MTM says when anglophones look for news online, over half still turn to the websites of established broadcasters like CBC, BBC, CTV, and CNN, while nearly 20% get their online news from the website of a major daily Canadian newspaper. More than half of French-speakers say they turn to the websites of established broadcasters like Radio-Canada, TVA Nouvelles, and MétéoMédia, with three in seven mentioning newspaper websites like La Presse and the La Presse+ app.

MTM found that 87% of anglophones and 89% of francophones engage with news monthly by watching specialty news channels, reading online news articles, or watching news clips online.

Age influences preferred news sources, with older Canadians tending to watch more specialty news channel content, while younger viewers were twice as likely to use YouTube as a news platform.

MTM also looked at how newcomers to Canada are engaging with news, finding that four in five consume news monthly. Two-thirds read news online, and just over three in five watch news online. Newcomers to Canada are most likely to use smartphones to access news, followed by computers. Tablet usage for news is notably lower among newcomers compared to those born in Canada (10% vs. 20%).

The post Traditional news brands key destination for online news, says MTM report appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

Rogers Communications has announced a 10-year agreement with Comcast that will see its Entertainment OS and 10G internet connectivity technology introduced in Canada. Currently in use by SKY, Foxtel and XUMO, Entertainment OS is designed to provide a seamless user experience across multiple devices, promising “less searching and more watching” with intuitive navigation features, aggregating live TV and subscriptions into a single user destination. In addition to the introduction of a new device powered by Entertainment OS, the partnership also includes broadband and smart home tech, and an expanded suite of home security products developed by Comcast and Xfinity. The announcement came at the company’s Annual General Meeting where Q1 2024 results were highlighted by total revenue and total service revenue increases of 28% and 31%, respectively, driven by revenue growth in Rogers’ Cable and Wireless business. Media revenue decreased by 5% in the quarter primarily as a result of lower subscriber revenue, and lower revenue at Today’s Shopping Choice, partially offset by higher ad revenue. Read more here.

Stingray Radio President Steve Jones says he’s still hopeful issues the federal budget “fell far short” on can be addressed outside the budget process. Earlier this year, Stingray and a coalition of 20 independent broadcasters, appealed for a greater share of the $86M federal advertising spend to go to local media. Jones says there was no movement in the budget on the four key asks that independent broadcasters are seeking, including: eliminating the tax-deductibility of advertising purchased on foreign-owned, internet-delivered media sites and services; extending the Canadian journalism labour tax credit to broadcast news organizations; prioritizing and supporting Canadian-owned media by dedicating 70% of the Government of Canada’s advertising expenditures to local radio, TV, print, and Canadian-owned digital media; and tying any increase in funding to CBC/Radio-Canada to the public broadcaster’s exit from the advertising market. Read more here.

The BC Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) has announced several additions to its May 7th conference lineup, including representation from the CRTC, Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), ThinkTV, Radio Connects, NLogic, Environics Analytics, and more. Set to take place at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, previously-announced speakers include broadcast veteran George Stroumboulopoulos, who is featured in this year’s “Conversation with a Legend.” The 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM), MuchMusic and Hockey Night in Canada alum will sit down with Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) morning show host Willy Percy. Sonia Sunger of Global News is also set to moderate a panel discussion exploring how legacy industries can evolve recruitment, talent pipelines and employee growth & development. Read more here.

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced its shortlists for the CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism, honouring news organizations that embody exemplary journalism and have a profound positive impact on the communities they serve; and the Landsberg Award, celebrating a journalist or journalists enhancing awareness of women’s equality issues. All finalists’ story submissions are available on CJF’s Awards page. The winners will be announced at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 12 at the Royal York Hotel. 

MTM Newcomers latest report Hold the Phone – Newcomers and Cellphones finds close to three in five newcomers acquired their cellphone after arriving in Canada (57%). Older newcomers are more likely to have done so after arriving in Canada than their younger counterparts (44% among those aged 18-24 vs. 66% of those 45+). Newcomers are more likely to perform online activities on their cellphones, overwhelmingly turning to the device with the exception of watching TV and movies on SVOD services, which they also do often on a computer (57% watch via a smartphone vs. 51% on a computer).

The post Regulatory, Telecom & Media News – Rogers partners with Comcast to bring its next gen tech to Canada appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

Canadian Heritage has announced $58.8 million in funding to extend the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) through 2027. Initially launched in 2019 as a five-year, $50 million program, the initiative provides annual funding for more than 400 journalist positions across the country, with a focus on creating original local journalism in underserved communities. The National Campus & Community Radio Association (NCRA) was among the organizations appealing for renewal of the program, saying the new funding “will assist in addressing the news deserts that the Canadian media landscape is challenged with.” Read more here.

Canadian Heritage has announced a call for applications for the position of President of CBC/Radio-Canada. The process to find Catherine Tait’s successor is being led by an Independent Advisory Committee, chaired by former Just for Laughs President & CEO Charles Décarie, which will recommend candidates to the minister “that both reflect Canada’s diversity and can lead at a critical time of modernization,” according to a Heritage department release. Read more here.

Google has initiated an open call to news organizations that wish to receive compensation under the Online News Act. News outlets, whose content is made available by the search engine, have until April 30 to participate. The CRTC has published guidelines on how to participate, in addition to eligibility criteria.

The Competition Bureau has obtained a court order to gather information and advance an ongoing investigation into Google’s online advertising practices in Canada. The Bureau is investigating whether Google has engaged in practices that harm competition in the online display advertising industry in Canada. The Bureau’s investigation initially focused on allegations that Google was leveraging its market power in the supply of video advertising into the market for advertiser buying tools. The Bureau has now expanded its scope to examine whether Google is leveraging its market power across display advertising technology services in a way that harms competition and using predatory pricing in certain display ad tech services.

MTM’s Newcomers and the News report finds the vast majority of newcomers have a substantial interest in news. Nine in 10 (92%) say they have consumed news in some form in the previous month. MTM found newcomers favour online news consumption over traditional platforms. Half get their news via social media and a quarter via online news websites. Women, younger newcomers and those with lower household incomes are the most prone to use social media as their primary news source. Almost half of newcomers (49%) consume news in either English or French and another language. Only three per cent of newcomers who consume news do so exclusively in languages ​​other than English or French.

The Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation (DBMF) is recognizing Anna Maria Tremonti with its Shero-Award in recognition of her impactful work amplifying the voices of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. Tremonti, a domestic abuse survivor herself, will receive the honour at the annual Stride for Survivors Walkathon at Sunnybrook Park on May 26. Through its three programs, Restoring Smiles, Restoring Strength and Restoring Sleep, DBMF provides pro-bono dental, medical, physio and rehabilitative therapy for female survivors of GBV and IPV living in 50 Ontario-based shelters and 37 sexual assault care centres.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) annual Media Awards competition has extended the entry deadline until March 8. The competition honours outstanding nursing and health-care journalism in a variety of categories: community newspaper, daily newspaper, radio, television, online, podcast and multicultural. Stories published or broadcast in Ontario in 2023 are eligible.

The post Regulatory, Telecom & Media News – Canadian Heritage extends Local Journalism Initiative appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.