MONT TREMBLANT – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance celebrated its 20th anniversary in grand style Monday with top notch seminars, a well-attended trade show, awards and a gala dinner which featured Canadian comic Sugar Sammy.
After an opening speech by CRTC vice-chairman telecom Peter Menzies, “unmarketing” pro Scott Stratten wowed the audience with an entertaining take on how in order to go viral, you have to give up control (and don’t sweat your logo too much). Then, with over 300 delegates at this year’s conference, the trade show floor was packed through mid-day then customer service…
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MONTREAL – Videotron is officially launching pay TV service Super Channel on Wednesday.
After Cartt.ca leaked the news from the CCSA conference earlier this week, Videotron confirmed that the channel will be joining its illico TV channel line-up, with content also offered on illico.tv, illico.tv for tablets (Android and iPad) and illico mobile.
Customers in Gatineau and the greater Montréal area will be able to sample Super Channel in HD from September 25 to October 9. Super Channel will be available for $15.00 per month on illico TV channels 205, 206, 207 and 208 in standard format, channels 805, 806, 807 and 808…
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MONT TREMBLANT – With the number of people using anything but a television set to watch TV growing rapidly, the CRTC is betting a lot on the upcoming review of all things television, set to begin this fall. In short, it wants to dramatically change the way it conducts its business.
Vice-chair telecom Peter Menzies gave delegates to the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Connect Conference an early look into the Commission’s Communications Monitoring Report which is being released this week – and tied it into the TV Review, which will begin soon with a direct discussion with Canadians, or “as…
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MONT TREMBLANT ? One of the industry'?s most enjoyable gatherings begins Sunday in Mont Tremblant, CCSA Connect, the annual general meeting and conference of the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance.
While one of the highlights will be the presentation of the brand new cable community channel programming award-winners on Monday night (the winners can be found here), the three days in the resort is dedicated to learning ? and some fun.
After a members-only day on Sunday the 22nd of various workshops (where members will be filled in on their new marketing kits, various regulatory files and a…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. (CCSA) has chosen the winners of this year's Community Channel Awards.
Selected from almost 50 submissions, Northwestel Inc. was the sports category winner for its production, Yukon Quest 30 Years. Eastlink’s Fallen Soldiers won in the public affairs category.
There was a tie in the general interest category: Haunted Hamilton’s Ghost Stories by Source Cable TV Hamilton, and CCAP’s production called Panorama Hiver. CCAP also won best billboard service for Babillard. Tbaytel won in the innovation category for its production of NextBus, Flight Status.
A…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – This year’s Canadian Cable Systems Alliance annual general meeting and Connect conference will be the 20th year the group gathers for networking, knowledge and fun.
“It really is the only opportunity everybody has to get together anymore,” said CCSA president and CEO Alyson Townsend.
The 2013 conference will take place September 22-24 at the Fairmont Mont Tremblant, Quebec. The theme of this year’s Connect is focused on community and all that means.
“So, we’re celebrating the CCSA community that has been around for 20 years, we’re celebrating the communities that are served by our members – and that is…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. (CCSA) has announced that Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien will join the judging panel for the inaugural Community Channel Awards.
O'Brien will be joined by John Thomas and Michel Arpin on the judging panel. An industry veteran, Thomas has more than 40 years experience heading prominent industry associations including CCSA, CCTA and Cable Television Standards Foundation. He was president and CEO of independent cableco Delta Cable until its sale in 2005. Delta was long known for the quality of its community programming.
Arpin, who began his…
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GATINEAU – Bell Canada and Astral Media say the list of new regulatory safeguards it has agreed to should allay any fears the CRTC has of a combined company – and that the deal should be approved.
In its final written submission to the CRTC filed late Tuesday, the companies say they have agreed to “an unprecedented package of regulatory safeguards relating to terms of trade with all independent producers, the negotiation of affiliation agreements (including tied selling, packaging flexibility, and other terms), the no head start rule, the availability of non-linear content, the timing of the Commission’s dispute resolution…
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GATINEAU – In their final written submissions to the CRTC on the proposed purchase of Astral Media by Bell Canada, various interveners say there are no words, no new rules the Commission can write which will sufficiently protect the Canadian TV system from the market power of a combined Bell/Astral.
That, tied to the fact Bell has told the Commission in no uncertain terms it will not proceed with the merger should it be required to divest any other assets, means the whole deal should be denied, just like the first one was rejected last fall. ( Continue Reading
QUISPAMSIS, NB – Nominations are now open for the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. (CCSA)’s first-ever Community Channel Awards.
Companies who are CCSA members are eligible and encouraged by the CCSA to submit a nomination. The awards will recognize in excellence in community-produced series, programs or creative development in the categories of sports, public affairs, general interest, innovation, and best billboard service.
Submissions will be judged in context of excellence, creativity and community impact rather than size of budget or scope of project.
Award information, including the contest entry form and submission guidelines can…
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