SAINT JOHN, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has announced the shortlisted nominees for their Tuned-in Canada awards – a national celebration of excellence in communications service delivery, community-mindedness, and community channel content development.
“We received a record number of nominations this year, many from our member companies – but many others from their customers across the country,” said Alyson Townsend, CCSA president and CEO. “That level of support really shows that Canada’s local cable and telecommunications companies are a valued part of our country’s communications ecosystem.”
“The nominations this year highlighted amazing local television content, introduced us to…
Continue Reading
Or should we consider broadband like roads or sewers?
GATINEAU – If the CRTC is going to implement a subsidy to support the rollout of broadband in rural and remote area, it already has an established approach, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance told the Commission on Wednesday. It’s called the National Contribution Fund for telephony in high cost service areas.
Chris Edwards, vice-president of regulatory affairs at the CCSA (pictured in a CPAC.ca screen cap), noted that this approach would encourage network investment by smaller providers – the companies that serve rural and remote communities. “Such a subsidy model…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Just before the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance made its presentation to the CRTC during the basic service objective hearing, Commission chairman Jean-Pierre Blais looked at another panel of jackets and ties and made a personal observation – one which he has before.
He lamented the fact that there are so few women appearing in front of him representing the companies making presentations and answering questions. The CCSA’s panel was three gentlemen: Cable Cable president Mike Fiorini, CCSA VP regulatory Chris Edwards and consultant John Piercy.
“Where there have been women on the panels in these telecom proceedings, they don’t…
Continue Reading
Chair's comments change the focus of the hearing, puts government, industry, on notice, to get their acts together
GATINEAU – The the second week of the CRTC's basic service objective (BSO) hearing featured a rare moment of reflection from CRTC chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais which will now alter the focus of this hearing. Below are Blais' unedited personal thoughts, made just prior to Monday's lunch break.
Those of you who are familiar with CRTC proceedings will appreciate that it is unusual for Chairs to make formal remarks beyond those made at the beginning of the oral hearing.
But this is an exceptional…
Continue Reading
QUISPAMSIS, NB – Nominations are now open for Tuned-in Canada, the annual awards presented by the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA).
Tuned-in Canada: The CCSA Awards 2016 celebrate the exemplary customer service, inspiring community building efforts, fantastic local content, and well-loved community channel personalities at CCSA member companies across the country.
Nominations may be submitted here through April 22 in the categories of Best customer service story; Best community building story; Best community channel programming in News, Entertainment and Sports; and Best on-camera community channel personality.
Shortlisted nominees will be announced on May 10 and viewers across Canada will have a chance…
Continue Reading
Digital strategy, broadband for urban poor, not addressed
OTTAWA – After years of neglect, outright disdain and budget cuts from the previous government, CBC/Radio-Canada is getting what some consider a much needed infusion of cash. The Liberals’ Budget 2016 is injecting $675 million over the next five years into the national public broadcaster.
The money – $75 million this fiscal year and $150 million in each of the four subsequent years – will be used “to disseminate and support world-class Canadian content and to provide Canadians with better access to programs and services in the digital era,” said the budget.
Critical to…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – CTAM Canada has tweaked its mission statement and membership rules to open the door to employees of satellite and IPTV companies operating in the CRTC-regulated television environment.
The organization, which was geared to cable companies, content providers, and others who supply products and services to the cable industry, said that the changes “will provide increased focus to the industry organization's education and research initiatives and result in a more inclusive space in the advancement of industry solutions and best practices”.
It’s new mission statement reads:
CTAM Canada is the television industry association focusing on the advancement of content distribution across…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – CBC told the CRTC on Friday that if it decides there should be a fund dedicated to supporting local news production in the Canada, then it should only open it to broadcasters which commit to produce additional news programming.
The Commission has been exploring the concept of a Local News Incentive Fund (LNIF) during local and community TV hearing and the idea has been endorsed in various forms by many intervenors.
“The purpose of the LNIF would be to provide incentive funding for incremental expenditure on and exhibition of local news programming beyond a specified threshold,” Bev Kirshenblatt (pictured),…
Continue Reading
WHISTLER – Save the date for the CCSA’s Connect 2016 conference which this year will take place at the Fairmont Château Whistler, located in Whistler, BC, from September 19 – 21.
Based on popular feedback from Connect 2015 attendees, CCSA has arranged to move the date of next year’s conference forward by one day, meaning events will begin on Monday as opposed to Sunday.
The confab will kick off on September 19 with an evening social for all delegates, followed by a day of tradeshow, speaker sessions, ‘On your own’ meeting time and the Board of Directors hosted dinner on September 20. The…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Disney Junior and Disney XD will arrive in over eight million households this week through distribution partners across English Canada.
Corus Entertainment said Tuesday that the channels are available now through Bell Fibe TV, Bell Satellite TV, Bell FibreOp TV, MTS, Rogers, Shaw, Shaw Direct, Telus and various CCSA members. Cogeco Cable Canada and Eastlink will offer the channels starting Wednesday, and SaskTel customers will have access to the new services in the coming weeks.
Disney Junior, which is aimed at kids aged 2-7, launches with the network premiere of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (pictured) on…
Continue Reading
