Village Gamer

Namco Bandai Studios Inc. announced today from Japan that its new subsidiary, Namco Bandai Studios Vancouver Inc., will start operations in June. The studio will develop online social games and significantly boost jobs in British Columbia’s technology sector. The company has said it is important for them to develop content derived from local cultures and trends as well as those in Japan, adding that they hope to establish the organizational structure for delivering to customers across the globe. Read the rest of this entry »

It has not been an easy year for entrepreneurs Doug Sloan and John Stevens. It has been a year filled with hard work, fighting stigmas, and creating a legitimate venue for talent to be showcased in Canada. The end result is that Talent INC Canada has quickly become the leading authority in the Canadian entertainment industry when it comes to networking. The National Conference they hold once a year has become a hotbed for agents, casting directors, and producers to network among themselves which has fueled the TV and film industry in a unique way. Add to that the expertly trained talent that performs throughout the conference and you have a recipe for prosperity and recognition. Read the rest of this entry »

DAX, LLC (formerly Sample Digital), a Los Angeles-based provider of cloud workflow and media asset management applications and services to companies that produce, distribute and license audio-visual content, has launched Canadian Operations and its first international office in Toronto. Use of the new Canadian entity, DAX Cloud ULC, by U.S. clients shooting in Canada, and by Canadian clients shooting worldwide, will avail clients to Canadian tax credits. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has released statistical and financial information on Canadian broadcasting distribution companies for the broadcast year ended August 31, 2012. During the past year, cable companies reported a modest growth in revenues and subscribers, while satellite companies recorded a decline in both categories. The combined revenues for these companies increased by 4.2%, from $13.5 billion in 2011 to $14.1 billion in 2012. Similarly, the total number of subscribers rose by 1% from 11.4 million to 11.5 million. Read the rest of this entry »

For the third consecutive year, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) and Canadian innovative children’s toy and entertainment company Spin Master Ltd. have teamed up to launch the Spin Master Innovation Fund (SMIF), with up to $50,000 in start-up financing, a hand-matched mentor from CYBF’s industry-leading mentoring program and a trip to the Spin Master offices in Toronto to attend a two-day Innovation Launch Pad Workshop, with exclusive access to senior Spin Master executives. Applications open today and will offer qualified 18-39 year olds the opportunity to kick-start their innovative start-up business and are invited to apply online before May 21, 2013.

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The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) is working with Nordicity to carry out a study of the video game industry in Canada.  ESAC is calling on all Canadian video game studios to complete a survey that will help evaluate the size, composition and economic impact of this industry on the Canadian economy. Read the rest of this entry »

Vantrix, a Montreal-based provider of video optimization, delivery and policy enforcement solutions, and QuickFire Networks, a San Diego-based pioneer of traffic processing platforms designed for service provider networks, has announced a live demonstration scheduled for the 2013 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, April 6-11 in Las Vegas. Read the rest of this entry »

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, showing that an upsurge in cable, concerts and international performance helped drive compensation to songwriters and music publishers. Read the rest of this entry »

Starting today, people who believe they have suffered discrimination will have easy online access to a tool to determine if they have grounds for a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act. The Canadian Human Rights Commission has launched an online complaint assessment tool, an interactive, self-service questionnaire that helps people determine if a discrimination complaint is valid and should be formally filed. Read the rest of this entry »

Destiny Media Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into a global services contract with the Universal Media Group to provide secure distribution of pre-release music to radio, label staff and other trusted recipients worldwide. The term is for twenty four months and includes transmission of music and music videos by UMG labels, Universal affiliates and Universal licensees.  The agreement includes a guaranteed minimum monthly required usage.  The service is priced in Euros in all geographies, including the US.  The contract provides an accelerator provison that rewards Universal with lower incremental fees on increased usage above staged monthly fee targets.  These targets are set to encourage and reward expansion of volumes above historic usage. Read the rest of this entry »