GATINEAU – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) and Rogers Communications have told the CRTC that they are prepared to accept an extension of the Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF) as long as the program is only available to independent broadcasters.
In addition to excluding the vertically integrated companies and CBC/Radio-Canada, (which has campaigned hard to keep it) the CCSA said that LPIF monies should only be made available for new, incremental local programming. Despite this slight change of heart, the small BDUs would prefer a complete and immediate elimination of the fund.
According to Access Communications,…
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ON THURSDAY, A PANEL of seven CRTC commissioners and a dozen industry executives took part in a hearing where they all must have asked themselves repeatedly, “Geez, how often have I heard this before?” At least, that’s the question that popped into my head as I listened in.
Bell Media faced off against the Canadian Independent Distributors Group during an expedited hearing concerning the parties’ fight over Bell Media’s 2011 wholesale carriage agreement, as we have already covered extensively. The CIDG (Telus, Cogeco, EastLink, Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and MTS) say the dispute isn’t primarily about…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The CCSA has finalized a master affiliate agreement with Corus Entertainment for the distribution of its new family channel ABC Spark.
ABC Spark, which launches March 26, is built on the foundation of the successful U.S. brand ABC Family and will feature hit shows including The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Make It or Break It, Switched at Birth, The Lying Game and Melissa & Joey.
The service will be available on free preview through the end of June.
“Concluding this agreement for ABC Spark speaks well of the relationship we have enjoyed over the years with Corus…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance has confirmed that its yearly conference and annual general meeting will take place Sunday, September 23 through Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
The Deerhurst Resort, located in Ontario’s Muskoka region, has been confirmed as this year’s venue for CCSA Connect 2012.
More details will be released in the coming weeks.
www.ccsa.cable.ca
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GATINEAU – Independent distributors Cogeco Cable, Telus, EastLink, MTS and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance still hate the terms of carriage offered to them by Bell Media for its specialty channels and so the parties will soon face mandatory mediation in front of a CRTC commissioner as the carriers continue to allege undue preference against Bell.
The carriers, together they are calling themselves the Canadian Independent Distributors Group (CIDG), all object to the carriage agreement put before them by Bell Media for all of the company’s specialty channels, as we have previously reported. Bell Media insists…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC said today that it will continue to license satellite relay distribution undertakings (SRDUs) because of a lack of competition in that market, but will not incorporate the transport of pay and specialty services into SRDU licensing.
In its decision the Commission maintained that its dispute resolution process “remains the best way to address concerns regarding uplink fees that the Bell direct-to-home undertaking charges Canadian pay and specialty services for the transport of their signals to cable headends in cases where they do not need to use Bell’s SRDU facilities.” Canada’s only two SRDU operators, Shaw Satellite…
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TORONTO – Tuesday is the last day to register for the 2012 President’s Reception which will be held January 26 from 6 – 8:30 pm in the Roof Salon on the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt hotel in Toronto.
This popular event provides a great opportunity to reconnect with industry friends and colleagues as the organization reveals its plans for the year.
The event is free for members, and new members are welcome to attend for a cost of $55.00 which includes a one year membership to CTAM Canada. To register, please contact Andrea Baxter at abaxter@ccsa.cable.ca or (506) 849-1334, ext….
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TORONTO – CTAM Canada has confirmed the details for its 2012 President’s Reception to be held January 26 in Toronto.
This popular event will be held in the Roof Salon on the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt hotel, located at 4 Avenue Road, from 6 – 8:30 pm.
The event is free for members, and new members are welcome to attend for a cost of $55.00 which includes a one year membership to CTAM Canada. Registration is required by January 24 by contacting Andrea Baxter at abaxter@ccsa.cable.ca or (506) 849-1334, ext. 212.
www.ctam.ca
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GATINEAU – CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein told the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and Telus on Monday that the two organizations need not fear Bell Media withholding its TV signals while the independent carriers continue to try to convince the broadcaster to alter its new wholesale carriage agreement.
As Cartt.ca first reported last week, a number of Canada’s independent TV distributors have balked at signing the new contract, which encompasses up to 30 Bell Media channels (including TSN, BNN, Comedy, MuchMusic, Discovery and so on) and have complained to the CRTC that the terms demanded by…
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OTTAWA – A number of Canada’s independent cable operators have balked at signing a new omnibus carriage agreement for the up-to 30 specialty channels owned by Bell Media and instead are demanding the CRTC step in and decide who’s right.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the agreement and the ongoing battle, both Cogeco Cable and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance have been through a few rounds of official CRTC staff mediation, which hasn’t yielded much in the way of results. It now looks like the disputes are headed towards binding, final offer arbitration in front of a CRTC…
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