MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has inked multi-year deals with Canada’s CTV for both American Idol and Canadian Idol. The announcement was made by FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Fremantle International Distribution managing director David Ellender together with CTV Media Group chair and CTV president of programming Susanne Boyce.
Fremantle International Distribution through its Canadian agent, Media Group International, inked a long-term broadcast extension with CTV securing the Canadian broadcast rights to American Idol seasons six, seven, eight and nine. The long-term commitment cements CTV’s ongoing relationship with the programme that began in September 2002 when the broadcaster signed on for American Idol’s season one two-part finale.
Since then, American Idol has become a blockbuster sensation in Canada with each season outperforming the previous one. Last year, season four of American Idol in Canada finished as the country’s No. 2 programme in the Top 10.
Now, Canadians have made CTV’s season five premiere of American Idol another record breaker, when more than three million viewers tuned into the 17 January, 2006 two-hour premiere.
Ellender said, “After its proven success in the Canadian market, we are thrilled to have signed a long-term deal with CTV to continue their relationship with the eternally popular American Idol. The programme has been a massive hit and we are certain it will only go from strength to strength as our partnership with CTV continues.”
Simultaneously, FremantleMedia has inked a multi-year extension with CTV for the format rights to Canadian Idol, Canada’s most successful English-language homegrown series. CTV has locked up the format rights for seasons four, five, six, seven and eight of the series that has spawned three record-breaking seasons to date. In Canada, CTV has taken the Canadian Idol program to the No. 1 spot on Canada’s Top 20 for three consecutive years.
Season three recently generated 38 million votes, more than the country’s population, while averaging more than two million viewers per episode.
In response to the Canadian Idol deal, Frot-Coutaz said, “We are delighted to have strengthened our partnership with CTV through this extended production deal, ensuring Canadian Idol’s prominence for another five seasons. The programme’s ratings dominance is a testament to the high production values and commitment to excellence. We’ve no doubt it will enjoy continued success.”
Boyce added, “For CTV, Canadian and American Idol are much more than just complementary. In fact, the existence of one magnifies the other. We look forward to a renewed commitment with our partners at FremantleMedia.”
Tag: Canada’s
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FremantleMedia inks deals with Canada’s CTV Network
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Canada’s cable industry touches 7.6 mn subscribers in 2004
MUMBAI: After four consecutive years of decline and steady erosion, Canada’s cable industry saw a modest increase in subscribers in 2004.
Market research firm Statistics Canada states that this was due to the growing popularity of the digital cable market.
The number of subscribers to cable television in Canada reached 7.6 million at the end of August 2004, up 0.4 per cent from a year earlier. This modest increase followed four consecutive years of decline during which the industry lost a total of 442,000 multi-channel video services customers. Despite the turnaround, the market share of cable operators continued to decline last year.
Meanwhile, wireless competitors, principally direct-to-home satellite television providers, increased their market share to 23.4 per cent in 2004 from 22.5 per cent in 2003. This was the smallest year-over-year gain since the introduction of competition late in 1997.
As of 31 August, 2004, there were 2.3 million subscribers to satellite and wireless cable television, a 5.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The total number of subscribers to multi-channel video services increased by 1.5 per cent to 9.9 million. This overall increase was about the same as the gain in the number of households. The increasing popularity of digital cable was certainly a factor behind the improved customer loyalty for the cable industry.
Digital cable was the fastest growing market segment for the industry last year. There were 1.8 million subscribers to this service on 31 August, 2004, a 33.5 per cent increase from a year earlier. Just over 24 per cent of subscribers to cable television had adopted digital cable at that date compared to 18 per cent in 2003.
High speed Internet continued to be a high growth market for cable operators. The number of subscribers to Internet by cable increased 20.1 per cent to 2.8 million between 31 August , 2003 and 31 August, 2004. This compares with gains of 26.1 per cent in 2003 and 35.4 per cent in 2002.
Last year’s increase in subscriptions was robust in both large communities, where the gain was 19 per cent, and small- and medium-sized communities, where it was 25.3 per cent.
The financial performance of the cable industry improved significantly last year. Revenues rose by 7.4 per cent to $4.8 billion, while operating profits surged 39.2 per cent to $1.1 billion. Cable operators earned 23.2 cents of operating profits for every dollar of revenues in 2004, well above the 17.9 cents earned the previous year.
The financial performance of the wireless segment of the industry also improved, but the ink at the bottom of the income statement remained red.
Wireless competitors have incurred losses before interest and taxes every year since joining the industry, but are now approaching the break-even point. In 2004, wireless segment losses amounted to $92.9 million, down from $110.1 million in 2003 and $245.9 in 2002.
From 1998 to 2004, the segment’s loss before interest and taxes totalled $1.5 billion, or 32.5 cents per dollar of revenue earned during that period.
Statiscs Canada goes on to note that in a few short years, the multi-channel video services market has changed drastically. In 2004, 42 per cent of the 11.2 million subscribers to multi-channel video services had chosen digital over analogue services. In 2000, that proportion was barely above 15 per cent.
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Canada’s TVNW is host broadcaster of Weightlifting Championships
VANCOUVER: Canada’s TVNW Media Group has been appointed as the host broadcaster for the 2003 World Weightlifting Championships. The event takes place in Vancouver from 14-22 November. It is the group’s third major production deal involving an Olympic sport.
An official release informs that TVNW also produces international television programming for the International Triathlon Union’s World Cup series. The company’s MD Martin Perry heads the production of the Fédération Internationale de Ski’s World Cup skiing programming for UK broadcaster Channel 4.
The events general manager Clint Flood said, “TVNW will provide world-class coverage using local talent and equipment that will showcase not only the sport of weightlifting but also the city of Vancouver to audiences in 50 countries. TVNW was a logical choice for us in terms of location, experience and price. The event provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase Vancouver-based television production expertise, with the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to the city in 2010.”
TVNW beat other high profile companies, including Canadian national broadcaster CBC, to the World Weightlifting Championships contract adds the release.
The World Weightlifting Championships are the final major Olympic qualifying event for Athens 2004, and will feature 650 athletes from 85 countries over nine days of competition. TVNW will produce live coverage from each of the main finals. TVNW’s success in attracting high profile production contracts comes in part from its dual PAL/NTSC capacity, unique in North America, and its in-house post-production facilities, as well as low Canadian overheads and a competitive dollar. The company also offers a UK-based production affiliate.
Meanwhile TVNW is developing plans for a digital broadcast licence within Canada for a city sports channel.