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Media Beat: July 06, 2018

By David Farrell

A visit to the CBC archives, on the eve of destruction

Film degradation and antiquated film equipment are behind a move to transfer and destroy a portion of CBC’s archives. The thought of destroying anything has a chorus of protestors clamoring for a halt, but at what cost? The Globe and Mail’s Simon Houpt sweeps away the dust storm of nay-sayers and gets to the facts, and they are worth knowing. — Subscription


Did you really buy Corus stock for the dividend­?

The fact that Corus Entertainment Inc. cut its dividend June 27 by almost a loonie shouldn’t come as a surprise to any investors in its stock.

Fool contributors Matt Litalien and Joey Frenette both alluded to the potential for a dividend cut in articles they wrote in June prior to the recent announcement, and most analysts were already calling for a reduction in its annual payout.

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I’m not sure anyone could have predicted an 80% cut, but in hindsight, Corus’s business did look awfully troubled, providing plenty of warning signs. — Will Ashworth, The Motley Fool

A corus of Corus criticisms

Summary

  • Corus's management obliterated the company's longstanding dividend.

  • The company massively wrote-down goodwill on TV assets, somewhat dubiously.

  • Reduced dividend obligations mean the company will meet its long-debt targets easily next year.

  • Management is not working in the best interest of existing shareholders.

Free cash flow generation is still in place and provides room for a pivot. — Seeking Alpha

Bay Bloor Radio pulls the plug on JAZZ.FM

The long standing advertiser on JAZZ.FM91 has pulled its sponsorship dollars as the not-for-profit, listener-supported Toronto radio station continues to grapple with the fallout of a workplace investigation into allegations of bullying and sexual harassment by its former CEO and president, Ross Porter. BBR’s annual ad buy is pegged at about $70K. — Marc Bryan-Brown, The Globe & Mail

Polemicist Christie Blatchford’s CBC tirade

She works for a man who is frugal in every way save when it comes to his pay packet, and she’s known for her take-no-hostages style of news reportage. From her soapbox stand at the Financial Post she pulls no punches in venting about the national pubcaster, but one senses a degree of envy in having a newsroom that is staffed with people reporting about news events.

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Les Cowboys Fringants 'Pub Royal' Album Cover
Les Cowboys Fringants 'Pub Royal' Album Cover
Les Cowboys Fringants 'Pub Royal' Album Cover
Chart Beat

Les Cowboys Fringants Debut at No. 3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart with Surprise Album 'Pub Royal'

The album is the first since the passing of Karl Tremblay, and it features his voice on six songs.

A beloved Quebec band has a major debut on the Canadian Albums chart this week (May 4).

Pub Royal by Les Cowboys Fringants, surprise released on April 25, lands the No. 3 spot. It's the first album the group has released since the passing of singer Karl Tremblay last fall, and it features his voice on six songs.

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