A new Pew Research Center survey finds the long-term unemployed are more likely than the short-term unemployed not only to have lost income, but also to have lost contact with close friends, suffered strains in family relations and lost some self-respect and confidence in their long-term career prospects. Read more

After two years of Talk, 820 CHAM has switched back to a country format as of noon July 22. Over the next eight days, the station will offer wall-to-wall country music, announcer free and without commercials. As a result of the format change, a number of on-air personalities and behind-the-scenes staff were released. Click HERE for a short video.

Country station 100.7 HANK-FM Bridgewater launched July 22 at 6:00 AM. Jonathan Crouse moves over from afternoons on sister station CKBW to be the morning show host on HANK.  Nick Yorston, who spent the past year or so in Yellowknife does the morning news.  Andrea James, transferred from sister station CKDR 92.7 Dryden does mid-days, while Alicia Hunter moves to the HANK afternoon show.

This created some changes in the CKBW lineup.  John Waterman joined as News Director for both stations, plus will do morning news on CKBW.  Recent University of King’s College journalism grad, Wallis Snowdon, has also joined the news department.

The CKBW on air team remains almost the same with Mike Richards in the morning show, followed by Heidi Saarloos.  There is a new addition to the afternoon show, with UK radio and TV legend Dominik Diamond taking that position.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today introduced a new policy for community and campus radio stations. The policy provides this sector with stable funding, and emphasizes the importance of local reflection as well as the participation of volunteers in all areas of a station's operations.

"Community and campus radio stations serve a distinct need within the broadcasting system," said Michel Arpin, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Broadcasting. "In the years to come, these stations will have access to predictable funding so that they may continue to offer local information, give exposure to emerging Canadian artists and provide opportunities for volunteers to participate in the broadcasting system."

The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) will see its annual funding increase by over $700,000, which will be distributed among the more than 140 community and campus radio stations. Created in 2007, the CRFC is a not-for-profit organization that supports the development of non-commercial, community-based broadcasters.

The funds will be supplied by commercial radio broadcasters through a reallocation of the contributions they must make each year toward the development of Canadian content. As such, this initiative will benefit the campus and community radio sector at no additional cost to the commercial radio sector.

The Commission will also provide campus radio stations with greater flexibility by replacing hourly advertising limits with weekly limits.

Finally, the Commission took steps to simplify its licensing regime and to harmonize as much as possible the regulations for community and campus radio stations.

Kenny Jones, Morning Show Host at Country 93.3 Fort McMurray for the past nine years is heading to Rogers-owned sister station Country 107.1 Abbotsford. He starts Monday, July 26^th as Morning Show Host.

To send best wishes click here.

THE FAN 590 is looking for its next Morning Show. Don Kollins, PD, came up with an innovative way of searching for a team and had a song written and produced. To listen to musical job posting, click HERE

If you’re interested in applying, simply go to the CAREERS section on this website and get the details.

RTNDA Canada, the association of electronic journalists, visited the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square.

In honor of the occasion, Jason Moore, President of RTNDA Canada, and other representatives from RTNDA Canada and from RTDNA - the Radio Television Digital News Association - based in Washington were on hand to ring the NASDAQ Closing Bell.

Where: NASDAQ MarketSite – 4 Times Square – 43rd & Broadway – Broadcast Studio

When: Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 3:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET         

Webcast: An archived webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell is available HERE 

XM Canada (TSX:XSR) announced today that the XM online+ mobile and internet service is now compatible with the popular Apple iPad(TM) and that an application for Android(TM) will be available later this summer. This news follows the recent Blackberry(R) smartphone app launch and demonstrates the company's continued commitment to deliver unique and premium quality digital audio entertainment and content to listeners any way they want it.

The XM online+ app for iPhone(R), iPod touch(R) and now iPad is available for free at the iTunes App store. Once the app is downloaded, users can sign up for a free 14-day trial of XM online+ to get easy access to over 100 channels of the best commercial-free music, plus sports, comedy, news and entertainment programming.

"One XM online+ subscription lets you take XM anywhere," said Janet Gillespie, Marketing Vice-President, XM Canada. "It delivers your favourite audio entertainment on a variety of mobile devices; so you can have access wherever you go. And with reports of iPad sales already surpassing the three million mark globally, we're pleased to extend our service to Apple fans here in Canada."

XM online+ gives listeners the ability to tune in via an online player for the desktop and applications for mobile devices including iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, iPad and soon Android-powered smartphones. Android is quickly becoming the fastest growing operating system and eager users can sign up at www.xmradio.ca/android to be notified when the XM online+ app is available.

Power 97 is happy to announce that Winnipeg bands Prophet, The Afterbeat, Broken Halo and Talk City have taken home top honours as the River City Rocks Class of 2010 winners.  Each band receives a membership to Manitoba Music, a gift certificate to Quest Musique and air time on Power 97 all summer long.

Power 97 has been giving exposure to local talent in Manitoba with River City Rocks since the Class of 2003, but this is the first year that the station has partnered with Supernova.com. The team up to create power97.supernova.com has streamlined the band submission process allowing listeners to vote on the best rock bands in the city. In May 2010, 100 bands joined the competition resulting in the best band turnout yet. Power 97 listeners voted for the top 20 and in July, the Power 97 panel unveiled the four winners.

Power 97 Music Director Casey Norman, “A big thank you to all the sponsors that got involved this year and to all the submitting bands! Our partnership with Supernova.com will continue throughout the year giving Manitoba Indie bands their very own online community.”

A new radio station serving Owen Sound and Bruce Grey is set to launch July 26, 2010. CJOS FM, “92.3 The Dock” a division of Larche Communications will begin its first day of broadcasting at 8:00 AM.

“This has been a labour of love,” according to Larche President and Owner Paul Larche. “We were awarded the license by the CRTC 2 years ago and just as we began to plan for the build the recession hit and we had to take a pause.  With that all behind us we’re ready to go and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Rob Brignell General Manager says “we’ve been able to assemble an outstanding team.  It’s an excellent cross section of veteran broadcasters and industry rookies that will bring a new flavor to the airwaves and enthusiasm to the streets of our Region.  Bob Wallace and Diana Meder, aka Bob and Diana have joined our team and will join you for breakfast Monday through Friday.  Rounding out the on air line up will be Don Vail afternoons, Nicky Robertson afternoon News, Kyle Gallagher Weekends and Brittany Gerris  weekend News.”

“It feels like home to us” according to Bob and Diana, the well known morning duo. “We worked for Mr. Larche at his Kitchener station several years ago and knew that when the next opportunity arose we’d want to come back home.  We can’t wait to throw the switch on the 26th and the music, well it’s going to be outstanding!”

“A change in the CRTC policy has provided us the opportunity to bring the newest and hottest music format in the industry today to Owen Sound” says Don Vail Program Director. “The Greatest Hits of All Time will appeal to everyone aged 35 to 54.  It’s a music library of the greatest hits albums from late 60’s through the 1980’s, arguably the most influential and creative musically in our time.  Some of the key artists that will be a staple of our music library are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Elton John, Queen, The Band, The Guess Who, U2 and Fleetwood Mac.  If it was a hit during that time period you’ll hear it on 92.3 The Dock.”

The Dock is located at the corner of 9th Ave and 8th Street East in Owen Sound.

Global Television today announced Emmy® Award-winning journalist Dawna Friesen has been named Anchor & Executive Editor of Global National.

With a breadth of international experience that sets her apart, Friesen will bring a distinct voice and perspective to the more than one million Canadians who put their trust in Global National each evening. Along with the newscast’s acclaimed team of correspondents, Friesen will make her inaugural broadcast this September.

As the London-based correspondent and anchor for NBC News, Today and MSNBC since 1999, Friesen has travelled the world, witnessing the day’s top international stories unfolding from across the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Europe and Africa. Her passion for interpreting the events and personalities that shape our lives has taken her behind the scenes of conflict, power and hope. Often spending months in a region as situations evolved, she has lived inside the diverse stories she has told including the fall of Iraq and the war on terror, the struggle to bring peace to Afghanistan, the abduction and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl and the search for suspects in 2004’s Madrid bombings. Friesen’s engaged, inclusive style – whether with world leaders, entertainers or everyday people – earned a 2009 Emmy Award for her part in team coverage of Barack Obama’s U.S. Presidential victory.

Born in Winnipeg and raised in rural Manitoba, Friesen began her news career in Canada in 1985, telling stories, learning the art of the interview and seeing her country from postings in Portage La Prairie, Brandon, Saskatoon and Thunder Bay.  She went on to work as a correspondent and anchor for both CBC and CTV at the national level in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto, covering a wide range of health, economic and political issues, and also serving as a Senior Parliamentary Correspondent.

Theresa Treutler, President & CEO of the Television Bureau of Canada is pleased to announce:

1. Changes to the Telecaster “Direct Response Advertising (DRTV) Guideline”

2. The launch of the all new "Rush Clearance Fee" option.

The launch date for the above changes is September 1, 2010. Click HERE here for details.

Career Summary:

2010 – Appointed successor to Lloyd Robertson as full-time anchor of CTV NATIONAL NEWS

2003-2010: National Affairs Correspondent, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON

2001-2003: Co-Host of CANADA AM

2000-2001: Parliamentary correspondent, CTV News

1998-2000: Prime News Anchor for CTV Newsnet (now CTV News Channel)

1997-1998: Consumer Reporter, CTV News

1997-1998: Weekend Anchor/Reporter for CTV Newsnet

1991-1997:Reporter and News Anchor for CKCO

1989-199: Radio News Reporter for CFCA/AM109

Hot on the heels of Rookie Blue's record-breaking launch and upcoming premiere of Haven, a partnership with SyFy, Canwest confirms an impressive roster of additional Canadian series for Global and Showcase. Canwest is producing seven original one-hour dramas, four half-hour comedies and three back-door pilots, set to premiere throughout the 2010/11 broadcast season.

"Our slate of Canadian scripted programming is more vibrant and robust than ever," said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President Drama and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. "We have enlisted some of Canada's most accomplished writers and producers for these projects and are thrilled to be giving them the opportunity to flex their creative muscles, no doubt resulting in a new crop of stellar original programming for Global and Showcase."

The line-up of new series includes high-profile partnerships with Canadian, American and foreign broadcasters and production companies.

New Programming – Dramas

Blackstone (Spring 2011): A Canwest partnership with APTN, Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television and executive produced by Ron E. Scott.

Endgame (Spring 2011): Developed and produced by Thunderbird Films in association with Front Street Pictures; creator and showrunner, Avrum Jacobson; Michael Shepard and Harvey Kahn serve as Executive Producers.

XIII (Spring 2011): XIII is produced by Prodigy Pictures & Cipango and executive produced by Jay Firestone, Thomas Anargyros, Edouard de Vesinne and Gil Grant, who also serves as the writer on the series.

King (Spring 2011): King is produced by Indian Grove Productions. Executive Producers are Bernie Zukerman and Greg Spottiswood, both of whom serve as series creators.

Combat Hospital (Fall 2011): Sienna Films and Artists Studios are producing the project with Look Out Point. Executive Producers are Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny for Sienna Films, Gub Neal, Justin Thompson-Glover, Patrick Irwin for Artists Studios and Simon Vaughan for Look Out Point; developed with Steve Lightfoot and created by Douglas Steinberg and Jinder Chalmers.

New Programming – Comedies

The Kenny Hotz Television Program (Working Title) (Winter 2011): The series is executive produced by Kenny Hotz and E1's John Morayniss.

Single White Spenny (Spring 2011): Single White Spenny is produced by Breakthrough Films and Television with Ira Levy serving as Executive Producer. The series is created by Rice and written by Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall.

Untitled Belleville Brothers Project (Spring 2011): E1 is producing with Jason Belleville and Ryan Belleville serving as Creators, Writers and Executive Producers on the project. The series is also executive produced by Laszlo Barna and Noreen Halpern.

Pilots

Befriend & Betray (Spring 2011): Befriend and Betray is produced by DHX and executive produced by Charles Bishop, Floyd Kane and Michael Amo. The pilot is written by Michael Amo and is based on the book "Befriend and Betray" by Alex Caine.

Jack of Diamonds (Spring 2011): Jack of Diamonds is produced by Muse Entertainment. Michael Prupas, Joel Rice and Christian Davin serve as Executive Producers and Peter Hume as writer.

Rave Squad (Spring 2011): Rave Squad is produced by Chesler/Perlmutter Productions Inc. with Lewis Chesler and David Perlmutter serving as Executive Producers. Rave Squad is written by Josh Kotcheff.

Previously Announced Programming are:

Shattered (Fall 2010), Lost Girl (Fall 2010), The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour (Winter 2011)

Toronto, ON (July 8, 2010) – And that’s the kind of day it’s been: Lloyd Robertson will vacate his anchor chair at CTV News in 2011, the veteran anchor announced on tonight’s broadcast of CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON. North America’s longest-serving network news anchor, Robertson will continue at the anchor chair through the middle of next year, making it 35 years as host of CTV NATIONAL NEWS, before moving on to other roles within CTV News.

“There comes a time and this is it! I want to leave a suitable period for my successor to have a smooth and seamless transition,” said Robertson. “While I’ll be hoisting anchor next year, I’ll be continuing at CTV for some time.”

"Lloyd is a great newsman, an institution and the most trusted anchor in Canada; all of which is why he's the ratings king,” said Ivan Fecan, President and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Globemedia, and Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc. “We are all sorry to see him step down as anchor, but we are buoyed by the fact that he will remain in the CTV family for as long as he likes and I personally hope that will be a very long time."

Although Robertson will step down from the CTV anchor desk, he will continue to be seen on the network post-2011 in a variety of roles, including as co-host of current affairs series W5.

Robertson will share anchor duties with his successor and immediate backup throughout the following 12 months. The new CTV News Chief Anchor will be announced tomorrow.

About Lloyd Robertson

As Chief Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV News, Lloyd Robertson is the leader of the country’s most-watched newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON. One of the most accomplished journalists in North America, he has been broadcasting for more than 50 years. In 1998 Robertson became a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2007, Robertson was the first journalist inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Beloved by Canadians, Robertson, a three-time Gemini Award winner, was voted Canada’s most trusted news anchor by TV Guide readers 11 years in a row.

Robertson joined CTV in 1976 and became Chief Anchor and Senior Editor in 1983. He began his broadcasting career in 1952 at CJCS radio in his home-town of Stratford and then joined CJOY in Guelph in 1953. After moving into television in 1954 with CBC, he spent four years in Winnipeg and two years in Ottawa. Robertson went on to anchor CBC's national news from 1970 to 1976.

Throughout his illustrious career, Robertson has guided Canadians through such events as the Quebec Referendum, 9/11, Canadian and U.S. elections, budget specials, political and economic summits, the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Olympic Games, royal weddings, Expo ‘86, openings of Parliament, state funerals, papal visits and the Terry Fox Run. A veteran of live news coverage as well as news anchoring, Robertson also hosts CTV’s awarding-winning investigative news series W5 and has helmed several of his own specials from Australia, Hong Kong, China, and Great Britain.

In another first for Canadian radio, Corus Radio, in partnership with BlueNest Technologies, has launched CorusConnect, an exclusive and leading web-based service tool that enables Corus Radio Toronto’s retail and agency partners to manage all aspects of their account online at their convenience.

By registering for the service, clients with Corus Radio Toronto can pay their invoices online, listen to their current ads and view their ad schedule in real time. CorusConnect is available exclusively to clients who partner with Q107, AM640 and 102.1 the Edge, however, a national roll out of the program is slated to launch on all Corus Radio stations in the next year.

“With CorusConnect, we can now offer our advertisers an enhanced level of service and accountability that is unique to Canadian radio and a point of difference for Corus,” said Hal Blackadar, Executive Vice President and interim President of Radio, Corus Entertainment. “CorusConnect is a great example of our ongoing commitment to find creative solutions that add value for our clients.”

To view the CorusConnect demonstration site, click on:
http://demo.corusconnectsb.com
email: agencypreview@corusent.com
password: radio123

For preview purposes, the demonstration site will be active until end of business day, Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Canucks Sports & Entertainment (Canucks) and Rogers Communications Inc (Rogers) today announced a major, ten-year strategic alliance giving Rogers the Arena naming and telecommunications sponsorship rights. The home of the Vancouver Canucks will now be known as Rogers Arena.

This alliance marks the beginning of a new sponsorship era for the Canucks. Rogers is the first sponsor in the Canucks' 40-year history to have both the Arena naming and telecommunications sponsorship rights.

The telecommunications sponsorship includes extensive branding and advertising placements, including in-ice, in-building and rink board signage, Canucks.com, 300-level concourse branding, in-game features, interactive hockey themed concourse displays and mobile applications. As Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services, Rogers will work with the Canucks to explore new and innovative ways to use wireless technology to engage fans anytime, anyplace. They will also join forces on local charitable initiatives.

Today, TELUS employees are celebrating their commitment to our B.C. communities by announcing more than $10 million in charitable contributions and community building initiatives across the province this year.

The funds are a combination of TELUS community programs, including the Go Pink campaign for digital mammography equipment at BC Women's Hospital, support of Jeneece Place, TELUS Employee Charitable Giving, TELUS Community Boards, TELUS Community Action Teams, TELUS Community Ambassadors and local community partnerships, to name a few.

Since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees have supported worthwhile causes in B.C. to the tune of $80 million and 2 million hours of volunteer service.

This spring, TELUS announced $100 will be donated to local charities and worthy causes for every new Optik TV customer on Vancouver Island, on the Sunshine Coast and in Powell River, Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton. The campaign will run for one full year from the dates of announcements in these communities. So far, these campaigns have raised $1.3 million for local community initiatives.

It's time to Go Pink. In May, TELUS launched a milestone campaign to make a 'pink' difference and bring digital mammography to B.C. Between May 6 and October 31, 2010, TELUS will donate $25 to BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre Foundation for each purchase of a pink BlackBerry Curve 8530 or pink BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone available only at TELUS. Digital mammography will enhance early detection of breast cancer for women and men in B.C. To date, this campaign has raised more than $58,000 for new digital mammography equipment.

Playhouse Disney télé, the French-language channel for preschoolers, officially began broadcasting at 10 a.m. this morning. Francophone families across Canada can now discover the entertaining and learning-based programming offered by the Astral channel, which will be available free of charge to Bell TV subscribers on channel 189 for the next three months.

Playhouse Disney télé offers high-quality, learning-focused programming to parents and their preschoolers 24 hours a day. It airs programs that have made Disney renowned around the world, including La Maison de Mickey (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Les 101 Dalmatiens (The 101 Dalmatians), Agent spécial OSO (Special Agent OSO) and many others. Children will also enjoy award-winning Canadian programs such as Marguerite et la bête féroce (Maggie and the Ferocious Beast) and Elliot (Elliot Moose).

In the coming months Playhouse Disney télé will also premiere the Canadian series Stella & Sam. Currently in production, this new series brings to life the characters and stories written by Québec writer Marie-Louise Gay.

"Astral is thrilled to introduce this French-language channel, further entrenching our partnership with Disney and building on Astral's already strong position in the area of children's television," said Dominique Cornellier, Vice-President Marketing and Communications for Astral Télé Réseaux. "This channel offers the best of Disney and the best in Canadian programming and we are proud to offer it to families in Quebec and across Canada."

The Internet has transformed the lives of millions while disrupting and displacing the business models of traditional media channels around the globe. But what impact does the Internet have on how people live? How important a role does it play in their decisions?

The Digital Influence Index published by Fleishman-Hillard has answers.