By Konrad von Finckenstein
THE BROADCAST AND Telecom Legislative Review panel’s lengthy report is divided into institutional recommendations, telecom recommendations, broadcasting recommendations and others.
It made 46 regarding the Broadcasting Act. Apart from the recommendations on the CBC about which I express no comment, some are well thought out and would improve the present system substantially. The extension of the Broadcasting Act to “electronic communications services” on the internet is the area of greatest concern.
The Panel recommended:
… the Telecommunications Act be amended to establish explicit jurisdiction over all persons and entities providing, or offering to provide, electronic…
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By Steve Faguy
TORONTO – In what it describes as “unprecedented times,” CBC has decided to cancel local English TV newscasts in all markets except CBC North, replacing them with broadcasts from CBC News Network.
In a memo to staff sent Wednesday signed by CBC executives Susan Marjetti (general manager of news, current affairs and local), Brodie Fenlon (editor-in-chief of CBC News) and Cathy Perry (executive director of current affairs, investigative and long-form journalism), CBC cites “fewer staff in the Toronto Broadcast Centre and much stricter newsgathering protocols” as the reason for the change, which will be temporary.
CBC North newscasts are…
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WHILE WE’VE COVERED much of what the large Canadian ISPs, BDUs and wireless companies are doing for their customers during the current health crisis, smaller, independent operators are acting to protect their employees and help customers, too.
For example, Kirkton, Ont.-based co-op Quadro Communications told customers it has closed its offices but is still offering customer and tech support online and through its social channels – and is offering CTV News Channel and CP24 for free to all TV customers through to April 17th. It doesn’t have to waive data overage fees for broadband customers because none of its…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU — As a knock-on effect of the current government and industry response to the COVID-19 outbreak, requiring many people to work from home, the CRTC has suspended all deadlines between now and April 10 for open proceedings.
This includes the deadline to file applications for the Broadband Fund and the final replies in the wireless policy review, a Commission spokesperson informed Cartt.ca in an email on Tuesday.
New deadlines will be announced in the coming days. The Commission has two public hearings scheduled for May, including the proceeding for the renewal of broadcasting licences for the CBC which…
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TORONTO — As hockey fans in Canada contemplate the possibility of either an extended or cancelled NHL season due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, the CBC is filling the void left on Saturday nights with the announcement of Movie Night in Canada — Canadian movies (some hockey-themed) that will air in Hockey Night in Canada’s traditional Saturday at 7 p.m. slot for the next four weeks.
This past Saturday night, CBC aired the double bill of Bon Cop, Bad Cop and its sequel Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2 to kick off Movie Night in Canada. Each Saturday starting at 7…
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By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL – With the COVID-19 outbreak forcing the suspension or cancellation of most live sporting events for the foreseeable future, Canada’s all-sports networks are struggling to fill their suddenly wiped schedules with alternative content, and that means a lot of panel talk shows, documentaries, movies and trips down memory lane.
We noted CBC aired Red Bull’s Ice Cross, which is basically downhill skating in hockey gear, from Japan (taped in February) this past Saturday night instead of the usual NHL games.
“We’re looking at what we can do for programming for the next week,” said Patrick Tremblay of Bell…
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REGINA – SaskTel said today it is waiving all data overage charges for SaskTel Wireless (postpaid and prepaid) and Fusion fixed wireless Internet customers, starting tomorrow through to March 31 as it helps customers deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s wired home internet plans are already unlimited.
“In order to ensure our wireless and fusion Internet customers also have peace of mind during this difficult time, SaskTel will waive all data overage charges on their plans to help support our customers who will be working from home amid the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Doug Burnett, president and CEO.
SaskTel will also be…
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TORONTO — Rogers Communications today announced a series of steps to support its customers and communities during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
Rogers Ignite TV and Digital TV customers now have free access to a rotating selection of channels until April 30. This includes popular content for the whole family, since we are going to be spending a lot of time together for the foreseeable future, as well as news channels to stay informed.
Disney, Disney Jr., Family Channel, Family Jr., YTV, Treehouse, Teletoon, ABC Spark, FX, CP24, CTV News Channel, CBC News Network, New Tang Dynasty, TV Asia are all available…
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OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada and the country’s TV distributors are collaborating to make the public broadcaster’s 24-hour news channels, CBC News Network and ICI RDI, more widely available so that as many people as possible can stay up to date on the news surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Friday, CBC News Network will be available to all subscribers on Bell TV, Shaw, and Cogeco. It is also now accessible on CBC Gem, the CBC News app, and CBC.ca. There will surely be more distributors to follow this week.
UPDATE: Cogeco also added CTV News Network to the list of news channels…
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WHILE THERE WILL surely be more announcements in the coming days, the broadband, telecom and TV industry is responding to the COVID-19 virus in a number of ways.
All have noted in emails their networks are up to the challenge of handling whatever increased traffic that might come from thousands of people working from home rather than the office. During a conference call with financial analysts Thursday discussing its 2019 fiscal fourth quarter, Vidéotron president Jean-Francois Pruneau said, when asked he is “not worried at all about the virus impact on consumption and network capacity.”
Then, on Friday, Vidéotron said it…
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