OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Jan. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) confirmed that the new wholesale rates for independent Internet service providers (ISPs) will be implemented on February 1, 2012.

The large telephone and cable companies will proceed as scheduled with their proposed implementation plans, with the exception of the Bell companies. Their implementation plan has been modified on an interim basis while the CRTC resolves issues raised by the Canadian Network Operators Consortium.

"We are moving ahead with the implementation as planned to ensure that independent ISPs will continue to offer competitive and innovative services to Canadians," said Leonard Katz, the CRTC's Acting Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications. "Some temporary adjustments have been made to ensure a smooth transition to the new billing regime and to ensure consumers are not inconvenienced."

As an interim measure, independent ISPs who are customers of the Bell companies will have the flexibility to either merge their business and residential Internet traffic, or keep them separate.

In November 2011, the CRTC established how large telephone and cable companies should charge independent ISPs for the use of their networks. In the case of wholesale residential and business services, the large telephone and cable companies may charge a flat monthly fee regardless of how much bandwidth customers of the independent ISPs use. The flat-rate model took effect November 15, 2011.

These decisions affect only the wholesale services the large telephone and cable companies provide to independent ISPs. The CRTC does not regulate the rates or packages that ISPs offer to consumers.

Telecom Order CRTC 2012-60

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Are you passionate about sharing your documentary and having it broadcast on television? With just five weeks to go, TVO is calling upon Ontario's new generation of documentary filmmakers to exhibit their creative skills with the introduction of the inaugural Doc Studio Contest.

TVO is challenging aspiring and accomplished filmmakers, artistic visionaries and amateur film buffs across Ontario to think about all that can happen in five minutes, and then to capture it on film. Inspired by filmmaker-in-residence Alan Zweig (Vinyl, I Curmudgeon, Lovable, A Hard Name), TVO's Doc Studio Contest dares participants to reveal "Life in 5" - a memorable moment, a shift in perception, a secret no one else could uncover - through an interview-based, five-minute film.

"Asking filmmakers to submit a documentary under five minutes in length forces them to hone in on the true essence of a story," says TVO's supervising producer, Jane Jankovic. "The Doc Studio Contest is all about capturing what moves us and illuminates our lives and our world. There are thousands of untold stories out there. I can't wait to see what we get."

The winning film will air on TVO in the spring of 2012 and its filmmaker will receive a mentoring session with Alan Zweig as well as an industry pass to the 2012 International Hot Docs Festival.

"Hot Docs is delighted to support TVO's Doc Studio Contest," says Hot Docs' executive director, Chris McDonald. "Years before the Hot Docs Festival or the new Bloor-Hot Docs Cinema, TVO was one of the only places to see creative documentaries in this province. TVO has helped to nurture the public appetite for these docs, and we are very glad they did!"

Universities and colleges across Ontario are teaming up with TVO to show their support. Brock University, Humber College, Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Ottawa, and many more are joining in to help foster talent from new filmmakers.

A panel of judges, including Zweig, will evaluate eligible entries and select the top five films. TVO will showcase the five finalists on docstudio.tvo.org from March 5 to 11, 2012 and TVO's online audience will vote on the winner. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on March 12, 2012.

Entries can be submitted via YouTube or by mail with a completed entry form, a brief description of the film and a short biography. The contest closes Monday, February 27, 2012.  For complete entry details, visit the Doc Studio Contest page. Stay up-to-date by following Doc Studio on Twitter @tvodocstudio and liking us on our new Facebook page.

A leader in Canadian point-of-view documentaries, TVO devotes more than 50% of its primetime schedule to documentaries. That is 1,430 hours of documentaries per year, including commissions and acquisitions.

TVO commissions between 8-10 new point-of-view documentary films every year, more than any other Canadian broadcaster, focusing on point-of-view films that resonate with Canadians and spark interesting discussions and debate. TVO created docstudio.tvo.org to provide a platform for Canadian documentary filmmaking talent, in-development projects, exclusive filmmaker interviews and online mentoring.

MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced an action-packed sports lineup now available on Bell Mobile TV including live access to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL® All-Star Game, Super Bowl XLVI, the 2012 Stanley Cup® Playoffs and Final, and much more. Delivered directly to Bell superphones and other mobile devices*, only Bell Mobile TV offers customers live, on-the-go access to the most popular sporting events.

"Bell's strategic commitment to bring Canadians the best mobile content across world-leading new broadband networks continues to accelerate the popularity of Bell Mobile TV right across the country," said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility and Residential Services, and Bell's Chief Brand Officer. "With this unbeatable roster of live hockey, curling, football and basketball events available on Bell superphones, rooting for your favourite team just got better."

Some of the top-rated sporting events available live on Bell Mobile TV include:

Alongside its impressive roster of live sports, Bell Mobile TV also delivers live news on CTV News Channel, BNN and CBC News Network, children's content on YTV and Treehouse, and a wide variety of popular programming from CTV and CTV Two..

Bell Mobile TV is available for just $5 per month for 5 hours of Mobile TV usage.

Bell offers Canada's most impressive portfolio of superphones and other mobile devices with large enhanced resolution displays including the LG Optimus LTE, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy SII and Galaxy Tab LTE. When paired with Bell Mobile TV, only Bell customers have on-the-go access to the most top-rated content available directly on the industry's best superphones, smartphones and tablets.

For Bell Mobile TV channel listings, details on sporting event availability, and more information on the service, please visit Bell.ca/MobileTV

Toronto, ON (January 25, 2012) – CTV marks the second annual Bell Let’s Talk Day (@Bell_LetsTalk) with the primetime premiere of a new original documentary about sports and depression. Premiering on Bell Let’s Talk Day, Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME, features TSN Broadcaster and OFF THE RECORD host Michael Landsberg (@heylandsberg) as he guides viewers on the journey from depression to recovery and hope in the context of the world of sports. Sports heroes including Olympian and Bell Let’s Talk Day spokesperson Clara Hughes, hockey’s Stéphane Richer, and baseball’s Darryl Strawberry reveal intimate details of a struggle familiar to millions of Canadians. It’s the first of many programming initiatives from Bell Media in support of Bell Let’s Talk Day.

During the broadcast premiere of DARKNESS AND HOPE and afterwards (7 – 8:30 p.m. ET), Landsberg keeps the conversation going as he joins Bell Let’s Talk Day spokesperson Clara Hughes in a live, 90-minute online discussion at CTV.ca and the CTV iPad App.

The documentary repeats Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TSN2; Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV Two; and on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. ET on CTV.

“I have learned from my own battle with depression that talking and sharing were vital keys to finding my way out of darkness toward the light,” said Landsberg. “I am passionately committed to talking about depression and mental health. I hope that by opening up and sharing our struggles, we can find ways of coping - and take away the stigma of depression, which is what Bell Let’s Talk Day is all about.”

Clara Hughes is arguably the greatest amateur athlete in Canadian history. Her Olympic success (six medals in cycling and speed skating) have brought her countless awards, including the Order of Canada. Yet, at the peak of her success, she was being pulled apart by a deep, internal pain. Stéphane Richer is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time 50-goal scorer, who once played for the Montreal Canadiens. Within days of winning the Stanley Cup, his depression became so deep he considered driving his speeding sports car off the road. Darryl Strawberry was one of the most talented prospects in baseball. He won four World Series titles – one with the New York Mets and three with the Yankees; and was the toast of the Big Apple, until his life-long battle with depression led him down a path of drugs, alcohol and destructive behaviour. In DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME, all three share stories of mental illness and - ultimately - recovery, strength and hope.

Landsberg reached a turning point in his lifelong battle with depression while interviewing Richer in 2009. Landsberg asked if they could talk about depression – framed as “something we have in common.” This courageous moment of admission ushered in massive change for Landsberg, who discovered a passion for helping others.

 “This moving documentary illustrates Bell Media’s commitment to an open conversation about mental illness,” said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. “It’s time to fight the stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need. The response from Canadians since the launch of Bell Let’s Talk Day has been inspiring. We encourage viewers to watch and engage with this film and to keep the conversation going.”

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis (HARDWOOD), DARKNESS AND HOPE: DEPRESSION, SPORTS AND ME is produced by Sandra Picheca and Michael Landsberg for See See Three Entertainment Inc. in association with CTV. For Bell Media, Robin Johnston is Production Executive; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

The Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Initiative

Bell Let’s Talk is a $50-million, multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada based on four key pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. It’s the largest-ever corporate investment in mental health in Canada. To learn more about Bell Let’s Talk, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2012 - Citytv has licensed the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to Katie Couric's upcoming daytime talk show Katie from Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The one-hour, live daily show from the award-winning journalist, best-selling author and popular television personality will premiere on Citytv in September 2012. Katie is the latest Citytv licensed show from Disney-ABC, a partnership which also includes the hit prime time series Revenge, Happy Endings, Body of Proof, and Private Practice and daytime talk show, The Chew. Citytv is also the Canadian home of upcoming Disney-ABC series Scandal and the new daytime program, The Revolution.

"Licensing Katie signals Citytv's commitment to a dynamic and successful daytime television schedule," said Malcolm Dunlop, Executive Vice-President of Television Programming and Operations, Rogers Media. "We're thrilled to be working with Disney-ABC to bring viewers what we believe will be the breakout hit daytime program of the fall season."

In June, the Disney-ABC Television Group signed a multi-year, multiplatform agreement with Couric. The ABC News team member and former Today co-anchor will be reunited on Katie with Jeff Zucker, who will be executive producing the show alongside Couric. Katie will broadcast live every day from New York City. It is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television and is cleared on stations representing 93% of the U.S., to date.

"We are enormously pleased to partner with Citytv in the Canadian marketplace on 2012's highly anticipated new talk show Katie," said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Katie Couric is one of the brightest, most talented, versatile, and most dynamic television personalities, and we're delighted that Citytv's viewers will be able to tune in to her show on a daily basis."

Prior to joining the Disney-ABC Television Group, she was anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, a 60 Minutes correspondent, a CBS Sunday Morning contributor and anchor of CBS News prime time specials. When the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric debuted on September 5, 2006, Couric became the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news broadcast. She also writes a monthly column for Glamour magazine, which features an interview with a dynamic female role model every month and is active on Twitter @katiecouric.

The RTNDA honored the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric with the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in both 2008 and 2009. Also in 2009, USC's Annenberg School for Communication awarded Couric the Walter Cronkite Award for Special Achievement for "National Impact on the 2008 Campaign," and the University of South Dakota and Freedom Forum awarded her the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media. In January 2010, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism awarded Couric the Alfred I. duPont Award for political reporting for her 2008 interviews with Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric was awarded a second duPont for the series "Children of the Recession." In September 2010, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric three Emmy® Awards: Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast: "Rape in America: Justice Denied"; Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast: "Financial Family Tree"; Best Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast: "The Battle of Wanat." 60 Minutes also received an Emmy for Outstanding Interview for Couric's profile of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, "Saving Flight 1549."

Couric led CBS's critically-acclaimed coverage of the historic 2008 presidential election and also launched a series of webcasts giving viewers live, exclusive web coverage of the election and the historic beginnings of Obama's presidency.

In 2000, Couric launched the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Lilly Tartikoff to fund cutting-edge research in colorectal cancer and generate awareness about the life-saving value of screening. Following Couric's on-air colonoscopy in 2000, a scientifically documented 20% increase in the number of colonoscopies performed across the country was dubbed "The Couric Effect" by researchers at the University of Michigan. Couric received the Peabody Award for her Today show series on colon cancer.

Couric is also a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer, and in May 2008, she and her other network news counterparts participated in the first Stand Up To Cancer broadcast, an unprecedented effort that culminated in a one-hour, commercial-free, prime time program on ABC, CBS and NBC in fall 2008. Two years later, on September 10, 2010, Couric and her ABC News and NBC News counterparts, Diane Sawyer and Brian Williams, joined forces once again to host the second live "road-block" Stand Up To Cancer fundraising event. To date, $180 million has been pledged to Stand Up To Cancer to support "Dream Teams" of scientists from different institutions, working together to get new therapies to patients quickly.

HALIFAX, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant Inc. (TSX: BA) is bringing the world's most popular social networking tool into customers' living rooms with its new Facebook application for FibreOP™ TV.

FibreOP TV customers can now watch their favourite TV shows while viewing their Facebook news feeds, rate and comment on the TV show they are watching and view Facebook photo albums. The free Facebook app is available today to FibreOP TV customers.

"Facebook has become a part of Canadians' lives. We are excited to bring it directly to the largest screen in the home - giving our customers a truly interactive and social TV experience," says Andre LeBlanc, Vice President Residential Product, Bell Aliant. "Our future-proof FibreOP network was built to allow us to innovate and develop new services that will meet the communication needs of our customers today and tomorrow. Social trends are shaping where and how consumers want to connect, and Bell Aliant is responding."

There are more than 800 million active Facebook users around the world and 87.5 per cent of Internet users in Atlantic Canada are on Facebook. This is higher than the national average of 83.3 percent*.  Social media is changing the way television is made, watched, and broadcast, and the rise of social TV is expected to increase in 2012.

"Social TV is going to continue to grow as broadcasters and content providers find new ways to engage with their audience," says Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, Assistant Professor, School of Information Management and Social Media Lab, Dalhousie University. "TV technology and social media are merging; according to a survey by Ovum, about 74 per cent of TV viewers with broadband use the Internet at the same time and 38 per cent discuss TV shows while using social media. In the future, this trend will likely accelerate as social TV technology becomes more ubiquitous and easier to use."

Atlantic Canadians will be able to access six of the most popular Facebook features on their FibreOP TV including:

Viewing news feeds on their wall;
Viewing profile details including names, profile pictures and status messages;
Posting status messages and notes to their walls;
Rating the TV show they're currently watching;
Viewing photo albums in both a thumbnail view and full screen slideshow;
Viewing friends' profiles, photos and wall updates.

To access the Facebook app on FibreOP TV customers need an active Facebook account and a Bell Aliant Internet connection. Customers can press Menu, go to Apps and press Facebook to launch the app on their TV. A step-by-step guide on how to set up and use the new app is available at www.bellaliant.net/facebookonyourtv. The app supports up to 10 unique Facebook accounts per household.

Bell Aliant's future-proof FibreOP is the only 100 per cent fibre optic network that connects straight to customers' homes so everything works faster, easier and better.  FibreOP is number one in customer satisfaction because it delivers the fastest Internet, video sharing and the ultimate high-definition TV experience.

FibreOP TV is the ultimate TV experience allowing customers to watch, record and pause live TV from any room in their house with our best Whole Home PVR. The new TV product also includes superior Whole Home HD, the Ultimate Video-on-Demand - with the most HD movies and the most popular TV shows in HD, and the Next Generation Interactive Guide, with easy-to-use features like picture-in-picture browsing and advanced search capability.

With our FibreOP Internet product, customers have the best Internet experience: they can upload as fast as they download - a first in Canada for any major service provider. FibreOP Internet can deliver the fastest speeds with up to 170 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload services. These speeds enable customers not only to download music or movies and share video or photos faster than ever before, but also to accommodate the growing need for multiple users within the home.

Bell Aliant was the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home. By the end of 2012, the company will have invested almost half a billion dollars to extend FTTH to more than 600,000 homes and businesses in the areas we serve. Customers can find out more about the new Facebook app on FibreOP TV by visiting www.bellaliant.net/FibreOP or calling 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367).

*Source: comScore MediaMetrix November 2011

In a recent survey we asked 540 locally owned and operated business “What is the number one reason you advertise?” The answer? 82% said they advertise to ‘increase sales”.

Yet in audits of local media presentations in those markets, less than 10% addressed how the media proposal would ‘increase sales’. Most danced around the issue with benefits like ‘increased traffic’ or ‘increased awareness.’  Many presentations offered no client benefits at all and merely talked about how great their stations were.

There are huge similarities between effective ad copy and sales presentations that work.

One of Sears’ premiere copy writers, Shirley Shea, consistently wrote copy which out sold the ad copy written by her peers. In catalogues, print ads, and radio and TV scripts, her ads were able to produce results beyond any of Sears’ other writers’ ads.

Her secret?

Typically, Shirley would arrive at Sears’ ‘ivory tower’ for a meeting to discuss the launch of a new product. The engineers who designed the product, the manufacturer’s head of marketing, Sears’ marketing people and various other experts would explain all of the technical features of the new product.

For the launch of a new washer and dryer, for example, Shirley would take notes while the experts talked about details like the BTU’s  (British Thermal Units),  the RPM’s (Revolutions Per Minute), the gauge of the metal and composition of the enamel finish.

Upon leaving the meeting to head back to her office, Shirley would look around to make sure no one was watching while she threw her notes in the trash!

So where did Shirley get the information to write such successful ad copy? She would go onto the sales floor and listen to the questions customers were asking about the washer and dryer.

Customers weren’t asking about BTU’s, RPM’s or the other technical information the ‘experts’ thought was important. They wanted to know how much laundry the machine held, how fast it did the laundry, and how quiet the machines were.

Is your sales presentation all about you, your audience and your features, or does it answer the questions your prospects are asking?

This is a special ENS on Sales, because we want to know the questions you’re asking and the hurdles you’re facing so that we can write more helpful and useful ENS on Sales tips for you in 2012.

Click here to do a short online survey OR Click here and we’ll arrange a short telephone questionnaire to help us do a better job for you.

Wayne@wensmedia.comm

Toronto, ON (January 24, 2012) – The buzz is building, the news is spreading, and now CTV gives viewers a front row seat to the hottest ticket in town. CTV announced today the curtain rises on an exclusive advance digital screening of the first full episode of SMASH on Super Bowl weekend, beginning Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 a.m. ET until Sunday, Feb. 5 at 12 midnight PT. The advance digital screening will be heavily promoted during one of the most strongly-viewed weekends of the broadcast year, allowing mass sampling of SMASH on the eve of the series’ television premiere. When the curtain comes down on the advance screening, viewers can then enjoy SMASH’s official opening night Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and Friday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo!. To learn more about SMASH, click here.

Viewers can jump the line to see the entire first episode of SMASH during the three-day window on the go, or from the comfort of their home, in the following ways:

·       ONLINE: On the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca.

·       ON TABLETS: On the CTV iPad App and Bell Mobile TV App.

·       ON MOBILE: On CTV Mobile, currently available on smartphones, superphones and tablets with Bell Mobile TV.

·       ON DEMAND: On Bell Fibe TV On Demand, Rogers on Demand, and Shaw On Demand.

·       ON SATELLITE: Available continuously through the free preview period to Bell Satellite TV customers on Channel 805 (in HD) and Channel 305 (in SD).

 “CTV’s first-ever advance digital screening of a new series is the perfect vehicle to launch SMASH, the most anticipated mid-season program of 2012,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “And to promote it, we’ve scheduled it during one of the most-watched weekends of the year, allowing us to sample this fantastic new series to as wide an audience as possible, just before its television debut.”

Throughout the online and on demand viewing opportunity, @CTV_Television invites viewers to cast their votes for their favourite SMASH Marilyn via Twitter. Viewers can show their support by retweeting @CTV_Television’s #TeamIvy or #TeamKaren tweets from their own accounts for the chance to win exclusive SMASH and CTV prize packs. 

SMASH.CTV.ca is the online destination for all things SMASH. The site includes video interviews with the series stars, behind-the-scenes videos, episode recaps and photos. New episodes of SMASH will also be available the day following their CTV television broadcast on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca, on the CTV iPad App, and on Bell Mobile TV featuring CTV Mobile.

Celebrating the beauty and heartbreak of Broadway during the creation of a new musical about Marilyn Monroe, the new series from Emmy® and Academy Award®-winner Steven Spielberg (War Horse, ER), stars Emmy® Award-winner Debra Messing (WILL & GRACE) as acclaimed playwright Julia, AMERICAN IDOL alumni Katharine McPhee as up-and-coming star Karen, and Broadway sensation Megan Hilty as established actress Ivy, who are both vying to bring Marilyn to life on stage.

SMASH is the brainchild of executive producer Steven Spielberg. David Marshall Grant (BROTHERS AND SISTERS), Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Academy Award®-winning Chicago, Hairspray), and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (UNITED STATES OF TARA, THE BORGIAS), also serve as executive producers. Original songs are written by Tony® and Grammy Award®-winners Marc Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman, who serve as executive producers as well. SMASH is distributed by NBC Universal Television.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter –
@BellMedia_PR
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television

Katharine McPhee – @katharinemcphee

Debra Messing – @DebraLMessing

Megan Hilty – @meganhilty

Raza Jaffrey – @RazaJaffrey

TORONTO - January 24, 2012 - Broadcasting legend and a veteran of CHUM Radio for 45 years, Bob Laine, will be posthumously inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame on Friday, March 23, 2012. Laine's memory and career will be honoured with the Allan Waters Broadcast Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding success in broadcasting. The induction ceremony will take place during the Canadian Radio Music Awards luncheon being held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

"Bob Laine is inextricably woven into the fabric of the CHUM Radio legend", said Duff Roman, retired head of CHUM Radio. "As an on-air personality, he personified the exuberant baby boomers who were coming of age in Toronto in the 60s. Later, as a senior executive, he did a lot of heavy lifting for CHUM and nothing fazed him. He was always cheerful - a genuinely warm and wonderful individual and a great comrade-in-arms. I am honoured to call him my friend."

"Bob Laine was more than just a great friend for 46 years, he was also a wonderful mentor to me and to many other fledgling broadcasters over the years," remarked Doug Thompson, CEO of Douglas Communications Inc. "As a teenager, I used to keep my transistor radio under my pillow and fall sleep listening to Bob all night on CHUM, never dreaming that one day, we'd be working together and become chums ourselves.  Bob's passion for radio was just as strong at the end as it was at the beginning of his career.  He was simply the best."

Bob Laine began his broadcasting career at CFRS in Simcoe, Ontario in 1957 but quickly moved to CHUM Toronto where he would ultimately make his mark as "The Voice".  CHUM's undisputed King of All Nights, he was best known as the overnight disc jockey on 1050 CHUM during the 60's - a legendary time for the station as it revolutionized the AM signal in Canada by introducing a rock and roll format.  For a decade, he entertained listeners as Bob "The Night Creature" Laine introducing his show with the signature line "Good morning world, this is Bob-O. Good morning Bob-O, this is world."

For 15 years, Laine operated the CHUM network of stations in Winnipeg before returning to Toronto to become Director of Special Projects and later Vice President for CHUM Limited. In this position, he was instrumental in launching the CHUM Radio Network, which he managed until his retirement in October 2003.  Not long after retirement, Laine took on the task of assembling and organizing CHUM's vast collection of archives, which would become the CHUMuseum.

At the time of his death on August 31, 2011, he had been serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation as its Chairman. He was also a longtime member of Variety Club where he worked on many of the organizationís annual television fundraising programs and Chief Barker in Winnipeg.

Tickets for the Canadian Radio Music Awards luncheon are available for purchase at www.cmw.net.

MONTREAL, Jan. 24, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today applauded corporate Canada for joining the conversation about Canadian mental health as media, sports and communications companies alike come together to support the 2012 Bell Let's Talk campaign. Highlighted by Bell Let's Talk Day on February 8, the campaign invites all Canadians to talk about mental illness in order to fight the stigma around this pervasive yet misunderstood national health concern.

"The Bell Let's Talk team sincerely thanks the range of companies that have stepped up to make a real difference in mental health," said Clara Hughes, Canadian Olympian and national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk. "Competitors joining together to build understanding and drive action in Canadian mental health sends an incredibly positive message to all those struggling with mental illness: Everyone is invited to join the conversation about mental health!"

Bell Let's Talk 2012 is supported by a major national promotional and education campaign, including generous assistance from:

Astral Media
Bell Media / CTV
CBC / SRC
Canadian Olympic Committee
Globe and Mail
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
Montréal Canadiens
National Hockey League
National Post / Postmedia Network
Ottawa Senators
Rogers Communications
Vancouver Whitecaps FC

And 160 other Canadian companies that participated in the annual Bell Event in support of mental health, which raised $1.2 million in new funding.

These organizations are offering a range of platforms for the Bell Let's Talk message, including newspaper, radio, TV, out-of-home and online advertising, rink boards at major sports arenas, promotional events, and editorial coverage dedicated to the discussion and advancement of mental health.

The campaign culminates on Bell Let's Talk Day this February 8. For every text message sent and every long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers that day, Bell will donate another 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health (regular long distance and text charges apply). Last year's Bell Let's Talk Day raised $3,303,961.80 in new funding.

The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a five-year, $50-million charitable program based on four action pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. With Bell Let's Talk Day as its anti-stigma centrepiece, Bell's initiative is providing significant funding for leading mental health hospitals and grassroots organizations, driving new workplace initiatives across corporate Canada, and supporting new research - including a world-first research announcement planned for February.

To learn more about Bell Let's Talk Day on February 8, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk

TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - CFC (Canadian Film Centre) and Bell Media are pleased to welcome the three participants of the inaugural Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp, a new initiative designed to furnish experienced TV writers with the knowledge and management skills necessary to become successful showrunners.

Selected in partnership by the CFC and Bell Media, those participating in the Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp are:

Shelley Eriksen, a creator, writer and showrunner with experience in prime-time drama, comedy, mini-series and movies-of-the-week. Having staffed over 200 episodes of television, Eriksen's career spans from the acclaimed TRADERS, through showrunning SHOW ME YOURS, and most recently has written on BOMB GIRLS, FLASHPOINT and 18 TO LIFE.  She is currently in development on the one-hour drama BEAUTY MARK for CTV/Bell Media, and movie-of-the-week THE JACK LAYTON STORY for CBC.

Daegan Fryklind, an award-winning Vancouver-based writer/producer whose most recent credits include co-producer and writer on THE LISTENER for CTV/Fox International and head writer on YUKONIC. Previous credits include the series: BEING ERICA, JPOD, ROBSON ARMS, COLD SQUAD, FALCON BEACH, and THE GUARD, as well as the animated feature film EDISON & LEO. Presently, Fryklind is in development on the one-hour dramatic series BITTEN with SPACE/Bell Media/No Equal Entertainment, and TIME OUT with CBC/Lark Entertainment.

Dennis Heaton, an award-winning writer and producer, is currently the co-executive producer and head writer on CALL ME FITZ (HBO Canada/Audience Network). His writing credits include THE LISTENER (CTV/NBC), JPOD (CBC), BLOOD TIES (LIFETIME) and the feature film FIDO (LIONSGATE). Heaton currently has four projects in active development: MAJESTIC (CTV, Bell Media, Paperny Entertainment), THE UNDERTAKER (Shaw/Lark Productions), PRIMAL (EBTV), and OUT OF TOUCH (Paperny Entertainment).

"Investing in talent is one of our top priorities, and the Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp is the perfect opportunity for us to support the next generation of great Canadian showrunners," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "By collaborating with the CFC in selecting Eriksen, Fryklind and Heaton for the program, we are supporting an incredibly talented group of creative voices. We have no doubt we will see their successes on our TV screens in the very near future."

The program begins in Toronto on February 6, 2012 and will run for two weeks. A week of sessions in Los Angeles (beginning February 20) will follow. The lineup of participating mentors and guests will be announced shortly.

The Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp is an individually tailored program that focuses with precision on the special talents, abilities and challenges of each participant. The program will build on leadership skills, provide practical exposure to the producing side of the equation, and empower participants to confidently take on all of the challenges and responsibilities of showrunning. The participants will engage with top showrunners, key network executives, producers and other top-notch talent to expand their professional networks and take their showrunning skills to the next level.

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Roses are red, violets are blue - a favourite reality series will soon makes its Canadian debut!  As announced earlier this morning on Breakfast Television and Rogers Radio stations by The Bachelor host Chris Harrison, the new original reality series The Bachelor Canada is coming north of the border and will launch exclusively on Citytv this fall.

Commissioned by Citytv's original content team and produced by Force Four Entertainment, The Bachelor Canada is based on the perennially successful The Bachelor franchise, which is produced in the U.S. by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television and is currently in its 16th season on Citytv and OMNI Television. The nine-episode, Canadian, romantic reality series is in the pre-production phase with principal photography slated to begin this spring. Additional production and broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

"The Bachelor has long been a fan favourite on Citytv and we look forward to putting a Canadian spin on this thriving franchise," said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media, and Executive Producer of The Bachelor Canada. "Canada is brimming with eligible bachelors and bachelorettes and we're excited to offer them the opportunity to embark on their own quest for love through this entertaining series." Beginning today, Citytv is kicking off a nationwide search for Canada's most eligible, rose-loving bachelorettes. Casting call information and eligibility requirements are now available at Citytv.com/BachelorCanada. Casting details for Canada's first bachelor will be announced at a later date.

"We are thrilled to be working with Rogers Media on one of the most successful reality television brands of all time," said John Ritchie, Executive Producer and Partner, Force Four Entertainment. "We've already hit the ground running on producing the series and we're confident The Bachelor Canada will be a hit for Citytv when it debuts in the fall."

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Shaw Media rang in the New Year on a high, celebrating a successful fall 2011 across its specialty services and outpacing the competition with impressive 4% growth amongst key A25-54 and W25-54 demographics*.

With final numbers now confirmed it's clear that more viewers continued to turn to Shaw Media's specialty channels for top notch programming, with 13 of 18 channels recording year over year growth this past fall. With 10% growth over last year, HGTV achieved the highest rate of growth against all top 10 specialty channels for W25-54. Meanwhile, during the week of December 26, History Television, the number one entertainment specialty channel, and Showcase achieved their highest average weekly audiences on record (V2+ and A25-54).**

Similar strength was seen across the rest of the services as Shaw Media dominated the top 10 digital channel ranker with seven of the top 10 channels among A25-54 and six of the top 10 for W25-54***. National Geographic and Action held strong in the number one and two slots as the top ranked digital channels for A25-54, and National Geographic continues to be the only digital channel to sit in the top 20 across all specialty channels for multiple demos.

"Shaw Media's steadfast commitment to bringing Canadians the most riveting content across our specialty channels has resulted in exciting success and growth in 2011," says Barbara Williams, SVP, Content, Shaw Media. "We've established a strong reputation within the television landscape and focus to maintain our stride as we enter a new year."

The broadcaster's highly sought-after content accounted for the highest number of top performing shows with a jaw-dropping 10 of the top 20 non-sport specialty shows among A25-54. History Television had an unstoppable season with Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers, Swamp People and American Restoration taking four of the top 10 and eight of the top 20 show spots for A25-54 and five of the top 20 among W25-54. Showcase's original runaway hit Lost Girl was the second most watched specialty serial drama for A25-54 and W25-54. Food Network's exciting new season of Next Iron Chef, was a top 10 show for W25-54 and top 20 for A25-54.

Source *:
BBM Canada PPM data
Total Canada
8/30/10-1/2/11; 8/30/11 - 1/2/12
(Competitor rate of growth over F'10: Bell Media, -3%; Rogers,+3%; Corus, -7% )

Source **:
8/28/06-8/30/09 BBM-Nielsen Meter data
8/31/09-1/1/12 BBM Canada PPM data
Total Canada, M-Su, 2a-2a

VANCOUVER, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications and Wavefront, Canada's wireless centre of excellence for commercialization and research, announced today the launch of the Rogers Wireless Innovation Centre, a new Centre that helps technology innovators develop products and bring them to market faster.

The Rogers Wireless Innovation Centre will showcase the capabilities of Canada's first Long Term Evolution (LTE) network along with the latest wireless innovations and technologies, including machine to machine (M2M) solutions for customers and application developers. Scheduled to open this spring in Vancouver, the Centre will give innovators the opportunity to learn and connect with the latest global wireless technology, work with key developers and share their solutions with industry leaders.

"We're excited to work with Wavefront to leverage our world-class LTE technology to spur the development of innovative products and solutions for Canada, and Canadians," said Gordon Nelson, Vice President, BC, Rogers. "Vancouver is a key growth market for Rogers which is why it was one of the first markets in Canada to experience the benefits of our LTE network. We look forward to seeing many more firsts come out of the Rogers Wireless Innovation Centre and helping Canadians understand how machine to machine and other wireless technologies can impact their company's productivity and compete in a global market."

Rogers and Wavefront are also working together on the Rogers Wavefront Innovation Mentorship program.  This national initiative is expected to launch this spring and will pair early-stage wireless technology companies from across Canada with experienced technology and business professionals from Rogers and Wavefront.  By providing these emerging technology companies with comprehensive support, coaching and resources, the Rogers Wavefront Innovation Mentorship program will help position them for long-term success.

"Our organizations will mutually benefit as innovation is key for each of us and working together with Rogers gives companies and entrepreneurs a chance to excel in this market and on the international stage," said James Maynard, Wavefront President and CEO.  "Innovation is in Rogers' DNA. They are known leaders in M2M and their LTE network, the first in Canada and the only LTE network in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, is the true foundation for technology innovation."

Rogers was the first wireless carrier in Canada to launch an LTE network and is the first and only Canadian carrier to offer an LTE network in Vancouver and surrounding cities. The Rogers LTE network offers mobile speeds similar to broadband connections and delivers unparalleled connectivity and increased usage capacity to provide an unrivalled mobile experience. Rogers LTE network is now live in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and many surrounding communities. For more information on Rogers LTE, visit www.rogers.com/LTE.

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Confirming its position on the vanguard of news-gathering technology, CTV Toronto announced today the launch of 360 VIEW, an immersive, interactive online video platform that puts viewers in the heart of the latest news stories. Shot via iPhone with Kogeto's "Dot" technology, CTV's 360 VIEW allows viewers to go to CTVToronto.ca and immerse themselves in news stories by seeing everything that's happening from a 360 degree viewpoint. Check out a sample online by clicking here.

CTV Toronto is the first news organization in Canada to deliver this kind of interactive access to the stories making news. With this exclusive technology, CTV and Kogeto are changing the way viewers experience their news. Viewers can choose which viewpoint they want to watch, and then virtually spin around inside simply by swiping or clicking on the video.

To view the complete release, please click here: http://bit.ly/AAerby

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 19, 2012) - Shaw Cablesystems G.P. is pleased to announce that, Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE and TSN are now available in High-Definition as part of Shaw's basic television packages. This means that with Shaw, customers can now watch their favourite sports in real-time High-Definition at no extra cost.

With the addition of these popular sports channels to Shaw's basic High-Definition packages, including our Personal TV package, all customers can now enjoy a variety of sports-focused entertainment, with coverage of NHL, CFL, NBA, MLB, golf, curling and many other popular sports.

Hockey fans can now fuel their love of the game with even more NHL games in High-Definition. Thanks to the packaging changes, Canucks, Flames and Oilers fans can watch their team at no additional cost on their local Sportsnet channels.

"As a Canadian company, Shaw understands the importance of national and regional sports across our country and in the communities we serve," said Peter Bissonnette, President, Shaw Communications Inc. "We are excited to expand access to these popular sports channels to our cable customers through their availability in our basic High-Definition TV packages."

Personal TV brings customers their favourite programming with over 100 channels, including 19 in stunning High-Definition and up to 55 commercial-free digital music channels. In addition to sports programming, Personal TV offers exceptional HD specialty channels like HGTV, History, the Food Network and YTV. Customers who subscribe to Personal TV and have HD capable equipment, will receive these channels at no extra cost.

Montréal, QC (January 19, 2012) – CTV Montréal announced that Paul Karwatsky is the new co-anchor of the station’s flagship newscast CTV NEWS AT SIX, as well as CTV NEWS AT NOON, alongside veteran broadcaster Mutsumi Takahashi.

For the past three years, Karwatsky has anchored the weekend edition of CTV NEWS AT SIX and CTV NEWS at 11:30 p.m. and reported for the station’s top-rated newscasts.

“Paul is a native Montréaler with a passion for news, this city and the province,” said Jed Kahane, Director of News and Public Affairs, CTV Montréal. “His authenticity and credibility have always resonated with our viewers, and we are delighted to see him step into this new position and this new challenge”.

 “Continuity is one of the great strengths of CTV Montréal,” said incoming Vice-President and General Manager Louis Douville. “So being able to look to our own staff and promote from within is something I think our viewers will embrace. Paul knows our audience well, and they know him.”

Karwatsky is a graduate of Concordia University, where he studied journalism and political science. He joined CTV in 2005 and has been reporting on the air from day one. He has covered everything from the collapse of the De la Concorde overpass to provincial elections and city hall.

 “I’ve been at CTV for seven years, but really I’ve been connected to the station my entire life, as a viewer,” said Karwatsky.  “To have the opportunity to step into this position is an incredible honor, but also a great challenge as a journalist who takes his responsibility to the public very seriously.

 “I’m absolutely delighted to be working alongside Paul,” said Mutsumi Takahashi. “I’ve come to know him not only as a good friend, but as an outstanding journalist, and I think he’ll bring new energy and a new perspective to our newscasts.”

Since the beginning of January, Karwatsky has been filling in on CTV NEWS AT NOON and SIX broadcasts on an interim basis. His new assignment is effective immediately.

88 per cent of Canadians are looking for online health information with Canadian references, yet 72 per cent concerned about reliability*

MONTREAL, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - TELUS is making access to reliable, verified Canadian healthcare information online a snap with myhealthreference.com. myhealthreference.com, a new health reference internet portal, is designed to help Canadians find the relevant information and tools they need to take better care of their health and the health of their loved ones.

A recent national poll by Vision Critical found 72 per cent of Canadians are concerned with the reliability of healthcare information they find online, yet 53 per cent still use the Internet as their primary health information reference.

"Technology has empowered us with convenient, fast access to health information. Yet much of the online information is unverified. myhealthreference.com will allow Canadians to quickly find credible, reliable and expert-reviewed health information for themselves and their families," said Paul Lepage, senior vice-president, TELUS Health Solutions.

With 66 per cent of Canadians seeking a single point for online health information, the new site will deliver current content, reviewed articles and specialized functions to make the consumer experience "future friendly".

The new site includes access to:

·                       Web and mobile tools such as a symptom checker, self-assessment modules, healthy habits guides and smoking cessation programs

·                       Powerful search feature that "learns" from user trends and health news to deliver relevant, credible content to returning visitors

·                       Reliable reference content and news from trusted Canadian sources covering health topics from A to Z

·                       Advice from physicians, pharmacists, naturopaths and nutritionists, as well as information to find specialized local resources

The Vision Critical survey also reveals:

·                       90 per cent of women identified themselves as the primary health seekers in the family

·                       70 per cent of mothers first look to the Internet to gather health advice for their children

·                       94 per cent of mothers prefer a website with information from a Canadian reference

·                       66 per cent of Canadians have used online health information for positive results

·                       25 per cent of Quebecers do not have a family physician. The highest rate from all provinces surveyed (17% BC, 14% AB, 8% MB/SK, 10% ON, 13% ATL)

·                       33 per cent of Canadians over 55 say it's difficult to find dietary tips for specific chronic health conditions

To explore the new site go to www.myhealthreference.com.

*The Vision Critical poll of 1,500 Canadians was conducted from December 19 to December 22, 2011.

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, January, 19, 2012 - Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) introduced a new policy that will encourage large telephone companies to rapidly adopt Internet Protocol (IP) throughout their networks. This shift will promote the development of innovative services for Canadians.

"The networks of the future will be primarily based on Internet Protocol," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "We have established basic principles to ensure this technology becomes the industry standard for voice networks as quickly as possible. The industry was able to reach a consensus on many key issues during this proceeding, and we appreciate their commitment."

At the moment, companies are at different stages in their adoption of IP. Large telephone companies have traditionally relied on voice circuit-switched technology (known as TDM) to transfer telephone calls to and from other service providers. Although they are gradually migrating their networks to IP, large telephone companies continue to rely on the older technology.

By comparison, companies that began offering telephone services in the last few years, such as cable companies and wireless providers, have built IP-based networks. At present, they are responsible for converting their IP telephone calls to the older TDM standard.

In areas where a large telephone company uses IP to transfer telephone calls to either an affiliated or unaffiliated provider, it must provide a similar arrangement to any other provider that asks for it. The CRTC is requiring large telephone companies to negotiate such arrangements within six months of a formal request.

The CRTC has also simplified the rules under which the costs of transferring telephone calls between a wireless and a wireline provider are shared. A key point was the different obligations between independent wireless providers and those that are affiliated with a larger communications company. Currently, independent providers are responsible for paying the entire cost unless they allow alternative long-distance providers access to their networks.

Under the CRTC's new policy, wireless providers will no longer be required to give this access to alternative long-distance providers since they already offer a variety of plans and Canadians can choose from other long-distance options, such as prepaid cards and local access numbers. These changes will reduce costs for many wireless providers, particularly for those that have recently entered the Canadian wireless market, and level the playing field between independent providers and those that are affiliated with a larger communications company.

Today's decision follows a proceeding that included a public hearing that was held in Gatineau, Que., from October 24 to November 1, 2011.

By the end of the month, the CRTC will have completed a comprehensive review of its major telecommunications regulations. This exercise was launched in response to the government's policy direction to rely as much as possible on market forces, and today's decision represents one of the last steps. During the last five years, the CRTC has deregulated many segments of the telecommunications market and reduced the scope of existing regulations.

Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2012-24
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-24.htm