Search Results for: ccsa

Radio / Television News

CTV Life freeview celebrates wedding season

TORONTO — CTV Life Channel is starting a month-long, nationwide free preview on Tuesday, June 2, which will feature a new Tuesday-night lineup of wedding series and Saturday wedding-themed movie marathons. Running until July 9, the CTV Life Channel freeview will also see the series debut of Double Your Dish on Monday, June 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Hosted by real-life couple Chef Rodney Bowers and radio and TV personality Meredith Shaw (pictured in centre), the eight-episode, self-shot cooking series helps viewers make the most out of their meals by transforming one base recipe into two totally different dishes. “We’re thrilled… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Animal Planet free preview starts June 2

TORONTO — Bell Media’s Animal Planet is offering a nationwide freeview, starting Tuesday, June 2, just in time for the premiere of its summer lineup of new and returning series. Available until Thursday, July 9, the channel’s free preview will coincide with the season premieres of The Aquarium (June 15), Pit Bulls and Parolees (above, June 26) and North Woods Law (June 30). In addition, all-new episodes of Lone Star Law (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET), Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild (Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET) and Amanda to the Rescue (Fridays at 9 p.m. ET) are scheduled during the freeview… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

COMMENTARY: Federal committee nothing but bluster

By Greg O’Brien “THERE’S A WASTE OF two hours,” was my thought after listening to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Thursday evening. Not just my own time. Everyone’s. The meeting notice said only that the INDU committee was looking at the Canadian response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but with a witness list of Jay Thomson, CEO of the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance; Ian Stevens, CEO of independent broadband provider Execulink; Andy Kaplan-Myrth, vice-president, regulatory and carrier affairs at TekSavvy; two rural politicians – Steve Arnold, mayor of St. Clair Township and Rob Gay, the board chair of the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CCSA names Spencer as new manager of contracts

QUISPAMSIS, N.B. — The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) announced today Ian Spencer is joining the organization as manager of contracts, effective Monday, May 4. Operating from his home base in Whitby, Ont., Spencer will be responsible for supporting Lori Rosenberg, CCSA’s vice-president of contracts, in negotiating current and future CCSA master programming agreements, managing staff in the administration of the agreements and implementing various CCSA member services. He will replace Debbie Randon, CCSA’s current manager of contracts, who will retire in July after 20 year of stellar service, says the news release. Most recently, Spencer worked at CBC/Radio-Canada as manager… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CCSA postpones Connect conference until 2021 due to Covid-19

QUISPAMSIS, N.B. — The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) announced Monday it is postponing its Connect 2020 Conference at Mont Tremblant, Que., for a year, until September 2021. The decision was made “based on extensive consultations with experts and others facing similar issues given the uncertainty as to how long travel and physical distancing restrictions may remain in effect,” says the email notification. “We know this event may seem far away right now and that you were looking forward to enjoying its valuable educational and networking opportunities; however, putting the conference together involves a substantial financial commitment and a great deal… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, OTT

Independents ask OTT providers to decrease video bitrates until April 30

IN A LETTER to Netflix, Amazon and other OTT video providers, a trio of Canadian associations which represent smaller, independent network operators — the Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA), Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) and Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) — have asked the streaming services to decrease their video bitrates to temporarily provide relief to their members’ networks. “Collectively we have seen that OTT video services are contributing to a 20-30% increase of aggregate Internet transit over the last 7-10 days as health organizations and governments are encouraging citizens to stay home to flatten the curve and prevent the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless Review: Former Big Three exec blasts large carriers’ “laughable” threats

CCSA says mandated access to 5G nets is a must for rural GATINEAU – In advising the CRTC to mandate just one national MVNO to boost mobile wireless competition here, three former wireless and telecom executives said threats from the big national players about reduced investments and job cuts are not to be taken seriously. “The market is so clearly dominated by the Big Three ,” Alek Krstajic, the former Freedom CEO and past executive at Bell and Rogers, told CRTC commissioners at the beginning of the second week of the Regulator’s review of the wireless industry. “In fact,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless Review: Bell doesn’t give an inch on its MVNO stance

Cogeco airs its HMNO model By Greg O’Brien GATINEAU – On Wednesday, CRTC commissioners tried to get Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic and other company executives to pick what they might think is a least-bad mandated mobile virtual network operator option from the choices of MVNO models others have brought to the proceeding. Each time, Bell said no MVNO is the only option. While some operators have said, if forced to choose, the only palatable proposed MVNO model is the one from the Competition Bureau, which would see MVNO access mandated for existing regional operators like Freedom and Videotron, and only for five… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Tories offer alternative to BTLR report praised by industry

By Christopher Guly OTTAWA – The much-anticipated report by the federal Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel has so far drawn praise from some of the industries it affects, but mainly criticism from the official opposition Conservatives. At a National Press Theatre news conference following the release of the report on Wednesday, Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservative shadow minister for industry and economic development (pictured in a cpac.ca screen cap), said that while the 235-page document, entitled Canada’s Communications Future: A Time to Act, is “well-intentioned, was written in one of the most heavily lobbied and regulated spaces in Canadian industry… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CCSA Connect 2020 will be in Mont-Tremblant this September

QUISPAMSIS, NB — Mark your calendar for this year’s CCSA Connect 2020 conference, which will be held September 14-16 at the Fairmont Tremblant Hotel in Quebec. Located in the heart of the Laurentians, the Mont-Tremblant resort area will provide a beautiful backdrop to connect with industry colleagues and partners. Attendees who arrive early or stay on can take advantage of the surrounding area’s pristine freshwater lake, splendid mountain with endless hiking possibilities, and host of activities including golfing, zip lining and mountain biking. Conference details and registration information will be available in the spring. CCSAonline.ca Continue Reading