Media Beat: October 22, 2018

By David Farrell

Updated at 8:29 a.m. to reflect inaccurate information in the Pinewood Studios story

Pinewood Toronto Studios expanding…again

Pinewood Toronto Studios is breaking ground on its multi-stage expansion with 200,000 square feet of new production space, bringing the total for sound stages and support areas to 500K square feet. The facilities sit on 33 acres of property close by the city’s waterfront.

With the latest expansion, Pinewood becomes Canada’s largest production facility and will be better able to support its growing roster of domestic and international film and television clients. Majority ownership is controlled by Bell Media, which is heavily investing in the studio park. The latest expansion attracted a number of high-profile luminaries including city mayor John Tory, and Bell Media topper Randy Lennox.

ELMNT-FMs to launch Wednesday in Toronto, Ottawa

Aboriginal stations CFPT 106.5 in Toronto and CFPO 95.7 in Ottawa will officially launch at noon on October 24th. Both stations have been in test mode for the past several weeks. CFPT operates with 2,600 watts and CFPO with 9,100 watts. – Lineups and more via SOWNY Board

Rogers’ Q3 beats analysts’ expectations

Overall, Rogers net income was up 17 percent to $594 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30 from the same quarter last year (operational highlights here). – CP

Corus’s Q3 trumpets good news

Corus Entertainment Inc.’s quarterly profit beat analyst estimates on Friday, as the Canadian media company kept a tight leash on expenses and declines in its struggling television business slowed (operational highlights can be viewed here). – Reuters

Telecoms in the crosshairs of CRTC hearing

Four in 10 Canadians say they have experienced aggressive or misleading marketing for products and services including TV, phone and home internet, according to a recent survey.

It’s a finding that’s sure to come up when the CRTC launches a hearing this week into the telecom sales practices by the country’s communications giants. – The Star

Jim Jj Johnston salutes Marty Forbes

Most radio people say they got their inspiration in their early teens to get into radio, Marty got his 'at birth.' Folklore has it his first words were not “dada’ or ‘mama’, they were “CHED BABY!” His late father, Jerry Forbes, managed 630 CHED in the heyday of Top 40 radio. At one point having a 55 share (that's about 9 stations combined in Edmonton today) and his Dad was a giant in the industry. He's in the CAB Hall of Fame; and the boys just recently opened up the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit, a full 37 years after he passed away. Jerry started Santa's Anonymous in the mid 50's, and today it continues giving out around 25,000 toys to children at Christmas.
Marty says he was a tough act to follow, but it drove him his entire career. – abridged from Johnston’s Facebook page

Why Adult Contemporary radio is creating pop stars

Despite the “adult” label, more millennials are tuning in, and the format is increasingly important for breaking pop acts – Elias Leight, Rolling Stone