The renewal builds on a decade of collaboration, following iHeartRadio Canada’s launch in 2016, with the streaming app growing to include more than 360 licensed Canadian radio stations across 170 markets.

As part of the partnership extension, Bell Media will represent iHeartRadio’s extensive podcast portfolio in Canada to advertisers.

“The creation of iHeartRadio Canada has been instrumental in evolving the digital audio landscape in Canada, greatly expanding the choice of incredible content available to listeners,” said Dave Daigle, VP, Local TV, Radio, and Bell Media Studios. “The renewal of this successful partnership ensures iHeartRadio Canada continues to deliver exceptional content and innovative listening experiences to our audiences, further solidifying our position as a leader in the Canadian media industry.” 

“This renewed agreement with Bell Media reflects our shared commitment to delivering the best in audio entertainment to Canadian listeners and advertisers,” added Michael Biondo, President of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, iHeartMedia. “In the years to come, we’ll continue expanding iHeartRadio Canada with innovative features, exclusive content, and unique opportunities for brands to connect and engage with audiences across the country.” 

Bell says the extended partnership also means continued support for iHeartRadio-branded live music and entertainment events in Canada.

The app has also rolled out a slate of enhanced features as of this week, including: Presets, inspired by the car radio dashboard, allow listeners to save up to 15 of their favourite radio stations, playlists, podcasts, and artist radio stations; Scan Button, a  new way for listeners to discover new stations, by scanning and sampling radio stations, or filtering by city or genre; Live Radio Dial, enabling listeners to explore the best live stations across the country; What’s Trending Rankers, a discovery feature that allows listeners to see what’s trending in the current moment across Top Podcasts, Top Playlists, and Top Artist Radio stations; and Lyrics, offering lyrics for the song currently playing on live radio, as well as for tracks on artist radio stations and playlists. 

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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. Content produced under the LJI is made available to media organizations through a Creative Commons licence. Friday’s funding announcement brings total support for the initiative to $128.8 million over eight years.

In 2022-23 alone, LJI journalists covered issues and stories in nearly 1,500 communities, including 60 reporters in Indigenous communities, 84 in ethnocultural communities, 161 in official language minority communities and 11 in 2SLGBTQ+ communities, according to information supplied by Canadian Heritage.

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.”

“Since its inception, the LJI has made significant strides in empowering local stations and contributing to the resilience of our democracy,” said NCRA Executive Director Barry Rooke, in a statement. “As local news and information continue to erode, the resultant vacuum is being filled by unreliable sources and amplified through social media algorithms, detrimentally impacting our society and democratic principles. The consequences are evident in the rise of misinformation, such as widespread beliefs in election fraud, global shortages of horse medication based on unfounded claims, and a barrage of vaccine disinformation on social media platforms.”

“We are thankful for the news of renewal since this means the LJI 2.0 can continue to impact other communities, enhancing their capacity to make high-quality and well-informed audio news and other forms of media for Canadians all over the country,” Rooke added.

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The post Canadian Heritage extends Local Journalism Initiative through 2027 appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

The renewal comes short of OUTtv’s request for must-offer status in both French and English, as well as pricing and packaging terms.

Known for its original first-run Canadian LGTBQ2+ programming, OUTtv argued that the terms should apply to all BDUs who serve over 2,000 subscribers to ensure those in smaller markets have access to LGBTQ2+ content.

OUTtv’s application also argued that in the current market, vertically integrated entities have an advantage because they control the distribution of their programming services themselves, unlike independents like OUTtv that must negotiate their distribution terms with BDUs. According to the network, linear television remains the most important distribution platform for OUTtv in terms of audience and revenues.

Dissenting opinion by Commissioner Claire Anderson

CRTC Commissioner Claire Anderson submitted a dissenting opinion, saying while she agrees with the decision to grant “must-offer” status to OUTtv, she believes the channel should be mandatorialy included in cable packages with the highest penetration rates, whereas the decision sets an “expectation.”

“Additionally, I would require that BDUs treat OUTtv fairly and avoid withdrawing the service, imposing punitive or retaliatory measures, imposing unreasonable rates, significantly altering the packaging or otherwise substantially reducing the wholesale payment for the service, because it furthers the objectives of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), and in particular subparagraphs 3(1)(d)(i) to (iii) and 3(1)(t)(iii),” wrote Anderson.

Anderson argues that much like the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), which receives mandatory distribution, “OUTtv is the only service to provide programming for, by and about the LGBTQ2+ community. The LGBTQ2+ is a historically marginalized group, which is even more apparent by the fact that this group has not been specifically mentioned by the Act…”

Brad Danks, CEO of the OUTtv Network, said while it’s continuing to review the decision, it is “generally pleased” that OUTtv will have must-offer status in English-language markets.

“Once implemented, this decision should help OUTtv continue to produce original programming of high quality and value for Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and continue our efforts to distribute Canadian Content around the World,” said Danks, in a statement. “However we also strongly agree with the dissent of Commissioner Anderson that this decision falls short of what the Commission should have granted OUTtv.”  

OUTtv’s must-offer status in English-language markets will be effective, starting March 1, 2023 to give licensed BDUs that do not currently distribute OUTtv sufficient time to do so.

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The post OUTtv granted must-offer status in English-language markets appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.