The Livestream Studio HD1700 is scheduled to ship May 15, 2013.

Furthering its goal to carve a niche in live video production, the company has leveraged its presence at NAB and relationship with international distributors, to create a network of resellers around the world to increase availability of the Livestream Studio family of broadcast quality live production switchers.

New features of the Livestream Studio? v1.2 available to all software and hardware customers via automatic software update:

Picture in Picture: up to 5 live picture in picture sources, with cropping and opacity Wipe transitions with feathering, symmetry and positioning option Lower end to end latency for in-venue screen applications.

(Experimental feature available in settings panel).For information on the many additional features of this product contact Videolink in Canada.Easily stream broadcast quality video over any distance to ZiXi Broadcaster. More information on ZiXi is
available at http://www.zixi.com/

New products shipping today:

Livestream Studio? HD50 - Affordable, semi-portable, 5 input model; featuring digitalHD. Price $6,999 (MSRP)

Livestream Studio? HD900 - 9 input rackmount model; ideal for studios, facilities and live production trucks. Price $14,999 (MSRP) For more information visit http://store.livestream.com

With the latest release of Livestream Studio V 1.2, anyone can build an affordable, broadcast-quality, live production control room from a PC connected to any Blackmagic Design® capture and playback. Livestream’s built-in encoder enabling one-click live streaming in HD multi-bitrate to the award-winning, ad-free ;ivestream Platform or any platform of your choice, including YouTube Live, Ustream, Akamai, Wowza Media Server and any CDN or server that supports RTMP. Purchase of any product in the comprehensive suite of the Livestream Studio family also includes two months of the industry’s only 7 day a week phone support with knowledgeable customer service and technical support.For more information, full tech specifications and purchasing details for the Livestream Studio? family of broadcast-quality, multi-camera production switchers, visit our store or network of resellers here:

Livestream Systems and Services are available in Canada from Videolink.

The transaction is expected to close in June 2013, subject to the completion of standard due diligence. Telescopic Camera Cranes Ltd. founding partners Andrew Mulkani and Barrie Wells will continue in their respective roles as President and Vice President of the company which will stay in its present location, conveniently close to William F. White’s Vancouver facility. 

This acquisition follows Comweb/WFW’s recently announced $20 million investment in new production technologies in addition to a $40 million financing agreement with BMO Financial Group. 

“Telescopic Camera Cranes is a perfect synergistic fit for us and this important expansion of our national specialty camera offerings has been in the works for many months now,” said Paul Bronfman. ”Andrew and Barrie have built a tremendous company on a world scale and we’re delighted to have them become part of our group.”

“I’m extremely pleased that our organization is about to become part of the Comweb group of companies,” said Andrew Mulkani. ”Ironically, Whites gave me my first job in the film business over 40 years ago and I’m glad to be back in association with such a widely-respected company. I’m proud to return home to the Whites team and am equally as excited about the possibilities that this will offer the industry on a national level.”

“This partnership is the perfect fit for both our companies,” stated Barrie Wells. “Through Whites, clients across Canada will now have unhindered access to one of the largest fleets of cranes in the world.”

Google Inc.’s site, known for its free and viral videos, has teamed up with 30 companies to pilot on-demand channels requiring a monthly subscription fee. Shows that went live Thursday included ones for kids, wrestling fans and yogis.

“When you think about how television has operated, or how television networks operated in the past, this is a fundamentally revolutionary moment,” said Michael Hirsh, executive chairman of DHX Media, which has three of the paid channels.

The Halifax-based children’s entertainment company, behind Caillou and Inspector Gadget, is charging $2.99 monthly for each of its channels, after a two-week trial period ends.

Its shows, for a range of ages, went online in multiple languages in 10 countries without clearing the traditional regulatory hurdles, Hirsh said, adding the subscriptions are “great add-ons to existing services.”

But beyond that, analysts say niche programs and prices as low as 99 cents will take subscription dollars from traditional services, as more people go online.

“I don’t see an imminent rush for people to cut their cable as a result but there will be more pressure on traditional service providers,” said Kaan Yigit, president of Solutions Research Group Consultants Inc., which conducts digital consumer research.
About 12 per cent of Canadian TV subscribers have said they have seriously thought about cutting the cord in the last six months, but ultimately didn’t, Yigit said.

Before Thursday, YouTube’s 1 billion monthly users could rent and download movies from some major studios in the United States. But there weren’t subscription options for channels focused on Sesame Street, or like filmmaker Roger Corman’s, which is set to house hundreds of films.

As more quality online services launch, combining with existing services like Netflix, Yigit said more traditional subscribers may end up leaving in favour of online subscriptions that can also be viewed on TVs, smart phones and tablets.

Other Canadian content providers said going online was more about reaching international audiences than moving existing customers online.

“We saw this as a way to help us facilitate the export of our content,” said Brad Danks, chief operating officer of OUTtv, the Vancouver-based network targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audiences. OUTtv is partnering with American Wolfe Video to launch GayDirect on YouTube.

The only domestic channel not available in Canada is Treehouse Direct, with kids programming from Corus Entertainment. “Corus is offering a selection of kids’ content to international audiences on this new platform,” the company said in a statement.

Of the 53 subscription channels online now, about half are available in Canada, Google spokeswoman Wendy Bairos said.

Income is shared between YouTube and its partners, who earn most of the revenue, she said. Each content provider chooses whether their videos should be ad supported.

Hirsh, from DHX, said not having ads was a major selling point for the company because that’s what parents want. “We have a pretty strong conviction it will be (popular),” Hirsh said. “But if it isn’t, then it’s one more thing we’ve done to expand our brand and to build our business.”

Source: Toronto Star

The app, dubbed Watch ABC, will be available first to viewers in New York and Philadelphia. The company expects to bring it to the six other markets where ABC owns TV stations later this summer and is in talks to widen that to 200 more, the newspaper says.

Watch ABC will be available only to subscribers of cable and satellite services. It comes as the networks continue their so far unsuccessful fight to block Aereo, a service backed by mogul Barry Diller that takes broadcast network signals and streams them to consumers without paying retransmission fees to the broadcasters.

Media companies have threatened to convert their networks to cable if Aereo is successful. But that move would probably cost them billions in lost advertising revenue.

Meanwhile, the pay-TV industry has another fight on its hands in Congress. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recently introduced a bill to end the practice of bundling, whereby popular cable channels such as ESPN get packaged with less popular ones such as Shalom TV. His Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 also would take away the licenses of any broadcast network that converts to cable.

The cable industry has fought against a la carte pricing for years, arguing that it would drive up costs and harm consumers. Even though McCain’s bill stands little chance of passing, some commentators wonder whether media companies may lose the bigger war.

“By turning program bundling into an inside-the-Beltway issue, McCain has given a green light to politically obsessed editorial boards and pundits to take sides,” Deadline.com executive editor David Lieberman wrote. “That will present a public relations nightmare over the next few weeks for the Big Media companies that require people to pay for channels that they don’t want.”

Cable service providers are starting to raise similar arguments. Earlier this year, Cablevision (CVC +0.23%) filed suit against Viacom (VIA +0.27%) for bundling its popular channels such as MTV and Comedy Central with less well known offerings such as Tr3s. 

It’s likely just a matter of time before bundling ends, meaning the current multichannel universe will shrink as customers start paying for only the channels they want. They’ll also get to view TV when and where they want as more programs move to their portable devices.

One thing is for sure: The TV business of tomorrow will look nothing like it does today.

Source: MSN Money

Click for a 20 Year Chart of production Levels in Ontario.

OMDC is digitally transforming the way they do business and making it easier for you to apply for tax credits and to their programs by using a paperless, secure Online Application Portal (OAP).

You will be able to apply online (including uploading and storing corporate documents), track the status of your applications and communicate with OMDC regarding your applications through the OAP. The Portal makes it easy for you to collaborate with others on applications across multiple companies with a single user login.

View the entire OMDC Newsletter by following the link below: http://www.omdc.on.ca/

Launched in 2009, City to City showcases 10 new pics from filmmakers based in the chosen city. Past programs presented films from Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Buenos Aires and Mumbai.

“After a long period of hibernation, Greek cinema has found its way back to the forefront,” said Eipides, who has been part of the Toronto team since 1988 and was named General Director of the Thessaloniki Film Festival in 2010.

Eipides referred to the DIY ethic of Athens’ new wave and the attention and accolades this loose collective of young filmmakers, including “Dogtooth” director Yorgos Lanthimos, is beginning to gain on the international scene.

“Hopefully this new wave of international exposure will give Greek cinema the confidence to communicate its message from a position where national boundaries will no longer matter,” Eipides added.

The City to City line-up will be announced in July. The 38th Toronto fest runs Sept. 5 to 15.

Source: Variety

“This transaction demonstrates BMO’s ability to attract exceptional Canadian companies through our innovative financing solutions and expertise in the media sector,” said Jim Kelsey, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Finance Division, Personal and Commercial Banking Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal.

Nativ said new advances like file-based workflows coupled with cloud computing are revolutionizing production, post and distribution companies in the way they manage, repurpose and deliver content.

Although cloud computing is not yet perfect, Nativ said, it is maturing and beginning to meet the challenges of the media industries. The report, called “Workflow and Collaboration: Working Smarter, Cheaper and Faster,” is now available for download.

‘Many industries already benefit from cloud-based computing, but not so much TV and film,” Nativ said. “These industries are perhaps furthest behind in capitalizing on cloud, and there is good reason for this. The reality is that today this opportunity is hindered by a number of significant factors that need to be overcome.”

Those issues are huge file sizes; a large number of discrete software components; billing as an organization uses cloud services; collaboration through a single hub; and a lack of one-size-fits-all solutions.

“Building workflow and MAM systems in-house is expensive and risky,” Nativ said. “At the same time, islands of functionality in the cloud are often difficult to embrace. Media management and workflow platforms, designed from the ground up to live in the cloud, have been developed to overcome these challenges. The answer is a platform that is completely configurable, where new applications and processes can be tailored within a generic platform.”

The right solutions offer integrated remote ingest and delivery; enterprise asset management; social and collaboration features; workflow design and orchestration; content repurposing and distribution; frame-accurate, web-based logging; and advanced VoD and OTT packaging and delivery.

“These aren’t mere ‘islands of functionality’ but sophisticated end-to-end platforms that can be accessed from anywhere, any time,” the report said. “They enable media companies to capitalize on file-based workflow automation and enjoy the costs savings of a more scalable operation.”

Attaining these goals has been held back by limited network connectivity and the lack of mature cloud-based media management, Nativ said. However, in both cases, things are improving, and opportunities to work smarter, quicker and more cost-effectively in the cloud are now emerging.

Source: Broadcast Engineering

“I’m told that Vancouver-Fairview has the highest number of film industry workers of any constituency in BC and frankly, I was surprised by the number of people I met knocking on doors who told me they work in the film industry and their main concern is jobs are going east,” NDP candidate George Heyman tells News1130.

“I’m glad we’ve acted, they’re glad we’ve acted and I think we’ve taken a positive step to protect and enhance a good, solid industry here in BC,” he adds.

Heyman, Liberal candidate Margaret MacDiarmid and Green candidate Matthew Pedley all say they’re concerned about jobs in the industry moving to Ontario, which offers a bigger tax credit for film and TV production.

The NDP is promising to boost BC’s tax credit by as much as seven per cent in an attempt to level the playing field.

The party says the move will cost about $45 million, but it believes it will create more than $90 million in revenue.

MacDiarmid disputes those numbers and says getting into a war with Ontario is the wrong approach.

“People are concerned, just as I am, about the job loss but what I’ve said [to people in the industry] is each time we’ve raised our tax credit, Ontario and Quebec have raised theirs,” she says. ”At some point we have to say we’re not going to do that anymore. If we were going to increase that tax credit, we think it would cost us about $100 million annually and we’re not going to do that.”

She wants to see a national strategy that stops provinces competing against one another.

The Greens don’t address the issue in their platform, but Pedley says he personally supports a substantial tax break.

“I support the film industry in BC and I would be willing to support a tax credit for 25 percent of production costs in the short term, but not necessarily indefinitely,” Pedley says. ”That would make sure we don’t have the entire industry disappear before our very eyes and have us lose all of the infrastructure that has been built up to support the industry.”

In 2009, MacDiarmid defeated NDP candidate Jen McGinn by less than 2,000 votes.

Before MacDiarmid held the seat, the riding was held by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson who was a member of the NDP at the time.

Source: News 1130

Founded by Doug Dales in 1972, PS has grown from a small two-man team to become one of Canada’s most recognizable grip and lighting rental houses with over 130 employees. Despite Doug’s untimely passing two years ago, PS continued his legacy with genuine pride as seen through its significant growth.

“Doug was someone I very much admired and respected,” said Rob Sim, President and CEO of SIM Digital. “Both of our companies started out with humble beginnings and through hard work and constant dedication, we were both able to successfully grow our companies to where they are today. Our cultures are very similar so when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t think of two companies that better complemented one another. That thought was echoed throughout our management team, who worked diligently to see the SIM and PS deal come together.”

“There are tremendous synergies with this latest acquisition,” stated SIM’s Chief Strategy Officer, James Martin. ”We were fortunate to have the support of Granite Partners, a leading Canadian investment firm in bringing this deal to fruition. Granite has played an integral role in finalizing the acquisition and will be working in partnership with SIM moving forward.”

The ability to deliver the most comprehensive service offering available in the industry today played a key role for both parties working so diligently to get a deal done. ”PS is already recognized as a first class grip and lighting facility and when you combine that with our expertise in cameras along with our Bling Post Division, we now have the ability to bundle and deliver full-service solutions which have become incredibly attractive to our clients working throughout North America,” said SIM’s Chief Operating Officer, John DeBoer.

Current PS President and CEO, Douglas Barrett, who, after almost 7 years at the helm of PS, will be stepping aside to pursue new ventures. ”I have thoroughly enjoyed my years at PS and extend my sincere thanks and best wishes to all my former colleagues,” said Barrett. ”While everyone at PS is tremendously proud of what we have achieved together, the passing of company founder Doug Dales in 2010 made it inevitable the company would be sold. PS and SIM are both great companies and, I know that together, they will be unstoppable.”

Commenting on the deal and the future for PS Rae Thurston, Chief Operating Officer of PS, said, “This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for both SIM and PS as we move forward as a unified company providing our combined group of customers with the best products and services in the industry.”

Integration between the two companies will begin immediately with all SIM Canadian offices now offering digital cameras, lenses & accessories; lighting, grip and package trucks, as well as Bling Post Services including: dailies, data management, off-line post production and finishing.