Media Beat: December 21, 2018

By David Farrell

Stingray adds a Breeze to its Classic Hits FMs in Van, Edmonton

Stingray has announced modest swings changes for its Classic Hits FMs in Vancouver and Edmonton.

LG 104.3 (CHLG-FM) Vancouver and 96.3 Capital FM (CKRA-FM) Edmonton are to be re-branded as 104.3 The Breeze and 96.3 The Breeze, respectively, effective Dec. 26 (Boxing Day).

The Breeze format outwardly panders to female listeners and has been successfully tested in a number of US markets. Playing “easy, relaxing, and familiar favourites,” listeners can expect to hear melodic hits by legacy acts such as Lionel Richie, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Whitney Houston, Sara McLachlan, Billy Joel, and Adele.

“We saw an opportunity in both Edmonton and Vancouver to fill a void that was glaring,” Steve Jones, SVP Brands & Content, Radio, said in a statement. “Both markets lack a radio station like this, and Edmonton has no AC station at all. So, we saw a window for ratings and revenue growth in two of Canada’s best radio markets, and we decided to seize it.”

Trudeau says future of Huawei 5G network in Canada up to security experts

The participation of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei in building Canada’s fifth-generation wireless network will be decided following the advice of Canadian security and intelligence experts, not for reasons of political expediency, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday. – Radio Canada International

Huawei to do 'whatever is required' to meet Canada's security standards for 5G networks

This week, Huawei said it would spend US$2 billion over the next five years in the U.K. to fix technical problems that the UK’s spy agency believes could expose British telecom networks to security risks. Specific measures have not been made public, but Huawei said it shared an outline of its commitments to the U.K. government with Canadian officials.

Li wrote he “would like to ensure it is understood our commitments to the U.K. also apply to the Government of Canada.” – Emily Jackson, Montreal Gazette

EU court upholds German public broadcasting fee system

The European Union’s highest court has ruled that a monthly fee (the equivalent of C$19.85) all German households have to pay to finance the country’s public broadcasters complies with EU law. – AP

8K is now being broadcast in Japan

The picture quality of the broadcasts is 16 x greater than that of HD, and audio is delivered in 22.2 multi-channel.  NHK is broadcasting in frame rates of 59.94, 60 and 120P. – News Shooter

CBS weighs dropping Nielsen ratings TV contract as landscape changes

The nation’s most-watched TV network is prepared to drop an annual $100M Nielsen’s measurement services contract if the two sides can’t come to an agreement by the end of this month, according to a person familiar with the matter. – Variety

Dean Blundell returns to Toronto radio as fill-in on Newstalk 1010

– Toronto Star

No power, no cable: How radio saved the day in a fire zone

– Writing Radio’s Wrongs

Media News Digest

– Fagstein

HOT 107 Edmonton plays “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” non-stop to drive coat donations

– Broadcast Dialogue

Bell Media to go live with ad-supported VOD platforms

– Media in Canada (subscription)

Billions, season 4, announced

Showtime has released a teaser for Season 4 of their hit drama Billions and confirmed that the series will return with new episodes on Sunday, March 17 at 9 pm ET (Season 4 also debuts March 17 on Crave).

Amazon Echo share will drop below two-thirds in 2019

– eMarketer

Seven marketing trends for 2019

– eMarketer

The Not-Hot List for 2019

– AdAge

Streaming services outpace linear tv production for first time

– AdAge

5 tips for media companies looking to survive in the Age of Digital Disruption

– AdWeek

NEMBC plans to help community radio go global

– Daily Review

TV ad spends in Canada down despite wide reach

– Media in Canada (subscription)

How NPR plans to bring transparency to podcast metrics

– Variety

How ‘Schitt’s Creek’ became such a reliable source of TV joy

– Variety