TORONTO – After 15 years as MuchMore, Bell Media said Thursday that it is re-branding the former music service into M3, a "destination channel" for 30-somethings.
Starting September 30, programming will include music, scripted series, reality programming, and movies, as well as the premieres of dramas Reign, Ravenswood, and the annual Pretty Little Liars Halloween special.
The channel will launch in HD on Bell Fibe TV (Channel 1571) and Cogeco (Channel 844) on September 30 and on Rogers (Channel 477) in HD in November.
“M3 is all…
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GATINEAU – Broadcasters, distributors and special interests all took predictable stances on the CRTC's proposed framework for the distribution of national news services in interventions published this week.
The comment period for the framework, which launched from the Commission's August decision to deny mandatory distribution to Sun News Network, ended on Monday night. Last-minute submissions were posted to the CRTC site Tuesday and Wednesday. The Regulator’s proposals include rules on carriage, packaging and channel placement for national news services licensed as Category C, which would categorize all such services – new and…
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TORONTO – Shaw Media’s Global is jumping into the TV Everywhere market Thursday with an app called Global Go.
GlobaI Go will live stream the network 24/7 via web, iOS or Android platforms on smart phones, tablets and home computers anywhere in Canada, plus let viewers catch-up on entire seasons of more than 20 shows for up to 60 days after the finale (versus the 2-3 episodes which are currently available for catch-up). Those shows include the likes of Rookie Blue, NCIS, Elementary and Hawaii 5.0. It also includes a two week look-ahead schedule, and an interface with intuitive search and social…
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PETERBOROUGH, ON – Capella Telecommunications recently announced it has been named the Canadian distributor for InnoTrans Communications’ products and solutions.
“Capella has a history of introducing leading edge equipment to the Canadian marketplace and is pleased to continue this history with InnoTrans. We believe the compelling technical performance offered by InnoTrans coupled with Capella’s strong technical expertise will offer great value to Canadian operators in this highly competitive time in our industry” said Capella Telecommunications president Norm Slater in a release.
InnoTrans, based in San Jose, Calif., says it has revolutionized node splitting and fiber…
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TORONTO – Canadians who bundle their television, Internet and telephone services with the same provider are generally happier customers and are likely to recommend their provider to family and friends, according to a J.D. Power report released Thursday.
According to the Television Provider Customer Satisfaction Study, 83% of customers bundle their TV and Internet service with the same provider, while 17% subscribe to just TV service with their telecom provider. Among customers who bundle, 59% also have telephone service with their provider—commonly referred to as a triple-play package.
(The Television Provider Customer Satisfaction Study measures overall satisfaction with television providers based…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC today approved the $3.2 billion purchase of Astral Media by BCE Inc., but Bell’s regulatory people have MUCH paperwork to file before July 29th in order to satisfy the various conditions of the approval. That said, there doesn’t appear to be anything surprising in the decision which could scuttle the transaction.
As most are well aware, this is the second time Bell attempted to purchase Astral, as the Commission said no to the original 2012 deal last October.
Bell executives pronounced themselves pleased Friday morning, and so they are obviously okay with all the conditions, all of…
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WINDSOR, ON – CBC announced today that its CBC News: Windsor at 6 newscast will be expanding to 90 minutes in September 2013, however it is cancelling the station’s nightly 10-minute news format at 11 p.m. in order to support the expanded news show.
“We’re pleased to offer an expanded news format as part of our commitment to CBC’s 2015 strategic plan,” said Shawna Kelly, managing editor of CBC Windsor, in a release. “CBC Windsor is looking forward to providing more local services aimed at deepening our community connections.”
CBC says the expanded newscast, in addition…
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TORONTO – The realities of the wireless market in Canada and globally continue to tell most people that no matter what the federal government tries or what anyone says, chances are slim that a fourth viable wireless player in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario will find success.
Add BMO Capital Markets telecom, cable and media analyst Tim Casey to the chorus of those who believe the federal government has muddled and mishandled the wireless file and that there doesn’t seem to be a way forward to its stated political goals. Noting that Industry Minister Christian Paradis has been on record several…
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EDMONTON and BEVERLY HILLS – Super Channel announced today it has expanded its exclusive licensing and programming distribution deal with Starz Worldwide Distribution.
The agreement makes Super Channel the exclusive English pay television home in Canada for several Starz original series including David S. Goyer’s Da Vinci’s Demons, and the second season of Magic City, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, and James Caan. Each program will have a Canadian premiere on June 14, 2013 during a special two-hour programming block at 9pm ET.
Other TV series as part of the agreement include the widely…
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TORONTO – Astral’s The Movie Network announced a partnership Tuesday with three integration service providers to provide television distributors easier access to provide its The Movie Network GO, TMN’s video-streaming, service to subscribers.
Astral is offering the centralized TV everywhere integration option in conjunction with Great Lakes Data Systems (GLDS), watchTVeverywhere (WTVE) and Synacor, which allows television distributors to partner with an intermediary service that handles the back-office integration, including billing systems assimilation, authentication and entitlement services. The company says the service is aimed at smaller, independent distributors who may not have the ability to invest…
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