OTTAWA – A review of broadcasting in new media is utterly unnecessary, says an unprecedented joint submission to the CRTC by Canada’s largest Internet service providers.
Friday was the deadline for submissions on PN 2008-44, which only asked for comments on what the scope of any future proceeding on Canadian broadcasting in new media might be. The Commission wants advice on what questions it might ask when it decides to undertake a review of what new media is doing to broadcasting and what Canadian regulations might have to say about it. At this point, it doesn’t want to…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance has signed a video on demand master affiliate agreement with Here! Networks.
“Here! is extremely pleased that CCSA is providing its customers in Canada with the opportunity to subscribe to here! on a monthly basis,” said Maria Dwyer, the gay and lesbian channel’s senior vice-president, distribution, sales and marketing. “Now viewers in Canada can enjoy watching award-winning and critically acclaimed gay and lesbian entertainment on here! whenever they like, for one affordable price.”
Founded in 2002, here! airs on all major U.S. cable systems as a 24-hour subscription service.
“This unique…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. and TORONTO – Corus Entertainment and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance have signed a new Master Affiliate Agreement for the distribution of the programming services YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CMT, Cosmo TV, Discovery Kids, Scream, Movie Central (Western members only), Maxtrax/Galaxie, Treehouse-On Demand, YTV-On Demand, Bionix-On Demand and Movie Central-On Demand.
“We are delighted to join with Corus Entertainment Inc. in promoting these programming services to our members,” said Alyson Townsend, CCSA president and CEO, in the press release. “The commitment by Corus to deliver superior quality services speaks well of their dedication to the viewing audiences….
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) conference and annual meeting, including a bulk purchasing trade show, is set for September 21-22 in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.
The event is an opportunity for CCSA members, programmers, equipment suppliers and other delegates to discuss industry needs and learn about hot topics. The topics of formal presentations on September 22 have not yet been released, but the day also features the trade show, board meeting, CRTC reception for CCSA members only, and a dinner hosted by the board of directors.
The President’s Reception is on September 21, while golf at Le…
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MONTREAL – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) has inked a distribution deal with Astral Television Networks for The Movie Network, TMN OnDemand, Mpix, Mpix OnDemand, Family, Family OnDemand and Playhouse Disney.
Details of the master affiliate agreement were not released, except it was noted that Astral provided “fair and equitable distribution terms for small and medium independent companies.”
“We welcome the opportunity to promote these excellent services to our members,” said CCSA President and CEO Alyson Townsend. “The commitment of Astral Television Networks to provide quality programming ensures members will enjoy continued steady growth in demand for these…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance and GSN (Game Show Network) have announced the completion of a new master affiliate agreement for alliance members.
CCSA connects 85 independent cable operators (its members) and their subscribers with programming and equipment and lobbies government on its members’ behalf.
“The CCSA is an extremely important alliance for GSN, providing Canadian subscribers with our signature programming. We’re eager to build upon our relationship with the CCSA and look forward to forging stronger ties to its member companies,” said Michael Severino vice-president of distribution, GSN, in the press release.
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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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