TORONTO – Rogers, Bell, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) have banded together to file a complaint with the CRTC alleging that CTV has violated the Broadcasting Act by airing a “one-sided and unbalanced coverage” of its own advocacy campaign.
As reported by Cartt.ca, CTV has been promoting its ‘Save Local TV’ campaign across its television properties in an apparent attempt to pressure the government and the CRTC for fee-for-carriage. But incorporating the campaign into their local newscasts violates the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters own Code of Ethics, say the group of BDUs.
"While we…
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TORONTO – CTV has, predictably, refuted the allegations made by Rogers and other BDUs regarding its ‘Save Local TV’ public advocacy campaign.
In a statement sent late on Friday afternoon, the network said it has remained in “full compliance” with both the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Code of Ethics, and called the complaint by the BDUs an “underhanded move by cable and satellite companies” and “an abuse of process designed to suppress freedom of speech and mislead the public”.
"The fact that the first we’re hearing about this is through a Rogers’ press release and still…
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CLARENVILLE, NL – EastLink is offering local telephone service and Internet to residents in the area of greater Clarenville, Newfoundland.
After entering the Newfoundland & Labrador market in April 2008, the Halifax-based company has completed a $1.3 million network upgrade which it says will impact the communities of Adeytown, Birchy Cove, Bloomfield, Bunyan’s Cove, Butter Cove, Canning’s Cove, Caplin Cove, Charlottetown, Clarenville, Come By Chance, Deep Bight, Dunfield, Elliott’s Cove, Georges Brook, Greenspond, Goose Cove, Gooseberry Cove, Hickman’s Harbour, Hillview, Hodge’s Cove, Ivany’s Cove, King’s Cove, Lady Cove, Lethbridge, Little Hearts Ease, Lumsden, Milton, Musgravetown, Newmans Cove, North West Brook, Plate…
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BRIDGETOWN, NS – After completing an extensive network upgrade, EastLink has rolled out telephone and Internet services plus more digital cable in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.
"This $600,000 investment allows EastLink to offer expanded services in Bridgetown, while providing residents choice and value in communications and entertainment services," said Owen Barnhill, national director of marketing, in a press release. "It also demonstrates our continued investment in the province, and shows that EastLink is committed to providing even more Nova Scotians with our great line-up of services."
Halifax-based EastLink said that it is continually working to upgrade its digital network to deliver a…
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HALIFAX – As EastLink introduces itself to former Persona customers in Ontario and Quebec, it will evaluate the regions and individual markets on a case by case basis before determining which new products and services to roll out.
And that process will include taking a close look at what local competitors are offering, be it local telephone service or faster Internet speeds, EastLink’s national director of marketing Owen Barnhill told Cartt.ca shortly after last week’s announcement.
“Consumer demand and competitors’ offerings will both be considered,” he said in the telephone interview. “We will not paint everyone with the…
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SUDBURY – Persona customers in Ontario and Quebec will soon receive their communications and television services from EastLink, as the Halifax-based cable company brings its brand westward.
EastLink said it has been working to incorporate Persona into its brand identity since it was purchased by EastLink’s parent company Bragg Communications in September 2007.
Persona’s western division, which serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, will continue to operate as Persona, an EastLink company.
The rebranding of Persona in Ontario and Quebec will grow EastLink’s customer base to approximately 420,000 subscribers. The company said that it is working to upgrade…
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TORONTO – Revenue from television subscriptions in Canada will grow by 8% in 2009, forecasts Toronto’s Convergence Consulting Group.
“TV access revenue”, says a key portion of one of its 2009 editions of “The Battle for the North American Couch Potato” was $7.2 billion in 2008 (from cable companies, satellite and telco TV providers), most of which comes from Canadian MSOs.
“Cable has added basic TV subs every year since 2004, and the report forecasts the segment will effectively maintain its dominant TV subscriber market share – from 73% of TV subscribers at the end of 2008 to 71%…
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CHARLOTTETOWN – Simon Compton, who helped bring cable television to Prince Edward Island in the early 1970s died March 17th. He was 80.
The PEI native originally learned the business in the 1960s when he built systems in Uxbridge and Port Perry Ontario – which is still home to Compton Cable, an independent operator run by his son Ron.
Simon Compton was one of the original four who founded the tiny cable company on the Island, along with Dr. Lorne Bonnell, Howard Douglas and Harry MacLaughlan. They sold the company to Bragg Communications in 1998.
Compton also owned a…
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GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – Persona has ramped up its Internet speeds with the debut of a package called ‘Persona High Speed Extreme 15’.
Launched Tuesday in Grande Prairie and the communities of Sexsmith, Wembley, Beaverlodge and Clarimount, the package promises download speeds up to 15 Mbps.
“Unlike our main competitor, our customers don’t have to choose between incredibly fast Internet speeds AND television with rich High Definition content; Persona has it all. It’s really about our customers getting more from their Bundle and providing increased value and convenience with no contracts," said Owen Barnhill, national marketing director, in a…
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GATINEAU – The dangling carrot of more money for the Canadian TV system is always what’s at stake when the Regulator considers letting broadcast distribution undertakings sell the ad time that’s available on American cable channels.
U.S. channels like CNN, A&E, Speed and the Golf Channel make two or three minutes per hour available for U.S. cable, satellite and telco carriers to sell ads on. It’s a multi-billion-dollar business in the States. That time is also available to Canadian carriers but they can’t sell it. Regulations say that 75% of the time must be made available to Canadian broadcasters…
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