BELOW ARE SOME QUICK QUIPS, a few lines – and their explanations, that we found interesting over the first four days of the CRTC’s hearing in broadcast distribution undertaking and specialty service policy.
Broadcasters as babies (1) “There is an opportunity for the over the air broadcasters to help themselves. If they were embracing the on demand platform, if they had a CTV on demand or a Global on demand, then we could have a very serious discussion about incremental value for the customer and compensation for that. But we are not having those discussions because we seem to…
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GATINEAU – What would have been fun, was a debate.
Day three of the CRTC hearings into BDU and specialty service regulations featured the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, two groups with decidedly different constituents, and points of view, on the future policy direction of the TV industry.
The CAB represents most broadcasters in Canada who together serve basically 100% of the Canadian population. The CCSA, on the other hand, has a far smaller group of members whose companies deliver cable and broadband service to under a million rural Canadians.
While each had their turn…
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GATINEAU – Allarco Entertainment Inc.’s pay-per-view Super Channel will finally be launching on Shaw Communications’ cable systems and on its direct-to-home satellite distributor Star Choice in late April and early May respectively, according to the broadcaster.
The news was revealed following Allarco’s appearance Wednesday at the CRTC’s three-week-long hearing into pay and specialty services and broadcast distribution undertakings – at which executives complained it was proving impossible to get carriage, even though Super Channel had been granted must-carry status by the regulator.
“It’s easy to get a licence, but very difficult to execute it,” said Allarco chair Chuck Allard….
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance’s 15th annual general meeting and conference will be held September 21-23 in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec.
“Following the success of the 2007 conference and rave reviews from our delegates, we are pleased to return to the beautiful resort village of Mt. Tremblant, Quebec,” the CCSA said in an email Wednesday.
A detailed conference program and trade show information will be released shortly. However, the program will include a president’s reception, a business day and a golf day.
On-line registration will open in early summer at http://www.ccsa.cable.ca/.
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TORONTO – The Canadian Cable System Alliance (CCSA) and ONE: the Body, Mind & Spirit Channel Inc. have announced the completion of an agreement for the channel’s distribution.
The digital channel, operated by S-VOX, offers programming from around the world on wellness, personal growth and spiritual health.
“Concluding this long term arrangement for the distribution of ONE: the Body, Mind & Spirit Channel speaks well of the supportive relationship we have enjoyed over the years with Tony Greco and his team at S-VOX,” said Alyson Townsend, CCSA President & CEO in a statement. CCSA represents 85 independent cable operators….
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and Teletoon have announced a new agreement for the terms of distribution for both Teletoon and its newest digi-net, Teletoon Retro.
“We look forward to helping the team at Teletoon Canada inc. promote these quality animation services to independent distributors and their customers,” said Alyson Townsend, president & CEO of the CCSA in a release. “Teletoon Retro will be a welcome new addition in the channel line-ups of CCSA member companies.”
“Being the top destinations for the best in contemporary and beloved animation, both Teletoon and Teletoon Retro have an extraordinarily…
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GATINEAU – Reply comments filed with the CRTC on Friday on its broadcasting distribution undertakings and specialty services policy review don’t show anyone has changed their minds. They’ve mostly dug right in, as expected.
(And, we’ll set aside the fee for carriage debate right away for this particular piece. Over-the-air broadcasters and producers who look to see more funds flow their way want consumers to pay a fee for conventional TV stations. Cable and satellite companies do not. We’ll dive deeper into the issue in a later story.)
This story, however, is a tale of two extremes. We looked…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance announced a pair of bulk deals this week.
The organization and Turner Network Sales signed a Master Affiliate Agreement for the distribution of CNN, Headline News, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Peachtree TV (formerly TBS).
The CCSA is a buying group and lobbying organization for Canada’s independent cable companies. CCSA connects 85 independent cable operators (its members) and their subscribers with programming and equipment.
“We are pleased to provide CCSA’s member companies with some of our most popular networks, CNN, Headline News, Turner Classic Movies and Peachtree TV,” said Matt Tolleson,…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and v.1 Labs have signed a bulk purchase master agreement for v.1’s frontline, self install and IP device diagnostic center customer care solutions.
“At the CCSA we are always looking for new and innovative solutions and products to assist our membership in reducing costs in their operations. The v.1 Labs product suite will be a great benefit to our membership and allow them to operate their businesses more effectively,” said Alyson Townsend, president and CEO of the CCSA.
V.1 Labs develops software applications designed for broadband, digital subscriber line (DSL), wireless…
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HALIFAX and QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – They’re not completely out, but they’re not in, either.
The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and its largest member, EastLink, are going their separate ways in 2008. It’s not an acrimonious breakup mind you, or a complete separation, but it’s a break just the same.
With its purchase of Persona Communications finalized last year – alongside the acquisition of Amtelecom Communications and RuSh Communications in 2007, EastLink now has over half a million cable customers – a figure which comprised over half of the cable customers the CCSA represents through its cable…
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