2008

Media CEOs speaking at the CMDC Conference

Background

Just when it seemed that the rivalry within the Canadian media industry couldn't get more fierce, the country's leading players have raised the intensity several notches by extending their battle into the programming and content arena.

Next, telecommunications heavyweight BCE Inc. responded by announcing its intention to acquire Canada's largest private broadcaster, CTV Inc.

Rogers Communications, at the same time, is said to be eyeing the venerable Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment content juggernaut, potentially adding this coveted franchise to its existing high profile sports and entertainment empire.

Meanwhile, traditional media owners, such as the Postmedia Network national newspaper chain, are testing their creativity as never before as they adopt new strategies to attract readers and advertising dollars.

The ripple effect from all of this maneuvering, coupled with continuing changes in the digital realm and consumer interaction with media, has fundamentally altered the way that media companies do business in Canada.

The Speakers

The Canadian Media Directors’ Council will hear from top executives at the major media companies to get their frontline perspective.

Kevin Crull, COO of CTV Globemedia, will take us behind the scenes – back to a year ago at the Vancouver Olympics when Bell executives witnessed first-hand the migration of content over a myriad of new, digital screens – to discuss how the CTV network became a strategic fit within the long-range plans of Bell Canada and where this alliance is headed.

Keith Pelley, President of Rogers Media and the architect behind the successful packaging of Vancouver Winter Olympic games as President of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, will provide insights into the next steps in Rogers plans as a major player in the sports, entertainment and media industry. Pelley has overall responsibility for Rogers Media properties including Rogers Broadcasting, Rogers Publishing, Rogers Digital Media, Rogers Sportsnet, the Shopping Channel, the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre.

Paul Roberston, Group Vice-President, Broadcasting and President of Shaw Media, with overall responsibility for all of Shaw Media, including Global Television and a portfolio of 19 specialty channels, will describe how Shaw fits into the newly-reshaped sports/entertainment/media complex.

Paul Godfrey, CEO of Postmedia, Canada’s newest media player and the country’s largest publisher of paid English language daily newspapers, will describe how his stable of prestigious print brands are adjusting to the media wars and the strategies he is planning to help newspapers find their place in the emerging communications world.

CMDC 2011 Annual Conference to focus on immediacy and access to customers and audiences, in a mobile, addressable world

March 9th, 2011 at The Metro Toronto Convention Center


Here and There and Everywhere and Now

These are both challenging and exhilarating times for marketing communications … with a little bit of something for everyone.

There’s more data for the analytical, more stimulus for the innovative, more scope for the daring, improved responsiveness for the consumer and real time for everyone.

Media has become a pleasure zone. Our channels of information, entertainment and social contact are seamlessly connected, allowing us to enjoy freedom of access and human connection without limit of time, space or place.

At the same time, the digital divide between young and old is disappearing as we personalize our media space to fit our lifestyles. And this is good news for marketers, who can now customize their messages, cut waste and deliver on the immediacy and relevancy that the consumer is demanding.

The issue for advertisers is how to seize the opportunity … to fit into the occasion and to add value to the experience … in order to take full advantage of the here, and there and everywhere and now. Our agenda includes:

  • Three client markets tell tales on social marketing
  • The return of Media CEO Dragons' Den hosted by Dianne Buckner and starring Judy Davey VP Molson Marketing Assets, Sara Hill President M2 Universal, Lauren Richards CEO Media Experts and Ted Boyd President of 58ninety Inc.
  • Speeches on privacy issues and on addressable TV
  • Ian Troop, CEO Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee
  • COO of CTVglobemedia Kevin Crull
  • Paul Godfrey, President and CEO, Post Media Network
  • A technology bazaar by the industry top software providers
  • A data visualization showcase

Order your tickets at cmdc@live.ca or call 905-956-1566