Media Beat: January 10, 2018

By David Farrell

BNN to become BNN Bloomberg

The deal will see the station add live evening TV coverage of Asian markets, early morning programs from Europe and contributions from Bloomberg reporters

PIAC urges CRTC to investigate digital service providers

In a letter to the CRTC chairperson Ian Scott, the PIAC’s John Lawford referenced reports that Canadian national service provider Bell specifically tasked sales representatives with pressuring customers into making purchases they might not need – Mobile Syrup

NCRA plugging next awards program

The National Campus and Community Radio Association has announced the 24th Community Radio Awards will cap its annual conference on June 8 in Fredericton. The new edition has added five new categories “to reflect more diverse programming” in Canada. These are Pop, Rock or Dance; Country or Folk Music; Classical Music; Jazz or Blues Music; and World Beat Music. There are 22 Community Radio Awards available in 2018. The deadline is March 5. Guidelines and submission: www.CommunityRadioAwards.ca. For more information contact luke@ncra.ca

Music Biz joins in support of Music Modernization Act and other proposed legislation

Several U.S. music industry organizations have voiced their unified support for three pieces of proposed legislation. More than 20 groups issued a joint press release to endorse the Music Modernization Act of 2017, the CLASSICS Act, and the AMP Act.

The Music Modernization Act would overhaul the current process for mechanical royalties by creating market-based rates and appointing a collective to manage all digital uses of mechanical licenses – RAIN News

Turkish broadcaster gets 10 months jail time without trial

He was believed to have been arrested on alleged links to the Gülen movement, a civic group inspired by the US-based Turkish-Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen who is critical of Turkey’s President; but the 42-year-old journalist has neither been indicted or brought to the court for a trial hearing and has been in pre-trial detention for 10 months.