MONTREAL – Astral Media CEO Ian Greenberg said today that Bell Canada has stopped proceeding towards the launch of its much-anticipated Internet protocol-driven terrestrial digital television service.
When asked about new platforms like IPTV and how it might impact Astral’s television business, Greenberg said Bell has put its plans to launch the service “on ice.”
“And that’s happened in the last two weeks. So I don’t think there’s much to discuss on IPTV,” said Greenberg.
He later said the decision was made by Bell just within the past 10 days. Any Bell IPTV service would, of course, carry a…
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TORONTO – As first reported by Cartt.ca last month, CTV has made its new fall shows Gossip Girl, Big Shots and Pushing Daisies – all from Warner Bros. – to Rogers Cable’s video on demand customers.
The three shows become the first-ever U.S. network series that air on CTV to be made available on VOD. The announcement comes as Pushing Daisies was made available on VOD last week following its series premiere on CTV.
Free, full-length episodes of Gossip Girl, Big Shots and Pushing Daisies are now available 24 hours following their television broadcast on Rogers VOD. Tagged with…
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MONT-TREMBLANT, QC – TVC Canada was named Supplier of the Year by the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) during its annual conference here on September 28.
“This award recognizes TVC’s outstanding performance in the areas of service, commitment to the CCSA and its members, and the competitive pricing in the quality products they provide,” said CCSA president and CEO Alyson Townsend.
It is the first time in the CCSA’s history that the award has been awarded to a hardware/equipment supplier.
“We are truly honoured to be receiving this very public recognition of the TVC Canada team’s hard work and…
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By Greg O’Brien
THE CANADIAN CABLE Systems Alliance annual general meeting is always a great time. Compared to some of the other events I attend through the year, it’s tiny. But it’s very useful and always well organized. I always come away from it having learned a lot – and finally having had some face-to-face time with people I normally only chat with via e-mail.
The “learnings” (not really a word, but it’s one everyone uses) this year were plentiful. From new technologies and services to future-gazing and concrete advice on how to approach video on demand.
But there was a bit…
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MONT TREMBLANT – When Cogeco Cable began rolling out video on demand about five years ago, “we thought we were building a virtual video store,” says the company’s director of affiliate relations JP Caveen.
Not any more, of course. VOD has moved leaps and bounds away from that.
Caveen was part of a video on demand panel organized by CTAM Canada held Monday afternoon during the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance 14th annual general meeting that included a programmer, an aggregator and three operators.
They were there to share their success stories and challenges with the independent cable companies who…
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ROGERS BELIEVES Bell Canada is less than two months away from launching its IPTV service in Toronto, beginning in the Yonge-Bloor region, according to David Purdy, Rogers Cable’s VP and GM television.
********** WTBS will change its name to PeachtreeTV as of October 1st, said Turner’s Matt Tolleson. The programming will remain much the same, however. Also – with CNN HD having launched in the States on September 1st – Tolleson says he wants to see that feed in Canada soon.
********** And speaking of HD, Speed is readying its high definition version, which it will have ready to…
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MONT TREMBLANT – Dean Prevost wasn’t speaking in front of the Canadian Club or the Empire Club like Ted Rogers and Pierre Karl Peladeau did last week, but his message today at the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance AGM followed the squabbling script:
Industry Canada’s advanced wireless spectrum auction rules have to favour newcomers somehow, so that Prevost’s company, MTS Allstream (like Peladeau’s Videotron), can become a national wireless provider.
Prevost, the chief corporate officer of the company, talked about wireless in other parts of the world, adding: “What’s different about the Canadian experience is the price is really,…
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MONT TREMBLANT – There’s just a couple of days left to register for the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance annual general meeting.
Canada’s independent cable operators, their programming and technical suppliers and a distinguished cast of guest speakers will highlight the three days at the base of the mountain.
The event begins Sunday evening with the president’s reception from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and the real meat of the conference is Monday, with Tuesday set aside for the annual – and much anticipated – golf tournament.
Monday’s speakers will be:
* Dean Prevost, Chief Corporate Officer at MTS Allstream Inc.,…
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TORONTO – Astral Television Networks announced a pair of appointments this week.
Mark Waschulzik has been promoted to the position of Director, Affiliate Marketing. Most recently he has been managing key accounts (such as Rogers, EastLink and Videotron) in addition to his regular duties as Manager, Affiliate Insight & Analysis. “His account experience, analytical background and historical perspective provide him with a unique ability to evaluate new growth opportunities and to ensure they are developed in line with corporate objectives, in tandem with other departments and on budget,” said a company memo from Domenic Vivolo, senior vice-president sales and…
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VIDEO ON DEMAND, wireless, HDTV, deregulation – Canada’s small cable operators will gather at Mont Tremblant in just over two weeks for Pixel Nation, which is the theme for the 2007 Canadian Cable Systems Alliance’s annual general meeting.
The formal – and informal – parts of the event will be lively, given the upcoming broadcast distribution undertaking policy review coming in January, and all the issues Canada’s independent cable operators face at home and will want to address there.
Panel sessions include a video on demand session and technical session led by CableLabs, along with a members-only meeting with…
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