Video Age International October 2016

10 World October 2016 V I D E O A G E SEPTEMBER.2016 JUNIOR PAGE _ 7.284”x 9.055” VIDEO AGE The Best in Crime Programming www.grbtv.com • sales @ grbtv.com Stand R7.K17 164 x 60 6 x 60 10 x 60 9 x 60 While Nelvana specializes in production and distribution of children’s programs, Corus is nowdeveloping an international content distribution unit for its lifestyle and non-scripted commissioned and internally produced series. John MacDonald, senior vice president, Women and Lifestyle, is in charge of Corus production and acquisitions for 14 of the 45 channels under his portfolio. VideoAge met with MacDonald (picturedat left)at the impressive new Corus headquarters facing Toronto’s Lake Ontario. “Last year, Corus distribution executive Rita Carbone-Fleury introduced to the international market three new series. At this MIPCOM, we’ll have a total of five series, plus three new ones,” announced MacDonald. In the beginning of this process, MacDonald was considering acquiring an existing Canadian distribution company to market Corus shows outside the Nelvana catalog internationally (and Tricon was the most talked about in the press), but now the strategy is to develop the unit internally, “even though we have not yet settled on the new unit’s name,” commented MacDonald. In order to add volume to the new catalog, MacDonald would consider taking on programs from producers whose shows were commissioned by other outlets. However, for now, Corus is retaining the international distribution rights just for the programs they commissioned. “We’re a linear-centric network system,” said MacDonald“andwecreatevalue for mid-range TV shows [those that don’t get high ratings, but are not at the bottom either] with international distribution in order to keep them on the air.” MacDonald will be attending MIPCOM with Rita Carbone- Fleury and acquisition executives Daniel Eves, Maria Hale, Arthur Reinstein and COO Barbara Williams. Their three key lifestyle titles are: Home to Win , Backyard Builds and $ave My Reno . (Continued from Page 8) I n view of the large numbers of media mergers and acquisitions recently, one can say that Canada is “liquid.” But to describe the current situation, we have to use the word “fluid.” Three big commercial groups now control the TV media landscape in Canada: Corus, Bell and Rogers and new developments are daily occurrences after the cable unbundling. As for Corus, it absorbed all the media units of the Shaw family (with the family still solidly in control of the public company), which now includes FTA TV network Global, 45 specialty TV channels, radio stations and Nelvana. Doug Murphy, a veteran Corus executive who ran Nelvana for many years, is now president and CEO of Corus Entertainment Group. JohnMacDonald: Introducing the New Corus, Rita Carbone-Fleury Selling its Canadian Shows