Bell Media’s Crave announced Monday its first-ever original animated series, Super Team Canada, will debut with a two-episode premiere on Friday, May 16.
Described as a “campy” 10-part, half-hour comedy, Super Team Canada is created by the Emmy-winning, Calgary-born brothers Robert Cohen (The Big Bang Theory, Somebody Somewhere) and Joel H. Cohen (The Simpsons) and features an all-Canadian cast including Will Arnett, Cobie Smulders, Kevin McDonald, Charles Demers, Brian Drummond, Ceara Morgana, Veena Sood and guest star Jay Baruchel. The show’s theme song is written and performed by Canadian music icon Bryan Adams.
“With more action, heart, and hilarity than a Fredericton…
Continue Reading
The CRTC on Friday rejected a WildBrain application alleging Bell is disadvantaging its children’s programming to the benefit of Corus in the English-language markets.
Both Bell and Corus rejected the notion that there was any preferential treatment that disadvantaged WildBrain, as it sought to negotiate carriage with the large broadcaster.
That’s despite the commission finding that WildBrain and Corus have similar services, an important component to establish in an undue preference complaint. As a result of this determination, the commission said it found no need to get into whether there was any undue preference or disadvantage.
The commission urged…
Continue Reading
Rogers charges OUTtv using regulatory system to stop it from making commercial decisions
By Ahmad Hathout
LGBTQ+ TV broadcaster and streamer OUTtv is alleging Rogers is violating Wholesale Code rules by shuffling the network into a less popular cable TV package.
The subscription-based service is alleging in a Part 1 application dated March 5 that the cable company is violating section 9 of the code by not putting the network in the “best available” package, negatively impacting its wholesale fee revenue. The complaint alleges that Rogers shuffled the service it must carry out of a “Premier” package and “into a different and…
Continue Reading
The CRTC has approved Arsenal Media’s acquisition of seven radio stations and one transmitter in Quebec from Bell Media.
The stations involved in the transaction include CFEI-FM Saint-Hyacinthe, CFVM-FM Amqui, CFZZ-FM Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, CHRD-FM and CJDM-FM Drummondville, CJOI-FM Rimouski, and CIKI-FM Rimouski and its transmitter CIKI-FM-2 Sainte-Marguerite-Marie.
As a standard condition of service, Arsenal is expected to broadcast at least 42 hours of local programming on each station during each broadcast week.
The commission’s approval of the transaction, with a proposed value of $8.46 million, requires Arsenal to contribute to the Canadian broadcasting system by paying tangible benefits totalling $507,684,…
Continue Reading
Bell says it will withdraw court app challenging lack of action on rate-setting before new attach rules
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Tuesday made interim the current wholesale rates competitors pay to attach to the poles owned by Bell and Telus, paving the way for the setting of final rates that will apply retroactively.
The decision, effective today, locks in Bell’s current charges of $1.04 per pole per month in Ontario and Quebec and Telus’s going rate of $1.61 to do so in British Columbia and Alberta as the commission evaluates the telcos’ request to bump up those aging rates.
More importantly…
Continue Reading
By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and 25 of its radio members – including Rogers Sports & Media, Bell Media, Cogeco, Stingray, Pattison Media and Corus Entertainment – have written to the CRTC asking the commission to tear up its recent notice of consultation on updated rules for the radio and audio sector and start over.
Released on Feb. 20, the consultation will inform work to update the definition of what constitutes Canadian content on radio and audio streaming services. It also outlines a financial contribution framework for broadcasters that the CAB says suggests that…
Continue Reading
Bell Media announced Monday the launch of live connected TV (CoTV) inventory on TSN, marking a major advancement in sports advertising, the media company said.
Combining the reach of traditional television with the precision targeting of digital advertising, Bell Media’s new offering provides advertisers with “unparalleled access” to TSN’s engaged sports fans, a Bell Media press release said.
“This initiative digitizes a portion of TSN’s linear inventory, making many live sports readily available on Connected TVs. It allows for addressable advertising, which enables tailored messaging to specific households or devices based on demographic and behavioural data across live…
Continue Reading
The CRTC last week asked Bell, Rogers and Telus to make available as soon as possible new international roaming offerings the big three telecoms have told the commission they are planning to introduce, and to ensure these new offerings are easily found on their websites.
In response to an October 2024 letter from the CRTC calling on the telecoms to reduce international roaming fees and provide more flexible options, Bell, Rogers and Telus reported to the commission they have introduced or plan to introduce new international roaming offerings that include:
monthly…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Iristel and Bell are again in front of the CRTC about a disagreement over the repayment of amounts owed to the large telco, according to a Part 1 filing made public this week.
Iristel is asking the regulator to force Bell to withdraw a February 21 telephone service disconnection notice, effective March 3, and to accept its plan to pay back amounts it owes. The far north provider said it has been “willing to enter and honour a reasonable deferred payment agreement,” but says Bell has allegedly rejected the proposal.
The CRTC said in a June 27 decision…
Continue Reading
Telus and Rogers have reached a distribution agreement for the latter’s new Food Network, HGTV, Discovery, Investigation Discovery, Bravo and Magnolia channels.
Telus announced Wednesday its Optik TV customers are now getting an exclusive free preview of Rogers’s premium lifestyle and entertainment channels until April 14.
Starting April 11, Optik TV customers will be able to add the individual channels to their existing plan for $5 each or choose from two theme packs: Food & Home for $10 per month, which includes Food Network, Magnolia Network and HGTV; or Discovery & Reality, also $10 per month, which includes Bravo, Discovery and…
Continue Reading
