, and to cross-examine evidence submitted by other parties, as well as make oral and written arguments before the board. GlobalMedia.com wins development contract4Kids Entertainment Inc, NYC, has contracted GlobalMedia.com, Vancouver, to produce a new site, Girlsgymnastics.com. The site will be the online home of Bela Karolyi, the famous coach, and a destination where girls can get tips on becoming better gymnasts. European Internet use growing quickly says IDCIDC senior VP John Gantz recently told a European audience that by 2001, Europe will have more Internet users, and that by 2004, the value of ecom in Europe should be 89 per cent of that in the U.S. He said that Europeans have a number of advantages including a long history of dealing with cultural differences, and that the continent is fast becoming more entrepreneurial. Corus to create lifestyle sitesCorus Entertainment Inc is joining forces with a 16-month-old partnership of four U.S. radio broadcasters to create a network of local lifestyle portals. Corus will join Bonneville International Corp, EMMIS Communications, Entercom Communications and Jefferson Pilot in the Local Media Internet Venture. The partnership will create a common technology backbone and content database allowing each of the partners’ radio stations to put content online. Jack Swarbrick, a partner in the Indiana law firm Baker & Daniels heads the venture as president and CEO. The move is the latest in a trend towards radio stations offering more localized niche content. CAB responds to Industry Canada questionsThe Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) was recently asked to outline its view of the future of broadcasting and convergence in Canada by officials at Industry Canada. Last April, the trade group submitted its report, Future Plan: Blueprint for the Digital Age, to the department. Industry Canada wanted some further elaboration. The full Q&A is available online at http://www.cab-acr.ca/english/joint/submissions/sub_sep1100.htm. New recruiting site launched for cultural workersA new site geared towards recruiting workers in Canada’s cultural sector has been launched in partnership with Industry Canada’s SkillNet.ca. Officials say the site, dubbed Talent Gallery, has more than 300 employers, including organizations such as CTV Inc, Alliance Atlantis, Cirque du Soleil, the National Arts Centre and Nortel Networks Corp. It offers search assistance to students, graduates and professionals in the cultural sector and links to Canadian employers to skilled job seekers. The site is located at: http://talent.culturalhrc.ca/index.jhtml?langeng. Significant Treasures posted online by Canadian HeritageThe Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) and the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM) have launched an online version of Significant Treasures, a combination art book, educational resource and travel guide on Canada’s cultural heritage. Both the online and hard copy versions of the project are composed of monthly submissions to the Globe and Mail. As part of the agreement that led to this initiative, CHIN also helped the CFFM set up a web site last fall. Brocker acquires BC-based KyxPyx TechnologiesEdmonton-based Brocker Technology Group Ltd has purchased KyxPyx Technologies Inc of Vancouver. Brocker will issue one million preferred shares with nominal value, including a warrant to purchase up to one million common shares at an exercise price of $6.40. KyxPyx has developed a real-time, bandwidth adaptive, multi-channeled media streaming system based on its proprietary technology. Brocker is targeting the Internet broadcast market for the gear. ISP shakeup in wake of PSINet corporate/consumer splitPSINet Inc is merging four of its consumer-oriented ISPs. On September 26, the company announced that it will merge iSTAR, Internet Interlog, TotalNet and Mlink under a new banner, Inter.net Canada. The move comes in the wake of PSINet’s decision to split its corporate and consumer clients. The new management team is profiled on page 6 of this issue. Hip and Yummy team for gamesHip Interactive Inc, Toronto, and Yummy Interactive Inc of CA have signed a five-year deal giving Hip the ability to rent games online using Yummy’s proprietary ASP solution. In return, Yummy wins access to Hips’s gaming content, traffic from Hip’s interactive media properties, and Hip’s existing relationships with key publishers and manufacturers. Hip’s content will be available at Yummy’s portal and through partner sites, including Alta Vista. CBC TV and Big Orbit to offer new interactive series for kidsCBC Television and Toronto-based Big Orbit New Media Studios will begin production next spring on a new televison series, with the working title CBC4Kids Clubhouse. Company officials say new software is being created for the series that will let children create content to be showcased both on the web and on TV. CBC executives on the series are Cassie Carr-Harris, manager of cbc4kids.ca, new media, and Duncan Lamb, executive producer of Sesame Park. It will be produced by Kevin Brauch, the host/producer of Stuff and TVOKids. Inetcable and Broadlogic to offer streaming IP videoInetcable Inc will use the Satellite Express USB desktop satellite receiver from BroadLogic Network Technologies as it rolls out its satellite broadband network across North America. The first implementation will be to deliver live horse racing from TrackPower Inc. By adding the USB receiver, users will be able to access live video, pre-recorded event files and data from Intetcable’s Internet backbone which pushes content directly to ISPs. Canada Economic Development lends eWorldMusic $350kCanada Economic Development has lent Exploration électronique du monde musical inc, also known as eWorldMusic.com, $350,000 to stimulate the growth of its ecommerce strategy. The company distributes French-language music. The Canada Economic Development Ecommerce Strategy program has $50 million to distribute up to June 2002. New Salter Street series extends parody into cyberspaceA new Salter Street Films TV series, The Itch, will be accompanied by an interactive website produced with the participation of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund. The Itch is in production at Electropolis Studios in Halifax, and is slated to begin showing November 14 on The Comedy Network. PhotoChannel to acquire Moto Photo chain of storesPhotoChannel Networks Inc, Vancouver, is buying Moto Photo Inc, a US$36.8 million photography and photographic services retailer. Moto Photo has 419 retail outlets, some with new digital imaging workshops, and 25 with Fuji Frontier Digital Minilab systems employing state-of-the-art laser exposure technology. Company officials note that Moto Photo processes around six million images every nine days, the equivalent of the entire image library of one of the world’s largest web sites. The acquisition is an all-stock deal. PhotoChannel must complete a $25 million financing arrangement before the deal can be completed. Star Ray TV given CRTC warning to stop pirate broadcastsStar Ray TV, a pirate Toronto broadcaster featured in Canadian NEW MEDIA on September 6, has reportedly been warned to shut down. On October 2, the CRTC warned Jan Pachul to cease broadcasting or face fines of up to $20,000 for every day he’s on the air. The station operator has been quoted as saying he won’t abide by the order. Jan Pachul vowed to continue broadcasting despite an August 24 decision not to award him a broadcast licence. He continues to broadcast community programming on channel 15 in the east end of the city.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | October 4, 2000

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