US relinquishes control of the internet

After complaints about American dominance of the Internet, Washington has said it will relinquish some control over the way the network is run and allow foreign governments more of a say in the future of the system. Icann – the official body that ultimately controls the development of the internet thanks to its oversight of web addresses such as .com, .net and .org – said today that it was ending its agreement with the US government. The move will give other countries a more prominent role in determining what takes place online, and even the way in which it happens – opening the door for a virtual United Nations, where many officials gather to discuss potential changes to the internet.

(Forn the full story in The Guardian, click on the title.)

Maureen Dowd on William Safire

"He always had interesting advice.

"'Put a phone in your office that doesn’t go through the switchboard,' he told me."

(Click on the title to read the column.)

Rather’s CBS Suit Dismissed

Dan Rather’s expensive attempt at vindication against his former employer CBS was repudiated Tuesday by the appellate division of New York State Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously to dismiss the $70 million lawsuit he had brought against the network in 2007.

Corus expects a rebound in advertising next year

Canadian media and entertainment company Corus Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday it expects a rebound in advertising next year thanks in large part to new technology that will make for more accurate ratings data, company executives said at an investor day seminar.

More than 400 copies of Dawson City paper vanish; it's not crime though

About 420 copies of Friday's edition of the Yukon News were swiped from Dawson City's post office not long after they were delivered as usual to the town.

"We don't know what happened to them. We do know that they're missing, about 420 copies," said Yukon News editor Richard Mostyn.

"There's been no report, official report, to the police in regards to a theft," said RCMP Cpl. Karina Watson.

Since the newspapers were given out for free, Watson said they technically weren't stolen, according to the Criminal Code.

CNN planning life after Larry King: NY Post

Larry King's contract with CNN is set to expire in 18 months -- and the cable network's chiefs are busy lining up his successor in case he retires. the NY Post reports. King, 75, has been interviewing celebrities since 1985. Sources say CNN's first choice to succeed him would be Ryan Seacrest -- but his massive deal with "American Idol" makes him too expensive. Other contenders are CBS anchor Katie Couric, CNN "video wall guy" John King and Joy Behar, who is launching her own interview show on CNN's Headline News.

Kids' network Nickelodeon headed north with Canadian version of U.S. channel

The kid network's latest offshoot, Nickelodeon in Canada, is set to launch Nov. 2 and will feature homegrown series alongside the U.S. lineup. Corus Entertainment and MTV Networks International says the schedule will include the new animated series, "Fanboy and Chum Chum," and the live-action series, "The Troop."

William Safire, Pulitzer Prize winning N.Y. Times columnist,dies at 79

William Safire, 79, conservative political columnist and word maven, died today at a hospice in Rockville, Md., of pancreatic cancer. Mr. Safire, who won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1978, wrote a semi-weekly political column in the Times from 1973 to 2005, penning an erudite and opinionated series of articles, ultimately creating a body of work that he described as libertarian conservative. He said he "was hired to be a sore thumb" at the famously liberal newspaper.

The Montreal Star's last ME describes the end of the newspaper

It was 30 years ago. But Ray Heard did not go down with the ship.

Toronto cop who ran Star reporter's name through police database convicted of insubordination

He is Const. Michael McCormack who is running for the Toronto Police Association presidency.

AP may sell stake in its German Service

AP's German-language service provides domestic text and photo coverage and translates AP's international report for scores of media outlets in Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Austria. Based in Frankfurt, it was established in 1947 and has offices in Berlin and other German cities.

AP said it is in talks with DDP, Deutscher Depeschendienst GmbH, which distributes national and regional news in Germany, provides coverage of German business and economic news, as well as sports, culture and extensive feature stories.

The AP, founded in 1846, is the world's largest and oldest news organization. Based in New York, it is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by its U.S. newspaper membership. Its 52-year-old German subsidiary is Germany's second-largest news agency, after Deutsche Presse-Agentur, or DPA.


The Associated Press office in Bonn ca. 1966, shared with the German subsidiary at the time. Bureau Chief Carl Hartmann, (left) who retired from AP in 2006 at age 89, and Planet Guy Peter Rehak, who is not yet 89. Note the telephones in cradles so they could be shared.

CBC, federal ombudsman clash in court

In a nutshell, Sun Media (and others) want to know how CBC spends money. A touchy subject, as the CP story tells.

CanWest To Sell Ownership Interest In Ten Network

Trading Markets.com

Canadian newspapers 'alive and kicking': NADbank

Some cheerleading for print by the Newspaper Audience Databank (NADbank) circulation measurement arm of the Canadian newspaper industry. For other NADbank stories:
http://news.google.ca/news/more?pz=1&cf=all&ncl=d2vr9ppOT0jtmdMlNZdTwCUz5UGGM

No money left for digital transition: CBC

Priorities, priorities.

Hu is he? Globe says phony, Star says phenomenal

Fox News likes to say "We report, You decide." It's unlikely, but it serves to highlight the "We report, We decide" style of journalism with which we live. Today the Globe and Mail poured contempt on Chinese president Hu's announcement that he will make a stab at cleaning up China's environment. "China diminishes hope for global climate deal" sniffed the headline. Progress was not fulfilled. But wait, over at the Star, China's plan was hailed as a "vivid example of eastern leadership." Not only that, the Star took the trouble to observe that it made Canada and the U.S. look like chumps. "China steps up as climate change leader," was the joyous news in the Star headline. Well, you get it. All of this in front page news stories. We report, We decide. The Planet Guys.

Candidate in Montreal election drops out of CTV debate

Mayoral campaign begins with decision by candidate Louise Harel to skip the CTV English debate. Mrs. Harel explained that while she is able to express herself in English, understand it and read it, a debate presents a confrontational context that entails an extensive mastery of issues and requires a very high level of bilingualism she does not possess. On the other hand, she is more than willing to present Vision Montréal's platform on various English networks, in a non-confrontational manner.

Thomson Reuters To Issue US$500 Million Offering

Release

Channel 4 & ITV News win International Emmys

Press Gazette

Fox wins first night of TV season; Leno slides

ABC has highest rated program Monday night but Fox powers through with winning combination for all of prime time. Spectre of trouble at last place NBC as Leno show slides a lot. Reuters.

Journalism still finding recruits if not profits

CBC

'Talking to the Taliban' series wins Emmy award

New York award for Globe and Mail.

Dow Jones to shutter Far Eastern Review

The Wall Street Journal said Monday that the 63-year-old Review has experienced ongoing declines in ad revenue and readers. AP.

Giller Prize long list includes Atwood, MacIntyre novels

CBC.

CBS fails to end Rather suit; Redstone may testify

A New York judge on Monday rejected CBS Corp's bid to dismiss former TV news anchor Dan Rather's $70 million lawsuit claiming he was fired over a controversial election-year report on former President George W. Bush's Vietnam War-era military service. Reuters.

Craft "losing jobs" says report in E&P

From Unity: Journalists of Colour.

Payment for online news re-hashed

Soft-scare yarn that surveys again the well-covered state of confusion among publishers. CP.

Wolf Blitzer bombs on Jeopardy

Come on. He deals with important stuff in the Situation Room, not trivia.

Sports on TV -- sex, drugs and alcohol says lobby

Leagues, networks and advertisers all share responsibility for the ads, but none of them is held accountable, Common Sense Media says.

Full page ad by Fox says other nets missed the news

Howard Kurtz column in Washington Post discusses the outrage of Fox competitors at the ad, which was run by the Post. ABC says the Post did zero due diligence on checking the facts. Kurtz also surveys Time magazine's decision to put Fox populist Glenn Beck on the cover, calling him Mad Man. Kurtz says Beck does appear "a little loco" sometimes.

Memories of Doug Fisher

John Geddes in Macleans.

Longtime political columnist Douglas Fisher dead

Douglas Fisher was a giant of a man who bemoaned the state of Canadian politics but never lost his love of Parliament or his respect for politicians. A former CCF MP who ditched elected politics in 1965 in favour of a career in journalism, Fisher died peacefully Friday, just one day shy of his 90th birthday. To friends and colleagues, he was a wonderful storyteller and an insightful veteran of the business who was generous with his wit and wisdom, especially with young journalists, until he retired in 2006.

N.Y. newscaster's "f-word" on air goes viral

A newscaster has stunned viewers by appearing to swear live on air during the evening news on New York's WNYW. Ernie Anastos made the gaffe while chatting to weatherman Nick Gregory. He told him "it takes a tough man to make a tender forecast," before apparently adding: "Keep f*****g that chicken." The original comment was a play on an old chicken commercial. Co-host Dari Alexander looked stunned but the pair struggled on with the broadcast. Viewer footage of the incident was posted on YouTube before appearing on US blogs. Anastos apologized on the air on Thursday.

Feds expected to make decision on fee-for-carriage

The federal government signalled today that it would be the final judge of whether Canada's conventional broadcasters would be allowed to charge cable and satellite companies a fee to carry their signals. Heritage Minister James Moore took the unusual step of inserting himself into the contentious fee-for-carriage debate by ordering the federal broadcast regulator to hold a separate set of hearings to consider consumer interests on the matter. The CRTC confirmed that it would do so in December. Shortly thereafter, it must provide Ottawa with a wide-ranging report on what fee for carriage could mean to consumers' already-strained pocketbooks.

U.S. committee sidetracks bill to give journalists a limited right to prortect confidential sources from disclosue

Senators from both parties said the current version of the bill could damage national security. The bill, supported by more than 70 journalism organizations including The Associated Press, would only apply to federal courts and leave intact state protections for journalists and their sources.

Government orders CRTC hearings on TV fee fight

The government has ordered the CRTC to hold hearings on the idea of TV networks collecting fees from cable companies for their local signals.This fee-for-carriage system is a bone of contention between the networks and the cable systems. James Moore, the minister of Canadian Heritage, says the cabinet wants the broadcast regulator to hold hearings and produce a formal report on the implications of such a system

CTV renegotiating loan agreements: Financial Post

Deteriorating finances in a recession-battered advertising market and splintering viewership have forced CTV Inc., the largest private television network in the country, to renegotiate certain loan agreements with its lenders, the Financial Post reports.

Google helps, not hurts newspapers, executive says

Google Inc helps newspaper websites make money through online advertising and does not misappropriate their content, a lawyer for the search engine says on the company's blog.

Torstar not planning to charge for online content

Torstar Corp., one of Canada's largest newspaper publishers, says it is better off making its content widely available online instead of making users pay for access. Although its difficult to make money online, the newspaper and is reaching more readers than ever before, Torstar interim president and CEO David Holland told the annual BMO Capital Markets media and telecom conference in Montreal on Tuesday.

Iraqi shoe-thrower journalist says he was tortured

Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush, was released Tuesday after nine months in prison. He said Iraqi security forces tortured him with beatings, whippings and electric shocks after his arrest.

Local TV matters?????

In a somewhat bizarre move, Canada's major TV networks have launched a campaign called "Local TV Matters." It is the latest round in their war with the cable and satellite companies. The broadcasters want to be paid for their content. The cable and sat guys want it for free. The CRTC has imposed a fee that they promptly passed on to subscribers.

The broadcasters' media release says: "The Local TV Matters campaign provides concerned viewers and all Canadians with an opportunity to learn more about the current issues facing local television. The interactive campaign includes an official website – www.localtvmatters.ca – and advertising across Canada. Along with informing Canadians about the issues, the campaign is also aimed at setting the record straight about misinformation cable and satellite companies are telling their customers."

Maybe they should just cover the local news and the cable and satellite guys should pay them for the content?

You can view the media release by clicking on the title of this post.

Media and the judges (Toronto Star editorial)

Toronto Star editorial:

"Today Chief Justice Warren Winkler presides over the ceremonial opening of Ontario's courts. After an interfaith service, Winkler will conduct a special sitting to deliver his annual report before members of the government and the Law Society of Upper Canada.

"But no questions, please.

"Last year, Winkler cancelled the annual news conference at Osgoode Hall that had become a tradition under his predecessor as chief justice, Roy McMurtry. In previous years, McMurtry not only delivered his verdict on the state of the courts, he also invited journalists to pose questions to him and the other leading judges.

"It was a refreshing departure from the customary remoteness of senior judges. McMurtry descended from the mount, as it were, to take questions and expound on the strengths and weaknesses of the justice system. A particular passion of his was the need to create more opportunities for young people to steer them away from lives of crime; he also lamented the long delays in the criminal justice system.

"In doing so, McMurtry added transparency, accountability and credibility to his position by shedding light on the workings of this very important branch of government. As Ontario's courts strive to keep up with the times, the cancellation of the annual news conference is a step backwards."

Poll: News media's credibility plunges to new low

Nearly two-thirds of Americans think the news stories they read, hear and watch are frequently inaccurate, according to a poll released Sunday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. That marks the highest level of skepticism recorded since 1985, when this study of public perceptions of the media was first done.

Government closely monitors reporters in Afghanistan

Documents obtained by The Canadian Press detail that reporters embedded with the military at Kandahar Airfield are carefully monitored by officers in the field. The reports are then circulated widely to officials back in Ottawa.

Newspapers 'too slow' to compete with online ads

The head of online classifieds company carsales.com.au says newspaper publishers are suffering because they have been too slow to react to the growth of the internet.

Click on the title to read the story.

Religion reporting is losing prominence

"I spent the last few days here at the 60th annual convention of the Religion Newswriters Association, which is the national organization that represents the dwindling band of us who cover religion in the media. Attendance is off this year, in part because newsroom travel budgets are down, but also because the religion beat itself is suffering a serious reversal of fortune." says Boston Globe writer.

Click on the title to read the story.

Erin Andrews tells Oprah she thought her career was over

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews thought her career was over after secretly taped nude footage of her began circulating on the Internet. Andrews appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Friday in a 10-minute segment taped Aug. 27. This was her first interview on the topic. Andrews' attorney has said the video was shot without her knowledge and she plans to seek criminal charges and file lawsuits against whoever shot it and anyone who posts it.

$150 to see Mike Duffy in Brantford, Ont.!

Tory Senator Mike Duffy will be the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner being mounted by the Brant federal Conservative riding association and MP Phil McColeman on Sept. 18 in The Atrium in Market Square. Tickets cost $150 per person according to the Brantford Expositor.

Media, Marketers and Agencies Challenge Nielsen's Ratings Monopoly

Nielsen Media Research's core business -- TV ratings -- is up for grabs. The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement, a consortium of the top media companies, ad-buying agencies and marketers was formally announced today by 14 of Nielsen's biggest clients as a way to to "provide various constituents of the media business to develop better metrics." The announcement was made in new York.

Newspaper exec who founded Weather Channel dies

Frank Batten Sr., who built a communications empire that spanned newspapers and cable television and created The Weather Channel, died Thursday. He was 82.Batten was the retired chairman of privately held Landmark Communications and a former chairman of the board of The Associated Press. Batten died in Norfolk, Va., after a prolonged illness, Landmark Vice Chairman Richard F. Barry III said. Batten was a visionary executive who earned a reputation for spotting media trends and was in the forefront of development of cable television in the 1960s. AP.

ABC's John Stossel jumps to Fox

Might have seen it coming. AP.

Turkish media group Dogan shares rebound

Critics of the government say Dogan Yayin is being unfairly punished because of its often harsh coverage of the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, particularly over corruption allegations earlier this year. The government denies this. Reuters.

Canwest LP gets breathing room

Canwest Global Communications Corp. secured additional breathing room with its senior creditors on Thursday after the company entered into a forbearance agreement with its lenders.Financial Post.

Report calls for overhaul of political debates

Tom Axworthy group has major re-make in mind. Globe and Mail.

Farrell "not worth saving"?

"When you look at the number of warnings this person had it makes you really wonder whether he was worth rescuing, whether it was worth the cost of a soldier's life," a senior army source told the Telegraph.

Cable firms 'not telling truth' about fund

Neil Reynolds to set standard at Irving papers

After gaffes related to communion wafer and others.

Chicago Trib Hires "In the Wake of the News" Writer

David Haugh joins some of Chicago's great journalists, such as Ring Lardner, Dave Condon, Bob Verdi, Bernie Lincicome, John Husar, Skip Bayless, Mike Downey and, since December 2000, Rick Morrissey.

Bloomberg, Fox try to out emergency lending names

The Fed argued in both cases that disclosure could cause "competitive and reputational harm" to participants, potentially triggering bank runs and hurting the economy if information or rumors were allowed to spread

NYT reporter held by Taliban freed by Brit commandos

One soldier killed in mission to rescue Stephen Farrell. Farrell, who manages the AtWar blog for the Times, was attempting to visit the site of a NATO air strike when he and his colleague, Afghan journalist Sultan Mohammed, were seized. According to several international media reports, Mohammed was killed by the Taliban during the rescue operation. From New York Daily News.

War crimes probe into 1975 killing of 5 journalists

Australia has launched a war crimes investigation into the 1975 killing of five Australian-based journalists during an attack by Indonesian forces in East Timor.

Sun-Times says it has "stalking horse" bidder

Investor group led by Chicago businessman James Tyree. Reuters.

Army Archerd, 87

Entertainment journalist Army Archerd, who wrote a column for the entertainment trade publication Variety for over 50 years, has died. He was 87.

LOCAL TV NEWS UNDER SIEGE

Caps in release denote crisis. Notables speak on subject at Ryerson. Among them, Adrian Bateman, Sophia Hadzipetros and Mike Katrycz.

Finalists named for B.C.'s Annual Journalism Awards

A selection of B.C.'s best journalists has been named as finalists for the 2009 Jack Webster Awards. Winners will be announced at the 23rd annual Jack Webster Awards dinner on October 20th at the Westin Bayshore.

Yale criticized for nixing Muslim cartoons

Alumni Micheal Steinberg, John Bolton, David Frum, Seth Corey, Carey Nelson and about 20 others complain.

William Gates denounces AP picture decision

Letter to Tom Curley, president and chief executive of The A.P.

HK scribes on street after member beat up

They crowded up against the gates of the Chinese government's liaison office in Hong Kong, chanting, "Violence against reporters is shameful." CP

Maziar Bahari could be free if Ottawa assures Iran he's not gov agent

A small measure of Iranian justice for jailed Newsweek writer.

CHEK sold for $2 plus 2009 operating losses

No advertising, no programs -- any viewers?

Leibovitz sued for "stealing" pix

Paolo Pizzetti claims Ms Leibovitz used photos he took in Venice and Rome, and passed them off as her own in a 2009 calendar for a coffee company. BBC

Venezuela to close 29 more anti-Chavez broadcasters

Since July, regulators have shut down 32 radio stations and two small television stations while opening probes of more than 200 others. Minister says the most recent investigation into Globovision, the sixth in eight months, was opened because the channel allegedly broadcast a ticker strip of text messages from viewers calling for a coup

Google investors look for next big thing

Make more money! Google will brief investors in a Webcast on Wednesday about search and monetization, though Google spokeswoman Jane Penner said the event will focus more on the monetization of search than on businesses like YouTube

Don Imus simulcast moves to Fox Business

Imus will add more business reports to his mix of news, sports, commentary and comedy. FBN reporters will also contribute. CP via CBC

AP says picture of dying marine shows war reality

News service says: "The Associated Press is distributing a photo of a Marine fatally wounded in battle, choosing after a period of reflection to make public an image that conveys the grimness of war and the sacrifice of young men and women fighting it."

Keep-it-local ownership ads for Philly papers

The bankrupt publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer has run afoul of creditors over its "Keep It Local" campaign, an unusual tactic that appeals to newspaper readers to support insiders' bid for the company. Reuters.

Canwest does deal with local investor group for CHEK

RELEASE -- Canwest Global Communications Corp. (“Canwest”) announced today that its subsidiary, Canwest Television Limited Partnership has entered into an agreement to sell CHEK-TV in Victoria (“CHEK”) to a local investor group (“LIG”). For a nominal purchase price that was not disclosed, the LIG will take ownership of the conventional television station’s assets. The change of control and issuance of a new licence is conditional on Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) approval. The LIG intends to file an application with the CRTC requesting the transfer of ownership of the station licence as soon as possible.

One giant slip in Bangladesh news

Two Bangladeshi newspapers have apologised after publishing an article taken from a satirical US website which claimed the Moon landings were faked.

Brave CBC under fire on the Plains of Abraham

It's the battle no one wants to fight – except the CBC. Canada's national broadcaster will mark the 250th anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham with a documentary on the decisive British-French conflict, months after threats from hardline separatists forced the cancellation of a planned re-enactment in Quebec City. The one-hour documentary, set to air during prime time next Thursday, is already ruffling the feathers of those who opposed the real-life re-enactment.

La Presse to halt publication without labour contract

Montreal’s La Presse newspaper said it may suspend publication Dec. 1 if it can’t agree on a labor contract with its unions. Publisher Gesca, a unit of Montreal-based Power Corp. of Canada, is negotiating with eight unions representing about 700 employees, said Caroline Jamet, a spokeswoman at La Presse. Gesca wants to cut C$26 million ($23.6 million) in annual expenses at the French-language newspaper, including C$13 million in labor costs, she said.

Journalist who suggested Russian mystery ship had illegal cargo flees

Mikhail Voitenko, a journalist who suggested the Arctic Sea cargo ship that was apparently hijacked in July may have been carrying illegal weapons, has fled Russia. He said he had been told to leave Moscow or face arrest.

Canadian authors debate whether to opt out of Google settlement

More than seven million titles have been scanned thus far by Google. But Google didn't receive permission from the books' copyright holders. A class-action lawsuit and years of negotiations ensued, leading to the landmark Google Book Settlement reached last October. Authors, publishers, agents and lawyers have spent much of the last year analyzing the complex agreement and trying to figure out what it means for them.Opposition is growing more vocal in advance of tomorrow's deadline to opt out of the controversial agreement.

"If a complete stranger came and took your car without permission and took it for a drive, what would you call that?" asks Katherine Gordon, one of several Canadian authors leading the charge against the settlement. "It would be theft. So how is this any different?"

On Tuesday, Gordon and several other Canadian authors launched an online campaign opposing the settlement, taking Google to task for "blatant disregard for Canadian legal copyright ownership" and accusing them of keeping authors in the dark, leaving "millions of authors ... unaware their rights will be seriously compromised after Friday."

China denies US journalists captured by N.Korea on its territory

China Thursday denied that two US television reporters jailed for illegally entering North Korea were caught on Chinese soil and then dragged into the Stalinist state, as the pair said this week.

"According to the understanding of competent authorities, they did not find the situation as you described it," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters in response to a question on the comments by the journalists.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced to 12 years hard labor by North Korea before being freed as part of a diplomatic mission spearheaded by former US president Bill Clinton last month.

Diane Sawyer to replace Charles Gibson as ABC News anchor

Charles Gibson will step down as news anchor on ABC television's "World News" and will be replaced by Diane Sawyer beginning in January, ABC News said on Wednesday.

Dave Cocton named CBC production and resouces manager in Calgary

Dave Cockton, long-time popular producer with the Newsworld Live unit, has been appointed regional manager of production and resources for CBC in Calgary. Cockton joined CBC in 1979 and has experience in operations as well as considerable familiarity on the editorial side. He left CBC in 2005 for a short stint as vice-president of operations for digital media at Alliance Atlantis.

U.S.-based Examiner.com buys Canadian website "NowPublic"

Vancouver-based NowPublic, a citizen journalism website that boasts of contributing reporters in 160 countries around the world, has been bought by U.S. media firm Examiner.com.

Canadian TV stations change hands

The upheaval began in Hamilton, Ontario, where viewers of CHCH-TV saw their usual American-originating gossip shows from E! Entertainment Networks replaced with a marathon screening of Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" movies to signal indie broadcaster Channel Zero has acquired the TV station from former owner Canwest Global Communications Corp.

And Montreal's CJNT-TV station, which Channel Zero picked up along with CHCH-TV for a combined price tag of $12, has started airing foreign music videos and movies to replace U.S. series like "Deal or No Deal" and "That '70s Show" as part of its ethnic programming format.

As Canwest Global's E!-branded network is disconnected, separate local TV stations in Red Deer, Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia, are set to go dark at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday as those stations failed to find recent buyers before their TV licenses expire on Tuesday.

And Kelowna, British Columbia, station CHBC-TV on Monday began broadcasting as an affiliate of CanWest Global's Global Television network.

CHEK-TV gets one day reprieve

CHEK-TV has won a one-day reprieve to try to put together an agreement that will satisfy its owner and keep the station on the air.

Kill-Obama TV satire lands CBC in hot water

A joke about Barack Obama being assassinated and other controversial humour from a satirical TV show has landed the French-language CBC a scolding from the broadcast regulator. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declared in a ruling yesterday that Radio-Canada breached licence conditions last year during its satirical New Year's Eve show. It ordered an apology.