THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
+++ A Special Note From The BitStream Team
+++ Cheap Dollar Aids Some Canadian Firms
+++ Canada Lags Behind U.S. in Online Ads
+++ Election Night Tests Canadian Web sites
+++ Chilly Beach Scores Hat Trick in Amsterdam
+++ Survey Says Computers Disrupt Classrooms
+++ The Greying of the Internet
+++ CBC Wireless Initiative Brings the Audience to the CBC
+++ Canadian Car Retailing Site Drives Up Strong Sales
+++ Workopolis Working Well In Its First Year
+++ The Many Faces of E-Commerce: Use Number 1,034
+++ Online PR Made Easy
+++ Telus Invests $500 Million in Western Internet Service
+++ Brossard to Offer Broadband Community 'Infostructure'
+++ Bell Canada and Cisco Offer Internet Telephony
+++ Hacker Bragging Rights
+++ First Annual Sharewareparty.org
+++ Interactive Multimedia Open House and Exhibition
+++ Milia 2001
+++ Editorial: Convergence: It Takes Two to Tango
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[-- A SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE BITSTREAM TEAM --]
This is the final issue of BitStream for this year.
BitStream will resume publication after the holidays on
January 10, 2001.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for
subscribing to BitStream and to wish you a happy and safe
holiday season.
We'd also like to get YOUR feedback on BitStream so we can
continue to improve it. Please take a moment to answer the following questions:
1. What do you like MOST about BitStream?
2. What do you like LEAST about BitStream?
3. What NEW features or content would you like to see?
4. What is your overall impression of BitStream?:
(put an X in the one that applies to you)
[ ] I love it - keep it coming!
[ ] It's pretty good - but it could be better!
[ ] It's so-so - I could live without it.
[ ] It's passable - I will probably unsubscribe.
[ ] I hate it - Unsubscribe me now or else!
5. What do you think about the length of BitStream?:
(put an X....)
[ ] It's too short - I want more!
[ ] It's just right - don't change a thing!
[ ] It's too long - cut, cut, cut!
6. Do you prefer the bite-size story lengths of the
current format or would you prefer longer/in-depth items?
(you know the drill by now)
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
7. Are you interested in networking (online and/or offline)
with your fellow BitStream readers?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Maybe
8. Please feel free to add any other comments!
Thanks so much!
The BitStream Team
Now, on with the show....
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[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
+++ Cheap Dollar Aids Some Canadian Firms
Some Canadian Web design companies are finding Canada's
"cheap dollar" is helping them to make inroads in the
American market. "Using technology that topples geographic
barriers," The Globe and Mail reports, "the companies
design Web sites from their home bases in Canada, while
their salespeople focus on winning customers in the United
States." The statistics are hard the find, they add, but
"many Web design companies report that the U.S. is either
becoming their key market or already is." (Source: The
Globe and Mail)
MMSG INTERACTIVE INSIGHT: MMSG's Chief Knowledge Officer,
Sam Punnett, has this to say on the subject: "Long term
sustainable growth without exporting work for Canadian Web
services firms is unlikely. MMSG's recent annual survey of
Canadian interactive media producers shows again a
preponderance of companies over a certain size focusing
upon export sales. 70% of Canadian Web services firms are
exporting. Those who are not are mainly too small to do
so. It is really quite simple: we have an abundance of
talent, we have a small market considering how much of
this talent we have to put to work, our dollar is a
bargain, the quality of Canadian work is top notch, we are
sitting right next door to the biggest Web services market
in the world, and U.S. customers consider us culturally
the same as them with the misfortune of not having been
born south of 49th parallel. We should be eating U.S. Web
services firms for lunch. Challenges north of 49 are a
risk averse investment climate, the tax structure, and
finding, maintaining and nurturing management talent in
the face of U.S. firms dealing green cards." For more
information and an executive summary of the Canadian
Interactive Media Producers' Survey 2000 report, click on
the link below:
http://www.multimediator.com/IMPS2000
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+++ Canada Lags Behind U.S. in Online Ads
The Montreal Gazette reports that The Internet Advertising
Bureau estimates that "Canadian (online) spending in 2000
will total $125.1 million, up 92.2 per cent from $65.1
million in 1999." These numbers represent only 1.29 per
cent of spending on mass media such as newspapers,
television and radio. In the U.S., on the other hand,
"companies will pour $5.3 billion U.S. into online ads
this year." Using the 10-to-one ratio that would mean U.S.
online advertisers will outspend Canadians by 65 to one.
"The Internet Advertising Bureau estimates that 10.5
million Canadians, or 35 per cent of the population, had
Internet access from home in 1999, a number that is
expected to grow to 19.2 million, or 64 per cent of the
population, by 2003. Ironically, this total is higher than
in the U.S., where only 22 per cent of Americans had
access from home in 1999." (Source: The Montreal Gazette)
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology
MMSG INTERACTIVE INSIGHT: BitStream readers who are
interested in the challenges and opportunities faced by
Canadian Internet advertisers are encouraged to read
MMSG's Canadian Internet Advertising 2000: A Message for
the Medium. This important report, presented by the
Internet Advertising Bureau of Canada and produced by
MMSG, is available for free by clicking on the link below:
http://www.multimediator.com/publications
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+++ Election Night Tests Canadian Web sites
Various Web sites throughout Canada were put to the test
on election night and few of them managed a passing grade.
Most of the major sites at one point or another were
crushed under the steady stream of traffic directed at
their sites. The Globe and Mail claims the honour of being
"the only major news Web site carrying live results not to
crash in the peak period of ballot counting." According to
a story in The Globe and Mail [No conflict of interest
there! - ED], the CBC Web site took several minutes to
load, the CTV News Web site crashed at about 10:15 P.M.,
while the National Post Web site crashed several times
before 10:30 P.M. before going off-line altogether for
about an hour.
+++ Chilly Beach Scores Hat Trick in Amsterdam
Toronto new media company Infopreneur has scored another
big win for its animated Web series, Chilly Beach. The
series, which celebrates hockey brawls, beer drinking and
the distinctly Canadian characteristics of politeness and
modesty, won top honours in the Leisure Online category at
the ninth annual EMMA Awards held in Amsterdam on November
2nd. An international jury judged a record number of
entries from over 40 countries. Infopreneur was the sole
Canadian entry to win an award. "We also won an award at
the Baddeck International New Media Festival held last
month at Baddeck, Nova Scotia and a People's Choice Award
at the Toronto Digital Image Festival October 26th, so the
EMMA award was a Hat Trick for us," said Chilly Beach
writer and director Doug Sinclair. Although Chilly Beach
was originally designed and launched as a Web animation
series, Infopreneur is currently in negotiations to bring
the popular series to a wider, television audience. In the
meantime, all of the episodes are available for viewing
online.
http://www.chillybeach.com
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+++ Survey Says Computers Disrupt Classrooms
A survey in progress for Simon Fraser University's Centre
for Policy Research on Science and Technology indicates
that the use of computers is disrupting education in
Canadian schools, "distracting teachers from working with
students and draining resources from basic education."
Computers are "another thing in the class that [teachers]
have to deal with," on top of the challenge of educating
children, centre director Richard Smith is quoted as
saying in The National Post. "They insert themselves into
the ecology of the classroom," he added. Not only are the
needs of technology draining money from the education
budgets, but he is "especially concerned about a trend
that has barely trained teachers being drafted into
maintaining computers." A similar study by the Alliance
for Childhood in September suggested that money spent on
computers "would be better spent on more teachers."
(Source: The National Post)
http://www.sfu.ca/cprost
+++ The Greying of the Internet
A new Media Metrix report finds that Canadian surfers 55
and over spend more time on the Web than any other age
group. Although they represent the smallest age-group
online -- they account for just seven per cent of all
visitors -- the number of elder surfers has grown steadily
over the past year, increasing almost 42 per cent since
January. "During September of this year, surfers age 55+
visited the Web or used digital media applications on
average nearly 16 different days in the month, viewing
over 570 pages each. That is more than the total Canadian
at-home average and much more than any other age group...
Since Spring of this year, data have shown a dramatic
increase in time spent on the Web, with Canadians age 55+
taking the lead spending an average of 748.8 minutes each
-- 80 minutes more than the average Canadian surfer."
http://www.mediametrix.com
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Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy! Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
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+++ CBC Wireless Initiative Brings the Audience to the CBC
CBC broke new ground with its wireless initiative last
month, when programmers in television and radio put
technology to the test during live, on-location forums.
CBC Television's National Town Hall, and the All-Candidate
Election Forums on CBC Radio One, used wireless hand-held
devices to relay questions and comments from their
audiences at home, increasing the participation and level
of interaction. The National Town Hall was broadcast from
Halifax, November 13 and from Vancouver, November 20. The
e-mail component of the program, facilitated by the
wireless unit, added a new dynamic to the relationship
between broadcaster and audience. It contributed to the
tone and scope of the program by opening the floor to a
variety of viewpoints from around the country. "Wireless
technology has opened up another avenue of interactive
possibilities," says Adrian Mills, managing director,
cbc.ca. "We've found another way to build bridges between
our audiences and programs, not only reaching out to
people, but offering them a means to reach us directly and
contribute to live programming."
http://www.cbc.ca
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+++ Canadian Car Retailing Site Drives Up Strong Sales
The online car site cars4U.com has received over 50
vehicle orders since launching its Web site in September,
representing more than $1.3 million in revenues to
cars4U.com alliance dealers. Targeting only Southern
Ontario with its marketing efforts, cars4U.com has
received over a million page views to date. According to
Jupiter Communications, eight per cent of total new car
sales will be made online by 2004, up from less than one
per cent in 1999. "Our traffic and sales have exceeded
expectations," said Barry Shafran, president and chief
executive officer of cars4U.com Ltd. "Clearly, Canada's
car buyers want to be in control. We're giving consumers
the choice, control and pricing they want in a hassle-
free, no-pressure environment. Our sales have certainly
put to bed the question of whether or not Canadians will
buy their cars on the Internet."
http://www.cars4U.com
+++ Workopolis Working Well In Its First Year
The Workopolis Canadian online job search Web site reached
$1 million in monthly sales in September, less than a year
after first setting up shop. Media Metrix Canada's recent
survey found that the Globe Interactive-Toronto Star
Newspapers site had 339,000 individual visitors in
September. (Source: Silicon Valley NORTH)
http://www.workopolis.com
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+++ The Many Faces of E-Commerce: Use Number 1,034
Silicon Valley NORTH reports that "E-commerce has changed
the way corporations buy their art." With the use of the
Internet, art-loving executives can visit a virtual
gallery, choose their paintings and have them delivered to
the office. This, we are told, "saves the corporation
money because the only art that is sent to the executive
is what the executive wants." "We, as art dealers, would
have a certain number of artists that we would represent
and a portion of regular clients," said Marilyn Burnett,
CEO of the Artvault. "The Internet has given us the
opportunity of doing this on a global scale because we
have our gallery, the Artvault, online which showcases 125
galleries on consignment throughout the world." (Source:
Silicon Valley NORTH)
http://www.artvault.com
+++ Online PR Made Easy
PRMadeEasy.com, a new business self-help Web site launched
by Vancouver PR firm Reputations.com, has begun offering
public relations tools and advice online. A special
introductory rate allows small and medium-sized business
owners access to public relations products and tools that
have until now only been widely available to major
corporations. The Web site offers a wide variety of step-
by-step guides and templates.
http://www.prmadeeasy.com
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+++ Telus Invests $500 Million in Western Internet Service
Telus has announced a new five-year plan that will see it
spend "$500 million to make its high-speed Internet access
available to 70 per cent of people in B.C. and Alberta. By
the end of 2005, Telus hopes almost every home in 38
communities will be able to get high-speed Internet access
from the phone company." Telus will invest $200 million
next year with a goal of doubling the number of high-speed
customers by the end of 2001. "Our main challenge at the
moment comes from the cable companies,'' Roy Osing,
executive vice-president of enterprise marketing and
president of Telus advanced communications told The
Toronto Star. "They have gotten off the mark more quickly,
admittedly, so our challenge is to catch up and overtake
them." (Source: The Toronto Star)
http://www.telus.com
+++ Brossard to Offer Broadband Community 'Infostructure'
Paul Leduc, the mayor of Brossard, Quebec, has launched a
"leading-edge telecommunications project that will see a
new residential, commercial and industrial zone equipped
with a fibre optics telecommunications infrastructure
alongside its electrical power grid. Each of the homes
will benefit from a broadband telecommunications link
capable of transmitting voice, sound and images." It is
hoped that the initiative will attract high-tech
businesses to the region. "An advanced telecommunications
network integrated with the electrical power grid will
have a major impact on the development of the South
Shore," the mayor said. "Roads and sewers might have been
the basic municipal infrastructure in the 20th century,
but the 21st century will be defined by the
'infostructure' of leading telecommunications and
information services. Our economic and social future will
rely on efficient links and networks connecting citizens
to schools, hospitals, businesses and their homes."
(Source: CANARIE)
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+++ Bell Canada and Cisco Offer Internet Telephony
Bell Canada is set to offer Internet telephony at
Algonquin College in Nepean, Ontario. The college "has
been upgrading its phone network using voice-over Internet
protocol (VOIP) technology provided by Bell Canada's
supplier, Cisco Systems of San Jose, California. The
school has installed about 550 VOIP phones at the campus
and its residences, with plans for as many as 3,000 over
the next three years," according to The Globe and Mail.
"Today, companies manage two networks: a voice network and
a data network," says Norm Silins, general manager at Bell
Canada. "With VOIP, you have one network, one type of
technician, one type of cabling person and one type of
support technician who manages the whole network."
(Source: The Globe and Mail)
http://www.bell.ca
+++ Hacker Bragging Rights
In what we can only guess is a creative (and successful)
attempt to get some media attention, Canadian
entertainment directory Yes.ca has admitted that it took a
hacker, known as Amnesica, only 40 seconds to break into
the company's Web server. Yes.ca, a site that provides
information on Canadian restaurants and hotels, had been
exposed for about a week before the hacker made his
presence known. "Usually most of the machines (take) just
few secs,'' the hacker wrote in an e-mail interview with
The Toronto Star. Computer security Web site Attrition.org
estimates that almost 5,000 Web sites have been
compromised this year, up from 3,500 last year. (Source:
The Toronto Star)
http://www.yes.ca
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Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy! Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
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[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ First Annual Sharewareparty.org
December 13th, 2000 in Toronto, ON
Join several new economy organizations, including
DigitalEve, IMAT, First Tuesday, Spadina Bus, and Wired
Women Toronto, as they team up to party for a great cause:
sharing the holiday spirit with those who are less
fortunate. All proceeds from this event will be donated to
local charitable organizations.
http://www.sharewareparty.org
+++ Interactive Multimedia Open House and Exhibition
December 13, 2000 in Oakville, ON
This is a great opportunity to meet (and hire) the next
generation of interactive media superstars!
http://www.sheridanc.on.ca/academic/computing/IMM/openhouse00
margo.martin@sheridanc.on.ca
+++ Milia 2001
February 10-14, 2001 in Cannes, France
Billed as "the world's most important interactive content
marketplace," Milia 2000 will include key exhibitors from
around the world, and the appearance of some of the
world's leading content developers. This year's Milia will
focus on new delivery platforms and the opportunities
presented by new broadband and wireless technologies.
http://www.milia.com
info@milia.com.
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[-- GEEKERS' CORNER: EDITORIAL --]
Convergence: It Takes Two to Tango
By Adam Froman
afroman@multimediator.com
Our company, MMSG, recently had the opportunity to partner
with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) to
organize and participate in their annual convention. For
those of you not familiar with the CAB, it is the largest
association representing the interests of the private
broadcast industry in Canada and a significant policy
influencer when it comes to issues such as content
development.
The CAB saw that south of the border there were
developments occurring which were going to put the future
of Canadian broadcasters at risk. Long before most of its
members did, the CAB recognized that broadcasting was no
longer a "protected" industry, with new entrants easily
delivering streaming "programming" over interactive
networks such as the Internet to audiences looking for
more choice. Where Canadian broadcasters used to have
control over the content that was being distributed to
their audiences, and the CRTC protected their interests,
interactive media changes all of that. The CAB was well
aware that in a volatile and unpredictable interactive
future where business models are sketchy at best, it will
be the key stakeholders, such as Canadian broadcasters,
who will need to invest in interactivity to position
themselves for the future or risk being displaced.
The CAB therefore chose to take a chance and lead its
membership into the interactive age, not knowing how they
would respond. The CAB knew that private broadcasters
needed an environment where they could be informed and
educated, encouraged to discuss their questions and
concerns, and have a chance to meet the interactive
community. They also knew that this material needed to be
delivered in a manner that respected their membership's
point of view and would educate them, not chastise them.
The CAB decided to demonstrate its vision by breaking away
from the traditional format of its convention and
partnering with MMSG to help develop a format that would
lead and not intimidate their members to embrace the
interactive age. They went with a "plenary" format where
almost the entire convention would be focused on
interactivity.
MMSG's role was twofold. First, as an Interactive
Brand Solutions company, we were asked to help develop the
"content" for the convention. This included planning and
participating in most of the major plenary sessions and
helping to architect the popular "DotCom Showdown." Our
second role was to provide the CAB with a direct
communications pipeline to the interactive community in
Canada, to encourage and engage the interactive companies
to attend. Not a small task, considering the convention
was to be held in Calgary.
Our work together proved to be a resounding success.
The convention achieved the following:
1. It provided CAB members with an educational
experience about the future of interactivity as it relates
to private broadcasters.
2. It offered those private broadcasters who "don't
even know where to begin" an "Interactive Bootcamp" led by
one of MMSG's co-founders and acknowledged interactive
guru, Bill Sweetman.
3. It attracted over 50 brave delegates from the
interactive community who had the entire Canadian
broadcast industry to themselves all in one location.
4. It launched the "Interactive Forum" which provided
private broadcasters with a forum to discuss the issues
most challenging the broadcast community related to the
interactive age alongside members of the interactive
community.
5. It offered a "business exchange" trade show area
where private broadcasters could "interact" with some of
the latest interactive technologies.
From our perspective, the CAB provided us with a
platform to demonstrate to CAB members what the entire
Canadian interactive industry had to offer.
One thing that was incredibly noticeable as a
difference between the interactive community and the
broadcast industry was the generation gap. It appeared
that many of the decision makers within the broadcast
industry are well into their 50's and 60's, and did not
show a particular interest to meet and develop
relationships with the interactive community. However, we
also saw that many of these individuals are being replaced
with the thirty-something, interactive-savvy crowd. This
is encouraging.
The Canadian broadcasting community has begun to
recognize that theirs is no longer a protected and self-
contained industry, and what was once outright disregard
for the interactive world has become one more of questions
and requests for clarification of the opportunity. This,
too, is encouraging.
As a first attempt at leading their members into the
interactive age, I want to applaud the CAB for taking a
chance with a membership that did not ask them to take
that chance. Only time will tell whether the convention
had the impact that was intended.
Those of us in the interactive industry need to
strike while the iron is hot. We must build upon the
foundation of cross-industry partnership laid by the CAB
and initiate discussions with the various players in the
broadcast community. The broadcasters may not be willing
to invest much today, but we know that they won't have a
choice very soon, so let's help them get there.
Adam Froman is President & CEO of MMSG, a leading
strategic interactive brand solutions company. MMSG helps
its clients grow their business and their brands using the
power and potential of interactivity, and has demonstrated
leadership in Interactive Consulting and Strategic
Planning, Interactive Marketing, Interactive Content, and
Interactive Commerce. MMSG's clients include Alliance
Atlantis, CBC New Media, EMI Music Canada, Harlequin
Enterprises, J.M. Schneider, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, and
Royal Bank.
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[-- RUSH JOB: NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES --]
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our recruiters will do their best to match you with the
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Evolved from the extensive participation of MultiMediator
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job placement activities, MultiMediator PixelScout is a
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Reach thousands of Canadian Internet professionals
with just one buy!
Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
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[-- ABOUT MULTIMEDIATOR'S BITSTREAM --]
MultiMediator's BitStream is a FREE e-mail newsletter
published every two weeks by MultiMediator - Canada's
Multimedia Guide. Each issue features news, announcements,
job listings, and other items of interest to the Canadian
multimedia community. Send your multimedia industry news
and information to mailto:bitstream@multimediator.com.
(Please do NOT send attachments.) If you contact
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you saw them in MultiMediator's BitStream.
Since 1995, more than a million people have turned to the
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Copyright 2000 MultiMediator. All rights
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Partnership. The content of BitStream may be reproduced
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