An increasing number of young people use the Web as an alternative to watching TV - or they use both platforms simultaneously - so programmers at provincial educational broadcaster TVO have revamped and redesigned TVOKids.com, the online destination for kids from ages 2 to 11. "The way children consume content is changing rapidly," explained Pat Ellingson, Creative Head Children's Media at TVO. "Traditional television continues to be a powerful draw. We are not decreasing our focus on providing a unique broadcast offering. However, the tastes and wants of the "kid" audience are ...

Creators of original web video now have a new source of funding. Canada’s Independent Production Fund (IPF) is launching a pilot program to fund drama series created for any platform. In recognition of the evolving broadcast environment, the IPF will provide equity financing not only to drama series with a television broadcast license, but also to scripted drama series that are designed and produced initially for online exploitation. “After the media financing doldrums of 2009, this money and leap of faith towards digital audiences couldn’t come at a better time,” said ...

It used to be a screen test propelled an actress from the casting couch to the big screen. Now we need a different kind of screen test: one that features her to advantage on all types of screens. Or, even better, a test that proves once and for all what type of content looks good on what type of screen. Until then, here are FanTrust’s picks and pans for screens large and small. The rationale not so much to answer: “can we cross-purpose our content?” (yes we can) or “does anyone ...

Innovative video shorts go online to tap a new community of donors VANCOUVER, November 4, 2008 – For the first time, a number of United Ways across Canada have combined forces to produce a new video campaign and to tap new digital audiences. United Ways in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and Toronto, along with support from Winnipeg and United Way Canada collaborated on the mission and the results are two compelling video shorts intended to open the eyes of more Canadians and support fundraising efforts. “The Web is changing the worlds of both ...

Until recently, few women’s brands were dipping their toes into online advertising. Odd, given that women influence 80% of all consumer purchases made in North America. Weren’t we gals online, too? At last, it seems that brands are catching up to our reality. This week, FanTrust tracks a surge of fun, quality women’s content and relevant brand messaging proliferating the web. And we’ve got the numbers to prove it. A recent New York Times article, “Woman to Woman, Online”, reported that Sites aimed primarily ...