CBC Revenue Group

CBC/Radio-Canada Partners with Canadian Broadcast Sales

Aug 19, 2013

The CBC/Radio-Canada Revenue Group today announced an agreement with Canada's largest national radio sales organization, Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS), to represent sales for CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique. Canadian Broadcast Sales will work with the sales and marketing teams at CBC and Radio-Canada to sell advertising inventory on both services, which will begin airing this fall. In Quebec, Espace musique will be represented by Groupe Force Radio, a CBS partner. CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique showcase the best in Canadian music across a multitude of genres in English and French.

"We are pleased to be working with Canadian Broadcast Sales," said Alan Dark, general manager, CBC Revenue Group. "I'm confident that by working closely with our team at CBC and through their unmatched experience in radio advertising sales, together we will deliver to our clients a streamlined and effective way to access the new advertising opportunities we are creating for CBC Radio 2.

"Espace musique enhances Radio-Canada's TV, web and mobile offering with a premium-quality selection of rich and diverse content," said Jean Mongeau, general manager of the Radio-Canada Revenue Group. "CBS is a large-scale prestigious firm with whom we share the same objectives, and it will ensure solid coordination of our dealings with our business clientele. This in turn will help us better align the CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique marketing strategies - a clear advantage on which we hope to fully capitalize."

"The CBC has always produced outstanding on-air product and CBC Radio2 and Espace Musique are prime examples," said Patrick Grierson, president, Canadian Broadcast Sales. "The unique environment will offer a largely exclusive audience that is well above average in both education and affluence. Espace musique and CBC Radio 2 will also operate with a very limited commercial inventory. It is qualities such as these and many others that make CBC Radio2 and Espace musique a highly desirable commercial environment. CBS is excited and honoured to have been chosen to represent these very special Canadian networks."

CBC also announced that Jennifer Smith has been appointed national sales director for CBC Radio 2. In this newly created role, Smith will be the key liaison for CBC Radio 2 with Canadian Broadcast Sales and clients, and will work collaboratively with CBS in developing innovative sales initiatives for the service. An experienced sales executive with more than 23 years in the industry, Smith will also continue in her current position, director of sales & marketing, western Canada, a role she has held for the past five years with the CBC Revenue Group.

Reneault Poliquin, in his current responsibilities with the Radio-Canada Revenue Group as Senior Director, Mdias Sales Development, will be the key liaison between CBS, Groupe Force Radio and Radio-Canada clients for Espace musique.

Further details for clients about advertising opportunities on CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique will be announced in the coming weeks.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

About Canadian Broadcast Sales
Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS) is the largest national radio sales organization in Canada. Our collective market presence reaches 77% of Canada's total population. We represent 53 broadcasters and more than 470 radio stations (including repeaters) in over 230 Canadian markets. CBS streamlines the radio buying process by offering advertisers a simple, convenient and cost-effective method to purchase airtime on radio stations across the country. We manage and direct radio station objectives and expectations. We understand market conditions and are skilled in developing and implementing sales strategies to fit market dynamics. With our breadth of stations we are well positioned to meet any marketing requirements.

Media Contacts:
CBC - Chris Ball, chris.ball@cbc.ca, 416-205-7831
Radio-Canada - Marc Pichette, mark.pichette@radio-canada.ca, 514-597-4342
Canadian Broadcast Sales - Patrick Grierson, patrick@radiocbs.com, 416-847-3838