Merged QMI/Sun Media TV News thread

[The Bread Guy]

This from the Toronto Sun (a QMI paper), shared in accordance with the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright  Act::

Quebecor has asked the CRTC for permission to create an English-language news network.

QMI Agency has learned that, if the licence is granted, the network could see the light of day in 2011. The new network would create an alternative source of information and opinion in a tone similar to that of the American Fox News.

All indications are that the project would be piloted by Kory Teneycke, a former communications director for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Teneycke took to Twitter yesterday to say that he had become the new vice-president of development for Quebecor Media.

Teneycke left the PMO in July 2009 for short stints with CTV and CBC.

For now, Quebecor is refusing to comment on the story. If the licence goes through, the new network would share the market with CBC Newsworld and CTV News Channel.

What else is the PM's former spokesperson going to be doing?

Kory Teneycke, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former communications director, is assuming a new posting as head of media giant Quebecor's Parliament Hill bureau, effectively overseeing coverage of a government for which he was chief spokesman one year ago.

Teneycke will become vice-president of development for the Montreal-based communications company, publishers of the expansive Sun chain of newspapers, and assume responsibility for the Ottawa bureau, where he will be located, said a joint Sun Media-Quebecor announcement Tuesday ....

And one of the hosts?  If Jane Taber at the Globe is to be believed....

Fox News of the North has its first television host: David Akin resigned this morning as a parliamentary reporter with Canwest.

Mr. Akin is now poised to join Sun Media as the Ottawa bureau chief and be a television host. He has a background in television, having worked for CTV.

His resignation from the news service comes as The Globe reported this morning that former Harper communications director Kory Teneycke is overseeing the operations of a 24-hour cable channel that is to emulate the very popular Fox News network in the U.S.

A senior Ottawa source says that Mr. Teneycke, who left the PMO last year and did pundit stints at CTV and most recently and controversially, at CBC, “has mused with others in general terms about hosting programs.”

“His time at CTV and CBC will certainly give him insight into how different news-channels work,” says the source.

Indeed, the idea of the new news channel is, according to the Globe report, “a shot aimed directly at CBC and CTV, which for years has dominated the all-news format in English Canada.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Akin is a prolific reporter, operating on all platforms - he Twitters, he blogs, he has a Facebook page, he appears in the Canwest newspapers and he is on television.  ....

....not to mention being a member here  ;D

 

[Edward Campbell]

See here and here for more.

 

[vonGarvin]

he Twitters, he blogs, he has a Facebook page, he appears in the Canwest newspapers and he is on television.  ....

That's all well and good, but does he make Julienne Fries?  ;D

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

..and not to mention one of the few media types that, when he was a military correspondent,  came here open and honest and wasn't afraid to ask questions to get a correct story.

 

[The Bread Guy]

ERC, obviously I didn't search ENOUGH - mods, if you want to cut/paste/move, feel free.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

I think this can make a stand-alone topic.
I'm sure some CBC-ites will be along shortly. :duel:

 

[Edward Campbell]

Yet more, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act from the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/right-leaning-tv-channel-in-the-works/article1600054/

'fox news of the north'
Right-leaning TV channel in the works
Venture set to cost $100-million over 5 years, with official announcement to come soon

Steven Chase

Ottawa — From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published on Friday, Jun. 11, 2010

Quebec billionaire Pierre Karl Péladeau’s plans for a “Fox News North” channel in Canada are gathering steam, with his media company poaching two senior journalists for the right-of-centre TV network – a venture expected to have an operational budget of $100-million over five years.

An official announcement on the bid to shake up television news is anticipated by next Wednesday, an unveiling expected to detail how it intends to convince federal regulators and cable companies to let it air coast to coast.

Quebecor Media has already hired Kory Teneycke, a former chief spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to oversee the venture. On Thursday, it began stocking its existing Ottawa bureau with reporters who have broadcasting backgrounds. This office will help feed news demands for the new channel, to be modelled on ratings-rich Fox News in the U.S.

David Akin, formerly a correspondent for Canwest News Service, has been appointed national bureau chief for Quebec’s Sun Media operations in Ottawa. He has previously worked for CTV News. Also joining as senior correspondent is Brian Lilley, former Ottawa bureau chief for Astral Media Radio, Canada's largest private radio broadcaster.

The envisioned Canadian station would offer both hard news reporting and conservative-minded talk shows – although news and opinion would be clearly separated rather than blended. For instance, both Mr. Akin and Mr. Lilley have built their careers as non-partisan journalists and neither has been associated with partisan commentary or reporting.

Mr. Akin has also previously worked at The Globe and Mail and won a National Newpaper Award citation of merit for the paper in 2004 and won a Gemini award for his reporting for CTV National News that same year.

Quebecor is actively hiring more journalists with broadcasting backgrounds for the venture and, over the summer, will announce the on-air “personalities” who will host the channel’s talk shows. The venture is courting right-wing Canadian author and activist Ezra Levant to play a role.

“Recruiting is in hyper-drive,” Mr. Teneycke wrote in a promotional broadcast from his Twitter account Thursday. “Can’t wait to share some of the names. Great mix of hard news and straight talk.”

Few government and opposition MPs were eager to comment on the budding enterprise Thursday. As a spokesman for one party said: “I don’t think they will want to comment on a possible media corporation being set up. It’s still early and why pick a fight?”

Outspoken NDP MP Pat Martin, however, said he thinks Fox News is a bad model for news. “God help us if the neo-cons get their own network to bombard Canadians with their outdated ideology,” he said. “Can you imagine Ezra Levant ranting at you around the clock?”

Mr. Teneycke laughed off Mr. Martin’s criticism, retorting: “Ranting, done right, can be quite entertaining. Pat Martin is living proof of that.”

People familiar with the venture say Quebecor has allocated roughly $100-million over about five years for spending on operations alone. The figure doesn’t include capital expenditures for assets.

The venture is being assisted by Luc Lavoie, a one-time spokesman for Brian Mulroney who has deep ties to Quebecor and can help the Saskatchewan-born Mr. Teneycke navigate the French Canadian company’s internal bureaucracy and politics.

It will be interesting to watch: both the programmes and the Quebecor balance sheet.

 

[Old Sweat]

Here is a link to a poll on the CBC website. When I last looked at it, it was running 71% for, and 29% against.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/pointofview/2010/06/fox-news-would-you-watch-a-similar-channel-in-canada.html

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Here is a link to a poll on the CBC website. When I last looked at it, it was running 71% for, and 29% against.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/pointofview/2010/06/fox-news-would-you-watch-a-similar-channel-in-canada.html

May be that's what's got Don Newman running scared. Here's his spiel on while this shouldn't happen.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/10/f-vp-newman.html

 

[MarkOttawa]

From Adrian MacNair:

The Taxpayer Funded CBC Not Happy About “Fox News North” (note my comment)
http://unambig.com/the-taxpayer-funded-cbc-not-happy-about-fox-news-north/#comment-12698

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Rifleman62]

When/if this FNN comes to past, it will further erode CBC's viewership, especially the news division. One problem will be the cable/satellite distributors will charge a premium to customers, like they do for FOX News, to add it to your viewing channels. Some of the cable/satellite distributors have a vested interest in the FNN not becoming established and successful.


"CTVglobemedia Inc. is 40% owned by The Woodbridge Company, 25% owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, 20% owned by Torstar and 15% owned by Bell Canada Enterprises". Torstar owns the Toronto Star, and Bell owns one of two Canadian satellite companies.

"CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multimedia company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s #1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s #1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 30 specialty channels, including Canada’s #1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 34 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s # 1 FM station".

 

[The Bread Guy]

This caught my eye in Newman's piece:

.... In the U.S., Fox News .... specializes in drive-by attacks and misrepresentations, and is positively Orwellian at times, claiming to be "fair and balanced" while implying that its competitors aren't.

The reality is that it mainly spews out propaganda that is dangerously misleading and often factually wrong.

The parts that aren't wrong are, in some ways, just as dangerous, since they tend to make people comfortable in their prejudices ....

You know the self-help books that say what you hate in others can often be what's wrong with you?

 

[Rifleman62]

I had high hopes for Global National. It is an excellent news cast, but it's getting a bit weak with some gotta news and ex CBC ers. Old news follows. I wonder if he is going over also. I hope so.

Canwest News Service: Saturday, May 1, 2010

After anchoring Global National since its inception in 2001, Kevin Newman announced Friday he will leave the position and the network by the end of August.

"Several months ago, after considerable reflection, I informed Global management of my desire for rest and creative renewal," Newman wrote in an e-mail to Global National staff. "After a period of productive discussion, we have agreed I will be stepping down as anchor and executive editor of Global National at the end of my current contract in August."

Newman, 50, has been a journalist for 26 years and has previously held positions with CBC, CTV News and the U.S.-based ABC News, where he reported for Nightline and Good Morning America.

 

[Edward Campbell]

More on the hysterically named “Fox News North” project, this time concerned with the business case against a hard conservative orientation, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act from the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/right-wing-television-needs-upscale-market/article1601831/?cmpid=rss1

Right-wing television needs upscale market
Researcher says being too conservative won't attract high-end ad dollars

Steven Chase

Ottawa — From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Published on Friday, Jun. 11, 2010

The wraps come off as early as next week for a Fox News-style TV network being assembled by Quebec billionaire Pierre Karl Péladeau – a right-of-centre cable offering that’s already causing a stir in Canada.

Sources familiar with the effort say a relatively low-key announcement is currently planned for Tuesday in Toronto – but caution the date could shift if circumstances warrant. Quebecor Media Inc. is expected to outline plans and shed light on the strategy it will use to persuade a federal regulator and cable companies to grant the channel a favourable spot on the TV dial.

The venture, led by Kory Teneycke, a former spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper , is an attempt to shake up TV news in Canada with a cable offering that includes hard news reporting and right-leaning talk shows – programming that is separated rather than blended. Among those being courted as hosts is Conservative pundit Ezra Levant, a former aide to Tory minister Stockwell Day.

But market researchers familiar with right-wing audiences say the Quebecor network cannot style itself too conservatively if it hopes to attract significant advertising dollars.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Conservative who works in market research in Toronto said right-wing talk shows – which are almost solely on local AM radio stations – tend to attract an older and downscale audience with far less disposable spending than advertisers prefer. “It’s not the demographic most national advertisers are going after and that’s why talk radio is in local markets.”

The Tory market researcher predicted that this is why the Quebecor venture will likely copy the Fox News formula of lively public affairs TV with larger-than-life personalities – but not necessarily toe a uniformly conservative line. “The conservative bent is not fundamental to the formula,” the researcher said. “Kory thinks most public affairs TV is boring and he wants to mix it up.”

This would explain why backers of the venture have been trying to enlist on-air names that have little to do with partisan political discourse in Canada.

For instance, Mr. Teneycke has tried, unsuccessfully, to recruit comedian Rick Mercer  whose show, The Rick Mercer Report,is a mainstay on CBC television.

Mr. Mercer said he’s happy where he is now. “The Mercer Report is an independent production and over the years we’ve been pleased to see that other networks are interested in working with us.”

Mr. Teneycke, who was appointed vice-president of business development at Quebecor Media this week, has already found himself on the defensive in the face of criticism that “Fox News North” is a bad import for Canada.

Veteran political journalist Don Newman penned a column for CBC’s website this week that bore the headline: “The absolute last thing this country needs.”

Mr. Newman argued a “right-wing news channel” would urge Conservative MPs “to be more rabid” and could force the opposition Liberals “into a more polarizing posture.”

Mr. Teneycke pulled no punches in defending his network, lashing out at Mr. Newman in return. He used his Twitter account on the Internet to label Mr. Newman “Canada’s answer to Helen Thomas.” It’s a reference to the long-time White House reporter who resigned in embarrassment this week after she said Israelis should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Germany, Poland or the United States.

So, the business case is for livelier rather than uniformly conservative programming; that makes sense to me because, sadly, news and entertainment have become so inextricably linked that we are no longer sure where one ends and the other begins. For the record, information ≠ entertainment.

 

[MARS]

I had high hopes for Global National. It is an excellent news cast,

I have to disagree.  I have always felt they took "the sky is falling" approach to their reporting.  Too alarmist for me.

My 2 fils

 

[Retired AF Guy]

From the Steve Chase article:

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Conservative who works in market research in Toronto said right-wing talk shows – which are almost solely on local AM radio stations – tend to attract an older and downscale audience with far less disposable spending than advertisers prefer. “It’s not the demographic most national advertisers are going after and that’s why talk radio is in local markets.”

To me this sounds like Chase did a little cherry picking; hunt around until you find someone that agrees with you and ignore all of those who don't. Plus, I've always had a problem with anonymous sources. I disagree with the statement "right-wing talk shows – which are almost solely on local AM radio stations." As far as I know ALL talk shows, whether right. left or centre, tend to be on the AM dial. Not sure why, but offhand I cant' think of any that are on FM. I will agree that conservatives tend to be older. I'm guessing that when he says "downscale audience" he talking about lower income people. However, I disagree that both groups don't spend money, they do and for that reason are targeted by advertisers.

I also disagree with the last statement about talk radio and local markets. The reason local markets are targeted is because the advertiser is trying to attract local people to his/her business. Plus, the fact here in Canada we don't have many national talk show hosts. The only one I can think of is Charles Adler* on the Corus network. Now, down in the States its a different show altogether! You have Rush, Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, just to name three that are syndicated all across the U.S. and who have a large audience that listens to their shows and advertisers.

All-in-all, I disagree Chase's article, especially, when its based on a single-source. If he quoted five-six different people, then I might think differently. Personally, I think a conservative TV station has a chance here in Canada and that people would be willing to watch it.

* I thought about Rex Murphy and Rick Mercer, but both work for the CBC which is publicly funded and doesn't have to rely on advertising as much as other TV/radio stations.

 

[Rifleman62]

MARS

I have always felt they took "the sky is falling"

and it is entirely the fault of HARPER and the Conservatives!!

approach to their reporting.

  CBC and CTV are

Too alarmist for me

Keep Your Powder Dry

 

[Fishbone Jones]

When/if this FNN comes to past, it will further erode CBC's viewership, especially the news division. One problem will be the cable/satellite distributors will charge a premium to customers, like they do for FOX News, to add it to your viewing channels. Some of the cable/satellite distributors have a vested interest in the FNN not becoming established and successful.


"CTVglobemedia Inc. is 40% owned by The Woodbridge Company, 25% owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, 20% owned by Torstar and 15% owned by Bell Canada Enterprises". Torstar owns the Toronto Star, and Bell owns one of two Canadian satellite companies.
"CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multimedia company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s #1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s #1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 30 specialty channels, including Canada’s #1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 34 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s # 1 FM station".

.....and the Ontario Teacher's Pension owns Bell, IIRC. If so, in effect a 40% share of CTV Globe.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Another recruit, maybe, according to this report, reproduced under the fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act from the Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/krista-erickson-leaves-cbc-apparently-to-join-fox-news-north/article1603372/

Krista Erickson leaves CBC — apparently to join 'Fox News North'

Jane Taber

Monday, June 14, 2010

CBC television journalist Krista Erickson appears to be the latest “Fox News North” acquisition.

Blond, attractive and dating a politician who is a few years her senior — Calgary Conservative MP Lee Richardson — Ms. Erickson has been a controversial figure on Parliament Hill.

Krista Erickson

Speculation was rampant last week that she would join the ranks of this right-wing television venture, which is being put together by former Harper communications director Kory Teneycke and Quebecor.

Mr. Teneycke would not comment about Ms. Erickson. However, he said that he and Quebecor president Pierre Karl Péladeau are holding a press conference Tuesday in Toronto at the Sun offices on King Street to shed some more light as to what their venture involves.

The note she sent to her colleagues this morning circulated quickly on Parliament Hill:

Friends,

I write to inform you that after 11 years with CBC News, I'm leaving the Corporation and its Parliamentary bureau to pursue another opportunity. New contact information and details to follow in the days ahead. Wishing you all a wonderful summer.

Krista

She would not comment; she referred comment to her lawyer, Chris Taylor.

Her lawyer wrote in an e-mail: “We are not commenting about Krista’s next move for now but should have an announcement shortly.”

Now, this is a very interesting move — if it is true that she is joining the new right-of-centre television news channel — given that the CBC is not considered a friend of the Harper Conservatives.

As well, Ms. Erickson knows how to attract attention. Two years ago she was accused of bias in her reporting during the Mulroney-Schreiber hearings.

There were complaints that she had fed questions to a Liberal MP. But she was later cleared of any bias by the CBC ombudsman.

Political Ottawa has been buzzing about this new television network since Mr. Teneycke announced last week that he was leaving his pundit’s post at the CBC for Quebecor.

Since then, seasoned reporter David Akin announced he was resigning from Canwest to join Sun Media. Mr. Akin does it all — television, print and online journalism.

Brian Lilley, former Ottawa bureau chief for Astral Media Radio, is joining as a senior correspondent.

A formal announcement as to the new venture is expected this week.

Don Newman must be turning over in his grave … oh, wait, he’s still alive, he just thinks like he died in the 1970s. 

 

[Old Sweat]

My wife and I are going to a CPC fundraiser at the Ivy Lea Club on Sunday afternoon. Among others, Senator Duffy will be in attendance. If I get a chance, I intend to ask him if he will have his own show.