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PhD in Media Studies (PhD MS)

Critical media studies in FIMS

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Media studies at the doctoral level

Meet our media studies students.

Mars Noorani

MA Media Studies candidate.

Jelena Belenzada

Zak Bronson

PhD Media Studies candidate.

Chandell Gosse

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PhD Program in Communication, New Media & Cultural Studies

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is an innovative transdisciplinary joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS).

The programs I chose and the opportunities that came with them fuelled my curiosity, sharpened my critical thinking skills, and broadened my worldview.

Alyssa Lai '12

BA Communication Studies and Theatre and Film Studies

The benefit of a Humanities degree is that it truly prepares you for the working world

Cassandra D’Ambrosio '15

Combined Honours Communication Studies and Multimedia

The value of a Humanities degree can be transferred to a wide array of career possibilities. So, you can have confidence knowing that it will serve you well, no matter what.

Tianna Hernandez '16

Communication Studies

About the Program

The challenges we face today—social and environmental injustice, climate change, precarious work, surveillance and a shrinking public sphere—are complex and multifaceted. Among their many other dimensions, they are questions of communication and culture, which demand urgent engagement. The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is for creative students who embrace complexity, love difficult questions and believe that the problems we face today are, fundamentally, problems of communication and culture. Learning to read , critique and create culture, media and communication is critical to seeing things, and doing things, in new ways.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies (CNMCS) is a joint program between the Departments of Communication Studies and Media Arts (CSMA) and the Department of English and Cultural Studies (ECS) . Our many complementary strengths are in areas including new media arts, performance, policy, visual culture, digital culture, music/sound, gender and sexuality, critical race studies, Indigenous studies, postcolonial and diasporic studies, transnational culture and international communications, critical environmental studies, political economy, professional communication, and media analysis and strategy. The program draws faculty members from CSMA and ECS as well as other departments in the Humanities to act as supervisors of CNMCS doctoral students.

Admission Requirements

The PhD Degree Program normally entails four years of study. The admission requirement is a completed MA, MSc, MFA or Master of Communication Management (MCM.) degree in a relevant field (e.g. Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, New Media, etc.). We also welcome applications from students with a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g. Music, Digital Humanities, Visual Culture, Visual and Fine Arts, Sociology, Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies, English, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Studies, etc.) who have focused on research germane to the program and can demonstrate, in their letters of application, how their graduate work to date has prepared them for a PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies. While students must have expertise in at least one of New Media, Communication or Cultural Studies, the committee will look particularly favourably on students who have demonstrated fluency in two or more program areas. A successful applicant from an MA program with a coursework component will have grades of at least A- in two-thirds of their courses. Students whose training has not included graded coursework are encouraged to submit a dossier of work completed during their Master’s program.

Language Requirements

For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7 is required.

Application Process

The deadline for submission of completed applications (including supporting documentation) for September entry into the PhD program is January 14th. The online application system will open on November 15th for September admission. Application fees are not refundable.

Only completed applications (including supporting documentation) will be reviewed. Your application materials and supporting documents must be uploaded to the application system. Supporting documents can also be sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts via email to the Graduate Administrator at [email protected] .  If sending supporting documentation directly to the Department, please send them as PDF files in one email per the instructions listed below with the subject line “Last Name, First Name: Supporting Documents” (your name should be listed as it appears in your online application).  Alternatively, you may mail your application materials to the following address (DO NOT USE STAPLES):

Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts

c/o Graduate Administrative Assistant

Togo Salmon Hall 332

McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, ON  L8S 4M2

Documents Required:

• A completed Online Application
• Application Fee (submitted during the online application process). This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars by means of a credit or debit card payment.
• Two (2) academic recommendations from instructors most familiar with your work . Recommendations may be submitted directly via email from the referees to [email protected] , or provided via the online application system. If submitting the references by postal mail or in person, please ensure that referees have signed across the seal of the envelope. NOTE: THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM WILL PROMPT YOUR REFEREES TO SUBMIT REFERENCES. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR REFERENCES ARE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, AND TO REQUEST THOSE LETTERS PERSONALLY, IN TIME FOR LETTERS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE.  PLEASE REQUEST ALL LETTERS WELL BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.
• One ( 1 ) official transcript of all academic work completed to date (including undergraduate and graduate if applicable). Upload a scan of your transcript to the application system, and arrange to have an official transcript sent directly to the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts from the issuing institution.  If you have had the transcripts mailed to you, or you picked them up yourself from the issuing institution, they must come in a sealed envelope with the  original university seal .  If the final transcript does not show that a completed degree has been conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.  Please submit your official sealed transcripts by mail to the address listed above, or by secure e-transcript from the issuing institution to [email protected]. 
• A 500-word (two pages, double-spaced) statement of interest. The statement of interest plays an important role in our assessment of your application.  It is an opportunity to outline the thesis you propose to undertake and to present your theoretical interests, areas of critical or creative engagement, and your particular fields of emerging expertise. Your statement of interest should include the following:
• The thesis model you propose to produce;
• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography);
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films or podcasts; or
• A sandwich thesis , which, in accordance with McMaster’s Thesis Preparation Guide, must consist of a minimum of three scholarly works on a unified theme, either previously published or exhibited, submitted for peer-review, or prepared for publication/exhibition but not yet submitted (in CNMCS, these works may include journal articles submitted for peer review, or art/media/performance pieces submitted for peer-adjudication); these works must be accompanied by substantial introductory and concluding chapters, addressing the methodologies, theories and approaches that unify and inform the research. If the sandwich thesis is used for a series of research creation projects, the student will present an explanatory narrative that connects the projects and argues for their significance. The typical length of a sandwich thesis will be about 200 pages, plus bibliography.
• The objectives of your critical or creative research, including the question, problem, or issue you are interested in addressing;
• The critical debates, theoretical frameworks, creative models, artistic concepts, primary works and/or methodological approaches that will inform your thesis;
• One or more faculty members who you think might be suitable supervisors for your thesis;
• A brief reflection upon activities or experiences relevant to your research and to contributing to an engaged and engaging PhD program (i.e. community engagement activities, knowledge mobilization activities, previous experience as a research assistant or teaching assistant);
• Your motivations to pursue this program.
• Important: please list the names of your two referees and their email addresses at the end of your statement. Please submit your statement of interest to the online application system. You may also send your statement of interest as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample of your academic writing. You should submit a copy of an academic essay that you’ve written for a graduate course; the essay should demonstrate your writing abilities and your ideas. Ideally, it should be no longer than 20 pages double-spaced. Please submit your sample of writing to the online application system. You may also submit your sample of writing as a PDF file via email to [email protected] .
• A sample (or samples) of your multimedia work (if applicable). Students with a Media Arts background are strongly encouraged to submit a sample of their creative work. P lease upload your sample or work or links to your sample of work to the application system. You may also submit links to your samples of work in one PDF file to [email protected] . 
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV), preferably no longer than 2 pages.
• Evidence of competency in English: Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide an official record of the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computerized test, and 100 on the Internet-based test is required. If you are submitting the IELTS test, a score of 7.0 is required. Please upload your unofficial result to the application system and arrange to have your official score report sent by mail to the address listed above.

For any additional information about the application process, contact us at [email protected] .

Program Timelines & Milestones

Students of the program must complete 18 units of approved coursework by the end of the second year, including: 4 courses, for a total of 12 units, to be completed in year 1; and two 3-unit doctoral seminars, taken in year 1 and year 2. As part of the 4 courses to be completed in year 1, students must take at least one of either CULTR ST 732 or CMST&MM 700 (unless they have taken either course or a direct equivalent during a previous degree program). With the permission of the CNMCS Ph.D. Advisory Committee, students may take 3 units of electives from graduate courses offered by programs other than CNMCS.

Comprehensive Examination

Students in the program will be required to take the Comprehensive Examination in the area of their intended thesis research. This will involve writing two papers, a Field Survey and a Topic Paper, and defending both in an oral examination. The Field Survey should show broad expertise in the wider field of knowledge the candidate’s research will engage, i.e. one or more of the fields of Communication Studies, Cultural Studies or New Media/Media Arts. The Topic Paper describes how the candidate’s thesis intervenes in the chosen field(s) and the particular contribution it will make. Both papers are to be researched and written concurrently by the candidate, are to be between 25 and 30 double-spaced pages in length, and are due in February of the second year of study. The Oral Examination of both papers will follow within 10 days of submission. The candidate’s mark in the Comprehensive Examination will be calculated on the average of the grades for the Field Survey, the Topic Paper and the Oral Examination.

Qualifying Dossier

Over the course of their graduate study, students in the program will develop a qualifying dossier in consultation with their supervisory committee. Possible components of the qualifying dossier, of which the student will complete at least six, include:

• a grant application;
• presentation of a conference paper or artist talk;
• a revision and submission of an article or artistic piece for peer-reviewed publication or juried exhibition;
• a research ethics proposal;
• a syllabus and a teaching philosophy statement;
• an op-ed or other knowledge translation project (e.g., a blog, performance, artwork, website, new media project, etc.)
• Education 751 (offered by McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching)
• participation in four professionalization workshops (academic or non-academic), offered by ECS, CSMA, or the Faculty of Humanities
• a published book review/exhibition review in a scholarly journal
• a community-engagement project
• a guest lecture
• participation in conference organizing

Work completed as part of course requirements may be included in the dossier at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

The candidate will complete a thesis in one of the following forms:

• A traditional thesis , which will normally be between 200 and 250 pages (not including bibliography).
• A research-creation or project-based thesis , which will consist of a body of work and written commentary on that work of between 100 and 150 pages; such a thesis may involve arts-based research, or it may involve the creation of such things as tool kits, social interventions, learning platforms, databases, new media archives, documentary films, or podcasts;
• By March 1 of year 1 of the program, students will submit a short proposal (1000 words plus bibliography) for the thesis, identifying the area of their intended thesis research, for the approval of the Admissions and Review Committee. 
• With the guidance of their supervisory committee and their peers in the year 2 doctoral seminar, students will develop a long proposal (10-15 pages plus bibliography), to be submitted for approval by August 31 of year 2.  
• Years 3 and 4 of the degree will be dedicated to the completion of the thesis, which must be defended in an oral examination.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

The McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) is the most common form of scholarship support available to graduate students in our program. The MGS ensures that students receive a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship support. Adjustments to the MGS will depend on other available scholarships.

The Faculty of Humanities Adjustments guidelines policy is available for review.

REVIEW THE POLICY

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Research your passion in Communication and New Media with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER GRAD STUDENTS

Learn about our PhD program students.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD Course Listings

The following is a list of all courses included as potential offerings in CNMCS. Aside from the required courses, course offerings change regularly from one academic year to the next.

• CNMCS 700 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies 1 (required)
• CNMCS 701 / Doctoral Seminar in Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies 2 (required)
• CMST&MM 702 / Media and Social Issues
• CMST&MM 703 / New Media Studio Topics
• CMST&MM 705 / Digital Media and Cultural Exchange
• CMST&MM 706 / Technologies of Communication
• CMST&MM 707 / Theoretical Issues in Media, Culture and Communication
• CMST&MM 708 / Selected Topics in Communication and New Media
• CMST&MM 710 / International Communication
• CMST&MM 714 / Feminism, Technology and Science
• CMST&MM 715 / Cultural Memory, the Media, and “Us”
• CMST&MM 716 / Critical Perspectives on Documentary
• CMST&MM 717 / Youth, New Media and Culture
• CMST&MM 718 / Critical Approaches to Communication Policy & Law
• CMST&MM 719 / Media and Mimesis: Installation and Performance Media
• CMST&MM 720 / Data Cultures
• CMST&MM 721 / Alternative Media Forms in Africa
• CMST&MM 722 / Beyoncé Studies: Creativity, Celebrity, and Activism
• CMST&MM 723 / Islam, Feminisms and Global Media
• CMST&MM 724 / Visions of Extinction: What the End Looks Like From Here
• CMST&MM 725 / Theory, Race, and Power
• CMST&MM 726 / Media, Sustainability, and Climate Justice
• CMST&MM 727 / Cultural Production and the Environment
• CMST&MM 728 / Critical Hope in Times of Protracted Crises
• CMST&MM 731 / Crisis Management and Communication
• CULTR ST 708 / Selfie/Culture
• CULTR ST 710 / Decolonial, Anti-Racist, and Anti-Oppressive Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning Otherwise
• CULTR ST 711 / Celebrity/Culture
• CULTR ST 712 / Queer, Two-Spirit, & Trans- Indigenous Writings
• CULTR ST 716 / Bob Dylan and American Culture: Memory, Consciousness and Meaning
• CULTR ST 717 / Global Sex
• CULTR ST 721 / Writing, Land, and Place
• CULTR ST 725 / Romanticism, War, and Peace
• CULTR ST 729 / Cultural Studies and the Politics of Cultural Pedagogy
• CULTR ST 730 / Indigenous Literature of North America
• CULTR ST 731 / Anxiety Disorders: The Cultural Politics of Risk
• CULTR ST 734 / Appropriation and Canadian Literature: History, Theory, Controversies
• CULTR ST 742 / Mapping South Asian Masculinities
• CULTR ST 743 / Reimagining Nature: Science and Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 746 / American Counterculture Literature, 1950-1990: Beat, Hippie, Punk
• CULTR ST 747 / Discourses of Empire 1700-1820
• CULTR ST 748 / Last Things: Life and Death in the Anthropocenes
• CULTR ST 749 / Getting and Spending: The Birth of Consumer Culture
• CULTR ST 750 / Gothic, Sensation and Victorian Discourses of the Body
• CULTR ST 752 / Trans-Atlantic Indigeneity: Indigenous Literary Presence in Europe
• CULTR ST 755 / Neoliberalism and the Limits of the Social
• CULTR ST 756 / The Secret Life of Things in the Eighteenth Century
• CULTR ST 757 / Gender, Civility, and Courtliness in Early Modern Europe
• CULTR ST 758 / Literature as Witness
• CULTR ST 759 / Victorian Natures
• CULTR ST 761 / Framing CanLit
• CULTR ST 762 / Queer Historicisms and British Cultural Memory
• CULTR ST 765 / Biopolitics: An Introduction
• CULTR ST 767 / Regarding Animals: Theories of Non-Human Life
• CULTR ST 770 / Queer Caribbean Writing: Sex, Gender, Politics
• CULTR ST 773 / “Revolt and Remember”: Resilience in the Postcolonial Environmental Humanities
• CULTR ST 775 / Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture
• CULTR ST 776 / Community Engaged Narrative Arts
• CULTR ST 779 / The Times We Live In
• CULTR ST 780 / Engendering the (Queer, Trans, Non-Binary) Transnational Early Modern Stage: Then and Now
• CULTR ST 781 / Public Mourning in Canada: What Makes a Life Grievable?
• CULTR ST 782 / Seed Stories of Black and Indigenous Survivance
• CULTR ST 785 / Migratory Routes: Indian Diasporic Fiction and Film
• CULTR ST 791 / Rethinking Politics: Thinking Past War, Democracy, and Terror

Course Outlines

Graduate course outlines will be posted at the beginning of the semester, where possible. In cases where current outlines are not available, outlines from previous offerings have been posted. Please note that the content and format of a course may vary significantly from one semester to another. Course offerings rotate regularly and therefore some elective courses may not have recent course outlines available.

Graduate Course Timetables

The timetables for graduate courses in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts are generally finalized over the summer, in order to accommodate teaching assistant schedules and other logistical requirements. Please note that the schedule may be subject to change, particularly in the case of instructors who are teaching virtual courses.

Students admitted to the MA and PhD Programs in Communication and New Media generally receive an entrance scholarship and a Teaching Assistantship, or funding-in-lieu of the TAship. Entrance scholarship amounts vary and are normally determined by the MA or PhD Graduate Committee at the time of admission.

The university also has various bursaries and scholarships. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Graduate students wishing to travel to research, exhibit, perform, or present at academic conferences may be eligible for financial support from the the Graduate Students Association (GSA), Communication Studies and Media Arts department, their supervisor, and/or other travel funds, awards, bursaries, and scholarships, subject to the availability of funds. For more information, contact your supervisor and [email protected] .  Also, visit the School of Graduate Studies Scholarship information page and click on ‘travel’ for a list of available resources

Students considering graduate school are encouraged to research scholarships well in advance because some external scholarship applications are due even before the student has been accepted to graduate school. Depending on a student’s area of interest, grades and overall profile, external scholarships may be available through a variety of sources, including government agencies and the private sector. The scholarships listed below are the ones most commonly held by MA and PhD students in Ontario. 

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school in Canada.

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship

The deadline for SSHRC applications is usually in the fall. Applications can be made directly to SSHRC or through your institution.

• Program Handbook
• Thesis Defence
• Graduate Calendar
• School of Graduate Studies Graduate Resources
• Faculty of Humanities Adjustments Guidelines

All students admitted to the MA in Communication and New Media and PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies are awarded a teaching assistantship or a financially-equivalent award (e.g. a research assistantship). The teaching assistantship is not only a significant part of the funding package for our students but also an important opportunity for professionalization. There are training sessions for TAs at the start of the academic year, and both TAs and RAs gain ongoing mentorship from their faculty supervisors. 

Students are usually assigned two TAships: one in the fall term and the other in the winter term. Each TAship is 130 hours (averaging 10 hours per week). Assignments are based on students’ interests and experience (as communicated in a questionnaire distributed over the summer), and the department’s teaching needs. Faculty supervisors are responsible for the design and delivery of the course; the responsibilities of TAs include leading tutorials, meeting with students, and participating in assessment. Some TAs have a “marker” role; markers do not lead tutorials but, rather, assist with other aspects of content delivery and evaluation. 

A research assistantship is an excellent way for students to enhance their learning about the research process and to work closely with a faculty mentor.

There are two kinds of research assistantships for MA and PhD students. The first is an RA-in-lieu, which is given in place of a TAship. RA-in-lieu positions are for the same number of hours as a TAship (130 hours per semester in the fall and winter terms) and paid at the same rate as a TAship.

The second type of research assistantship is supplemental to a student’s main TAship or RAship. Students may be hired for a supplemental RAship on an ad hoc basis, usually to assist with faculty research. These supplemental RAships are sometimes offered to incoming students or are advertised to current students. The rate of pay and duties are set out in a contract, and RAs must submit hours of work forms on a bi-weekly basis. One final note: the number of hours that graduate students may work per year is capped at 505 hours; the hours worked for both the standard TAship/RA-in-lieu and any supplemental RAship count toward this number.

The PhD Teaching Fellowships are an exciting opportunity for PhD students in the Humanities to develop and teach their own undergraduate course. Teaching Fellows also participate in mentoring at both the faculty and departmental level.

PhD students become eligible for a teaching fellowship after they successfully submit their long thesis proposal. Usually, they are able to apply at the end of their third year to teach a course in their fourth year.

Near the end of winter term, available courses are shared with eligible students. Applications should include a cover letter explaining their experience and abilities for teaching the course; a maximum two-page explanation of their approach to teaching the course and a CV.

Teaching assistants are key partners in the classroom who benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing training in pedagogy. In recognition of the fact that the learning environment is constantly changing, our Instructional Committee maintains a course shell on Avenue that contains information regarding resources on campus, rights and responsibilities of TAs as well as supervisors, diversity and inclusion, approaches to managing questions and challenges in the classroom, grading and more. Current teaching assistants all have access to this course shell. An initial orientation is also held before classes commence.

McMaster is home to a vibrant student body, including highly engaged graduate students. The Graduate Students Association serves and represents graduate students across campus, providing a number of resources and services. Graduate students are encouraged to get involved with the GSA and to participate in the many events they organize throughout the year.

Many scholarly associations also have special committees or student groups that organize events, offer discounted fees or provide conference funding specifically for graduate students. One example is the  Canadian Communication Association  but there are many others, nationally and internationally.

The PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies equips students with skills that are crucial for our digital, knowledge-based economy. These include advanced research skills appropriate for work in the policy, not-for-profit and education sectors; high-level cultural, social and digital literacies; knowledge of and ability to innovate in modes and methods of communication; and the capacity for analyzing and engaging complex systems and problems.

CNMCS can prepare students for work in a wide range of sectors not only including education, but also the public service, the arts and the private sector. Since our founding in 2016, each cohort has been diverse in terms of background and interests, and accordingly, we expect that our graduates will follow very different paths.

PAST PhD THESIS PROJECTS

Stay tuned for when our first cohort of PhD students will graduate!

Department Life

Our program benefits from the close interaction between faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students. Graduate students participate in many aspects of departmental life, as teaching assistants and sometimes as assistants in research initiatives headed by faculty members. Graduate students are encouraged to attend events by visiting speakers across the university and are given opportunities, where possible, to perform and deliver guest lectures, and attend invited talks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Graduate Certificates and Diplomas

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma. Application for the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program. Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

Available Gender Studies and Feminist Research Graduate Diploma

Students in our doctoral program are eligible to participate in the Graduate Diploma (PhD) in Gender and Social Justice. Application for the Graduate Diploma is normally made after the first year of doctoral study for entry into the program during the student’s second year of the PhD Program.  Occasionally, students may be allowed to begin the Graduate Diploma in their third year of the PhD, but no later.

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PhD in Cinema & Media Studies

The PhD in Cinema & Media Studies is a dynamic program in which students pursue innovative and interdisciplinary research into the full range of sound and moving image media practices and traditions.

Each year the program selects a small group of exceptional students who will join a lively intellectual community at York University, attend innovative research events, and receive close attention from faculty supervisors.

We welcome applicants with educational backgrounds in Film Studies, Media Studies, Communications, Cultural Studies, Art History, English, Women’s Studies, Queer and Sexuality Studies, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Education, History, Area Studies, and other disciplines that nurture theoretical, historical and critical frameworks of research in sound and moving image media, including research-creation. Two of our students are profiled in the FGS Knowledge Now series:

Michaela Pnacekova

Aaron Tucker

Domestic PHD students receive more than $24,000/year along with healthcare benefits and other forms of research support. With York University’s emphasis on access in higher education, our graduate students pay the lowest graduate tuition in Ontario.

In recent years, most Cinema & Media Studies (CMS) PhD students have received additional funding through awards like SSHRC Doctoral Awards ($20K & $35K/year), Elia Scholars Award ($30K/year), GFAD ($20K/year), OGS ($15,000/year), and Susan Crocker and John Hunkin Scholarship in the Fine Arts ($12,500/year), in part due to the Program's emphasis on strong professional development, including grant writing.

Three current CMS PhD students hold Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships ($50K/year), Canada's top award for graduate student academic and leadership excellence, Alison Humphrey , Claudia Sicondolfo and Debbie Ebanks Schlums .

Our renowned faculty , who number among Canada’s finest cinema and media studies researchers and practitioners, offer a diverse selection of courses and in-depth mentoring that provide students with a core formation in the critical, theoretical, and historical analysis of a broad range of cinema and contemporary media. Faculty members pursue wide-ranging research in cinema and cultural theory, media technologies, archives, documentary and experimental film and media, digital media (including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and film history. York University’s mission of social justice is reflected in the Program’s strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in relation to the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, Indigeneity, and ability.

Many of our faculty pursue interdisciplinary research methodologies, including research creation. Four faculty members are current or former Canada Research Chairs and all of our faculty participate actively in international and Canadian conferences and publications.

Teaching, publication, and professional academic development are key components of this minimum four-year degree. After completing course work and comprehensive exams, students write a research dissertation that makes a decisive intervention in the discipline. Several students incorporate research creation as part of their courses and dissertations.

The PhD prepares students for academic and research careers in cinema and media studies and related fields like cultural and visual studies and communications research. Students’ highly developed historical and contemporary knowledge of cinema and media work is applicable to careers in the arts, entertainment and other media-related research areas.

PhD students benefit from York University’s rich tradition of being at the vanguard of interdisciplinary research, social justice, knowledge mobilization and emerging technology, and directly participate in the many research-intensive initiatives and media labs housed in the School of Arts, Performance, Media and Design (AMPD) and across campus:

• Sensorium: Centre for Digital Arts and Technology Research
• Archive/Counter-Archive
• VISTA & Centre for Vision Research
• Future Cinema Lab

The Graduate Program in Film at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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• Doctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies (PhD)
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Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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The Ph.D. program offers students the opportunity to pursue Cinema and Media Studies through coursework, comprehensive exams, a viva, and a dissertation project. Students are expected to give primary attention to an area of expertise of their choice while training in the broader theoretical, critical, and historical contexts of the chosen field.  

Faculty research specialties include strengths in contemporary cinemas and media culture, one that highlights media and film theory, cult cinema, documentary studies, early cinema, feminist and post-feminist media studies, American, Canadian and European cinemas, television studies, and sound studies. There are particular strengths in contemporary Anglophone cinema and television products and cultures within a global context. Our students occasionally engage with professors and students in our renowned directing, design and film production graduate programs.

We accept up to two students per year, and we strongly urge applicants to consider whether their project matches our faculty’s past expertise or current research interests.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

B.C.’s favourable position as a hub for the international film and media production industry allows opportunities for research topics and case studies not easily available elsewhere.

As a selective boutique program, we provide close mentorship of all accepted students. We are usually able to provide teaching assistant experience to PhD. students in our large first and second year undergraduate courses. At the ABD stage, students may have the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course. Graduate students have the opportunity to work on the film studies journal Cinephile. The Visual Resources Centre provides access to nearly 10,000 DVDs. The Centre for Cinema and Media Studies in the Department occasionally sponsors visiting scholars. UBC has the second largest research library in Canada, including the 30,000 Videomatica collection, a unique resource.

I decided to join UBC primarily due to my, now, supervisor who is an exceptional scholar of media and audience reception. Other secondary reasons were the beautiful scenery of BC, the modern and diverse culture of Vancouver and of course the proposed funding.

Gerrit Krueper

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Master's degree in Cinema Studies, Film Studies or Media Studies.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research focus.

With strengths in contemporary cinemas and media culture, the current faculty offer a program that highlights media and film theory, cult cinema, documentary studies, feminist and post-feminist media studies, American, Canadian and European cinemas, television studies, and sound studies. There are particular strengths in contemporary Anglophone cinema and television products and cultures within a global context.

Research Facilities

UBC Library is the home of the 30,000 plus Videomatica collection recently purchased and catalogued, a unique resource.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 5 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 5 students was $12,140.
• 4 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 4 students was $3,338.
• 2 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 2 students was $1,489.
• 5 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 5 students was $22,582.
• 1 student received external awards valued at $35,000.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

Career options.

We expect graduates to find employment in the teaching sector at both college and university level; in administrative posts for cultural producers, such as for Electronic games, Film and TV production companies; in research positions covering cultural policy development, such as at Creative BC, Telefilm, NFB, or the provincial or federal civil service; in journalism, freelance writing, cinematheque curation management; various posts in the field of marketing communications for both corporations and non-profits.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Brown, William (film-philosophy, digital media, posthumanism, critical race theory)
• Coulthard, Lisa (film theory and violence; film sound and violence, contemporary American and European cinemas, continental philosophy and Lacanian theory)
• Frackman, Kyle (Cinema studies; Media studies (except social media and digital media); Literature and literary studies; Cultural studies; queer studies; German studies; media studies; history of sexuality; sexuality; sexuality studies; East Germany; film; Gender Studies; history of science; literature; Media; Media Types (Radio, Television, Written Press, etc.); Scandinavia)
• Iurascu, Ilinca (Comparative literatures; Theories of cultural studies; Media, visual and digital culture; German literature; Comparative Literature; Cultural Studies; media theory; Media history; critical theory; film studies)
• Johnston, Kirsty (Dramatic literature and theatre history with particular interest in disability arts and intersections between health, disability and performance )
• Karwowska, Bozena (Sexuality, Body and Gender in Nazi Concentration Camps)
• Laird, Colleen (Japanese media and gender studies; Gendered image production, gendered reception, and women in industry; Video games, new media, streaming media, animation (anime), and comics (manga); Paratexts: distribution, exhibition, and production materials; Film theory, genre theory, transnational cinemas and star texts, and feminist and queer theory)
• Liu, Siyuan (twentieth century Chinese theatre and Asian Canadian theatre)
• Malakaj, Ervin (Literature and literary studies; German studies; German Film Studies; German Media Studies; German Media History; Queer Theory and Queer Studies; Feminist and Queer Film Historiography; Critical Pedagogy)
• Marshall, Christopher Warren (Cinema studies; Classical Greek and Ancient Rome history; Classical archaeology; Classical linguistics; Film, television and digital media; Religion and religious studies; Literary or Artistic Works Analysis; Performance and Theatrical Productions)
• Marshall, Hallie (Performing arts; Ancient Greek Theatre; Arts and Cultural Traditions; Classics; Contemporary British Theatre; Cultural Industries; History of the Book; Literary or Artistic Work Dissemination or Reception Contexts; Performance and Theatrical Productions; Poetry; Reception Studies; Religion, Culture and Space; Theatre; Tony Harrison)
• Mathijs, Ernest (film, alternative cinema, independent cinema, European cinema, horror film, David Cronenberg, film audiences, film festivals, censorship, fantasy film, Lord of the Rings, Film studies)
• Mota, Miguel (Post-1945 British literature, print culture)
• Orbaugh, Sharalyn (modern Japanese culture (literature, film, manga, animation, kamishibai); East Asian women’s issues; anti-racist pegagogy, Japanese narrative and visual culture)
• Rea, Christopher (Chinese literatures; Asian history; Chinese literature; Cinema; Print culture; translation; Humor)
• Santos, Alessandra (Cinema studies; Film, television and digital media; Latin American history; Latin American literatures; Spanish language; Artistic and Literary Analysis Models; Artistic and Literary Theories; Arts and Cultural Traditions; Arts and Technologies; Brazilian Literature and Culture; Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies; Latin American Literatures and Cultures; Modern and Contemporary Literatures and Cultures)
• Scholte, Tom (Theatre, film, and television)
• Smith, Tai (History of art and architecture; Art theory and analysis; Visual theory, visual culture and visual literacy; Arts and Technologies; Economical Contexts; Gender; media theory; Modern and Contemporary Art and Design; Politics of Media and Mediation; Textiles)
• Testa, Carlo (Italian literature, history of cinema, theory/film studies )
• Tomc, Sandra (Nineteenth-century US literature, twentieth- century US entertainment and film, gothic literature and film, screenwriting, affect and psychoanalytic theory, fear and horror, film and image theory)
• Walsh, Shannon (Media arts; Critical identity, ethnic and race studies; Social and cultural anthropology; South Africa; Afropessimism & Critical Race Studies; Documentary; Film Production; Indigenous studies; Environmental justice; Affect Theory)
• Zuo, Mila (Cinema & Media studies; film studies; Contemporary Asian and transnational cinemas; Film philosophy; Acting and performance studies; Star studies; Digital and new media; Critical theories of gender, sexuality, and race and ethnicity)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies (MA)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Theatre (MA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

The Cinema and Media Studies research specializes in contemporary cinemas and media culture, cult cinema, documentary studies, feminist and post-feminist media studies and sound studies among many others.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Gabrielle Berry

After completing my Master’s, I decided to stay at UBC to continue to work with my wonderful and supportive supervisor Lisa Coulthard. As a member of the first PhD cohort of the program, the small cohort has led to great connection and comradery, and I am constantly inspired by the incredible...

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PhD programs

Take a deep dive into the topic you love with a phd, at the university of ottawa, you can:.

• Join a select community of researchers and work in state-of-the-art labs – uOttawa is ranked among the top 10 research universities in Canada.
• Study in the heart of the nation’s capital, a bilingual and multicultural setting where networks of senior stakeholders take action on major issues and influence decisions.
• Receive considerable financial support.

“One of the reasons I chose the University of Ottawa is for its multidisciplinary or multi-university thesis committees available to students in their first year of doctoral studies.”

Valérie Costanzo, LL.B., LL.M., lawyer, PhD candidate

Explore ways to finance your doctoral studies

The University of Ottawa has many scholarships or financial support options available to you. As a doctoral candidate, there is also the option to earn money while gaining valuable experience through teaching and research assistantships.

“Supervising doctoral students is a privilege: it allows for the discovery of new research challenges and for the development of sustainable relationships.”

Emmanuelle Bernheim, LL.D., PhD, Full professor, Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section

Take the next step

Check admission requirements

Apply for admission

PhD in Media and Design Innovation

The PhD in Media & Design Innovation is a one-of-a-kind doctoral program for scholars and practitioners in media, design and creative disciplines.

A unique, creative practice program

Placing creativity at the heart of learning, the program is designed specifically for innovative makers and scholar-practitioners. Graduates of the Media & Design Innovation program are trained to be intellectually agile creative professionals with a strong capacity for in-depth innovation and problem-solving.

Explore Our Innovative Curriculum

Find out how you will be challenged in each year of the program.

Meet The Creative School Faculty

Explore the diverse range of topics and find your potential supervisor.

Attend an Information Session

Learn more about the program and get answers to pressing questions.

Prepare Your Application Package

Ready to apply? Find important information on how to apply.

Practice-Based Methodology

The PhD in Media & Design Innovation is made for those who are interested in exploring research questions through practice — raising relevant questions and producing demonstrable solutions through creative projects and contextual writing.

The program offers tremendous flexibility for students to explore all areas of the creative industries — from practicing and planning to prototype — while tapping into a broad base of expertise. Successful applicants will create and disseminate in their chosen creative medium, as well as produce a written analysis of their research project. Students can collaborate with industry professionals and explore emerging technologies in their fields.

Sample areas of research & creative practice

• Developing new models of journalistic dissemination
• Curation & contemporary exhibition practices
• Experimental Modes of Storytelling & user interaction
• Designing digital applications for industry & government service
• Digital fashion design & fabrication
• Creative technology development & prototypingn

Access to a creative ecosystem

Drawing on innovative and collaborative approaches, the PhD in Media & Design Innovation is enhanced through unparalleled access to The Creative School's creative ecosystem in the heart of downtown Toronto. Connect with leading scholars and creative minds through The Creative School's world-class research centres, state-of-the-art labs, incubators, and global hubs. And, complete an optional internship in a field related to the proposed research project.

Upcoming Events

You belong at the creative school.

As a student in the Media & Design Innovation PhD program, you'll be part of The Creative School , a dynamic faculty offering 27 degree programs in media, design and creative industries. Through global experiences and transdisciplinary opportunities, our students emerge as some of the most in demand and employable graduates anywhere.

Ready to apply?

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Computational Media Design

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

Are you a creative thinker with a passion for art and technology? Do you refuse to be bound by convention? Computational Media Design is a leading-edge program designed for students innovating at the intersection of art, music, dance, drama, design and computer science. This research-based degree is offered jointly through the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science; School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape; and Department of Art, Department of English, and School of Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts.  In the expanding world of multimedia and design, there is an increasing need for graduates who are equipped to handle complex projects that combine computing expertise with the creative energies of artists and designers. The CMD program prepares students to answer this emerging need. Admission is highly competitive, and only the most promising applicants are selected.

Completing this program

• Research Methodology Course: This course can be from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Computer Science, Art, Dance, Drama, English or Music.
• Additional Courses: Two graduate-level courses from Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Art, Dance, Drama, English and/or Music and three additional graduate-level courses.
• Research / Body of Work: The student will prepare original research and/or a creative practice body of work, appropriately scoped for a PhD.
• Computer Science: Two Computer Science graduate-level courses.
• Candidacy: Candidacy requires preparation of an approved reading list, a research proposal and both oral and written exams.
• Thesis: Students are required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specialization

• Wearable Technology (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

Game design and development, film, TV, web design, simulation, training, networking, interactive media, public displays, and mobile and wearable computing, dance, music, theatre and the visual arts. Academic careers as post doctoral fellow, lecturer, professor or researcher.

A PhD in computational media design is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Eight courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time; six years maximum

Co-Supervision is required

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

John Aycock

Bruce Barton

Mario Costa Sousa

Patrick Finn

Helen Ai He

Gerald Hushlak

Christian Jacob

Thomas P, (Tom) Keenan

Admission Requirements

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A master's degree from a recognized institution.

Work samples

A portfolio of up to 10 examples of research and creative work. Any combination of academic publications/reports, images, video, audio, musical scores, documentation of installations, written works. URL can be provided if upload isn't possible via application system.

• One-page statement of interest (not a research proposal) in an area of interdisciplinary research of computer science alongside art, dance, drama, design, or music

Reference letters

Two reference letters

Test scores

Additional requirements.

Applicants must show a demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary research in art, dance, drama, design or music and computer science.

English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt)  score of 105 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 7.5 (minimum of 7.0 in each section)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 59, or higher (Academic version).
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)  
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  score of A- in each course.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 200.

For admission on September 1:

• May 1 for Applications
• June 1 for Documents
• January 15 for Early Applications
• March 1 for Applications
• March 15 for Documents

For admission on January 1:

• Canadians and permanent residents: Sept.23 application deadline
• International students: Sept.23 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of computational media design.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 602 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, ABT2N 4V8 403.220.3528

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Biological Sciences, Room 540 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, ABT2N 1N4

Visit their website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Thesis-based PhD

Architecture

Course-based March

Thesis-based MFA

Computer Science

Thesis-based MSc

Environmental Design

Thesis-based MEDes

Thesis-based MA

Thesis-based MMus

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Upfronts 2024: NBCU touts its experience with ad supported streaming

Phd's jeremy johnston shares how the broadcaster is focusing on a wide portfolio of both streaming and traditional tv offerings..

This week, MiC has enlisted execs from the Canadian media industry to offer their insights on the big programming and advertising announcements coming out of the 2024 Upfronts in New York. Today, Jeremy Johnston, reports on NBCU’s slate of new and returning programs. 

After the last few years of disruptions leading into the Upfront season, NBCU did some disrupting of its own to kick of this year’s event. NBCUniversal showed major love for its film division, primarily the highly anticipated Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-led Wicked , during its 2024 upfront presentation Monday (May 13). While not the traditional venue for touting upcoming films, the move was a natural moment for displaying synergy – something NBCU tried to hit home throughout its presentation.

For the 2024 Upfront market, many expect more dollars to move to streaming offerings in the wake of continuing subscriber growth from ad-supported streaming services. As part of NBCUniversal’s pitch this year, it’s promoting the fact that it launched Peacock with advertising features built in from the start – rather than retrofitting it to support an AVOD model. For comparison, Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ all avoided advertising to start and have now launched ad-supported offerings as a method of growth, and to capture more revenue. But for NBCU, having a mature product in the market isn’t enough to guarantee ad budgets. NBCU must also demonstrate progress in meeting a marketer’s needs.

One of the top needs being demanded by advertisers and agencies is using advanced audiences as opposed to just demos. NBCU’s position is straight-forward. Streaming doesn’t drive nearly the same daily reach as linear and streaming combined, which is why it’s pitching both to advertisers as a combined portfolio. The company is still seeing ratings increase on linear programming, a good indicator that there’s still a real audience there. Using these advanced audiences will work better and drive even more results for advertisers.

As the industry moves towards a more blended vision, NBCU noted that a better ad experience for viewers equals more ad revenue. Period. Noting that NBCU prioritizes having a low ad load, including within individual commercial breaks, Peacock has no more than three ads per pod. Consumers are more receptive to minimal ad loads, and these restrictions on ad avails can also benefit advertisers. Separation at the pod level helps boost brand awareness, which increases a brand’s return on ad spend.

The Olympics will be a huge event for the broadcaster once again. And NBCU will also offer audiences new capabilities on Peacock as the company looks to beef up its streaming service before a period of heavy consumer use. Peacock Live Actions allow viewers to design their schedules with “choose your own adventure” type prompts, while the Peacock Discovery Multiview experience will be a key feature during the busy Olympics period.

The company is also looking to add a new way to engage with consumers who already have their remotes and mobile devices in their hands – offering an expanded shoppable integration. The company is expanding its AI-powered, Walmart-fulfilled Must Shop TV to six franchises and piloting a partnership with Comcast’s Xfinity X1 that lets consumers shop for the exact items they see on Top Chef . During the Olympics, NBCU will also roll out Virtual Concessions, which encourages viewers to purchase beverages and snacks in advance of sporting events and TV binges.

As viewers start to become accustomed to using their TV remotes for more than just pressing play, NBCU sees opportunity in providing these shoppable ad units. It’s reminding advertisers that consumers don’t necessarily have to buy something the second they see a shoppable ad for it to drive real business results. Oftentimes, people buy something they see on TV several hours, or even days later . Being able to target this behaviour is a great way for brands to stand out from the clutter.

NBCU’s schedule for the 2024 season doesn’t look that different from its current lineup: The Voice on Monday and Tuesday nights, the three Chicago dramas on Wednesday and Law & Order shows on Thursday. It’s a business-as-usual lineup, with proven performers – which after last year’s strikes-affected schedule and the numerous disruptions of the pandemic year of 2020-21, that’s a good thing.

NBC will have four comedies on the air in the fall. This is the first time this has happened since the pre-pandemic season of 2019-20. Two of them are newcomers: mockumentary St. Denis Medical , a holdover from last year’s development cycle from Superstore . It will pair with Night Court on Tuesday nights, and the Reba McEntire-led Happy’s Place (pictured) will join Lopez vs. Lopez on Fridays.

The network’s other new series for fall is the medical drama Brilliant Minds , which stars Zachary Quinto as a neurologist leading a team of doctors who explore the human mind. It’s inspired by the life and work of physician and author Oliver Sacks. Brilliant Minds will follow The Voice on Monday nights, while last fall’s 10 p.m. Monday show, The Irrational , moves one night over to Tuesdays. Second-year drama Found will follow Law & Order: SVU on Thursdays now that L&O: Organized Crime is moving to Peacock.

NBC will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live with a three-hour primetime special on Feb. 16.

With the Olympics, Saturday Night Liv e’s 50th anniversary season, news programming in an election year and a number of hit scripted and unscripted shows, NBCU’s goal was clear – remind partners about their full portfolio, as well as the fact that, as the television landscape continues to evolve, it has the tools to reflect the change that is happening.

Jeremy Johnston , Mark Lazarus , NBCU , Upfronts 2024

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