Search Results for: cogeco

Cable / Telecom News

High definition fishing: WFN hooks up with HD

TORONTO – World Fishing Network (WFN) viewers can now experience the thrill of the catch in high-definition (HD) through multiple providers across Canada.  Rogers (Ch. 542), Eastlink (Ch. 732), SaskTel (Ch. 461), Bell Fibe (Ch. 1419), CityWest (Ch. 295), MTS (Ch. 1183) and Cogeco (Ch. 747) have added WFN HD to their high-definition channel lineups. Affiliates interested in offering their customers the best in fishing and outdoor lifestyle programming in stunning HD can visit www.GetWFN.com for more details or contact Sean Luxton at  sluxton@worldfishingnetwork.com. Affiliates across Canada can access WFN’s signal directly on… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATED: Supreme Court says no to fee-for-carriage

OTTAWA – In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada said Thursday that the CRTC does not have the jurisdiction to allow conventional over-the-air broadcasters pursue a wholesale fee from BDUs for the carriage of their signals. The court’s decision should just about bring to a close the so-called fee-for-carriage (FFC) or value-for-signal (VFS) debate. The court heard the case back in April which was essentially between the big BDUs, which had always stood against VFS, and Bell Canada. Canwest Television was listed as a respondent, but that was a leftover artefact of the earlier case as Canwest’s new… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

“Hero of Magog” Omer Girard named 2012 Neotelis Telecom Career Service Award Winner

OTTAWA – Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame has announced that Omer Girard, a founding father of Canadian cable television, is the 2012 recipient of the coveted Neotelis Canadian Telecom Career Service Award for material contributions to the promotion of telecommunications in Canada. Girard, soon to celebrate his 92nd birthday, was selected to receive the Canadian Telecom Career Service Award for industry leadership and vision, innovation in service and dedication and sacrifice in advancing the interests of the Canadian cable television industry. Omer Girard's outstanding career in the Canadian telecom industry began 55 years ago… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Fee-for-carriage to be decided, once and for all (maybe), on Thursday with Supreme Court decision

OTTAWA – On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada will release its ruling on whether or not the CRTC has the jurisdiction to let conventional, over-the-air local broadcasters pursue a fee for the carriage of their signals by subscription television providers. The appeal was heard back in April, as Cartt.ca reported. The ability for local broadcasters to charge a cable, satellite or telco TV provider a wholesale fee (and by extension of course, Canadian subscribers) has been something TV station owners have pursued off and on for decades. The CBC asked for the ability to pursue… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC/Radio-Canada: Corp. boosts commitments in face of criticism; holds fast on Radio 2 ads

GATINEAU – Having heard nine days of complaints, plaudits and the general direction of questions being asked by commissioners CBC/Radio-Canada committed to air more programs of national interest (PNI), regional French-language programming and children’s TV shows during the reply stage of its CRTC licence renewal hearing which wrapped up on Friday. Some of the new proposals in French language services include 100 hours of per year of original Canadian programming, a commitment to do its best to reach 10 hours of local production in the Windsor market beginning in September 2013, and a willingness to accept a condition of licence… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Channel Zero targets Gen X with Rewind; asks Canadians to recycle their VCRs

TORONTO – Sixteen Candles, one of the most popular teen movies from famed 1980s movie director the late John Hughes, will be the first movie shown on Rewind, Channel Zero’s latest specialty channel brand, when it launches Saturday. Replacing Movieola in channel lineups (the short film channel moves to its new online home) Rewind will feature flicks such as The Godfather, Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Moonstruck, Edward Scissorhands and many others – all targeted towards Generation Xers who came of age in the 70s, 80s and 1990s. In fact, the whole first weekend is being dubbed “High School… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC to Quebec ILECs: Open up competition or risk losing your subsidy payments

OTTAWA – The CRTC is threatening to withhold subsidies to four Quebec small ILECs for delays in opening up their networks to local telephone competition. Cogeco Cable claims the delays have prevented it from offering competing triple-play bundles (telephone, Internet, television) to those regions. The regulator denied Cogeco the settlement it sought, but instead issued a Notice of Consultation regarding the potential withholding of subsidy payments to CoopTel, Téléphone Guèvremont Inc., Téléphone Milot Inc., and Sogetel Inc. The decision stems from the failure of the ILECs to complete an interconnection arrangement based on leased… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Astral net earnings rise 14% in Q4; company still committed to Bell deal

MONTREAL – Astral Media reports profits rose sharply in the fourth quarter, with net earnings of $54.3-million, up 14% from $47-million the previous year. Revenue growth grew at a slower pace of 2% to $251.8-million from $247.6-million. Astral noted that with the CRTC’s rejection of its takeover by BCE, and the outcome of BCE’s appeal officially unknown, “there can be no assurance that the transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the terms and conditions currently contemplated," read the release. Company co-founder and CEO Ian Greenberg wouldn't say much… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

FX Canada launches on Videotron

TORONTO – Launching today with a three-month free preview, Videotron subscribers in Quebec will get unlimited access to FX Canada. Programming includes American Horror Story: Asylum, Sons of Anarchy, Louie and The League, as well as late-night shows Brand X with Russell Brand and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. FX Canada is available to Videotron subscribers in SD on channel 210 and in HD on channel 810. “There is a high demand for FX’s premium content across Canada, and Rogers is excited to bring this award-winning programming to the Quebec market, “ said Scott… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

TVO launches fundraising campaign for educational resources

TORONTO – To give kids a competitive edge, more Ontario parents are investing in learning resources outside the classroom. In fact, one in three Ontario families has hired a tutor. Today TVO launches Smart Kids Now. Smart Adults Later, a fundraising-based campaign to motivate Ontarians to help TVO continue to deliver exceptional multi-platform educational resources that enhance classroom learning and get kids ready for success in school. TVO's Smart Kids Now. Smart Adults Later campaign is built on the idea that all kids have dreams of what they'll be when they grow up. TVO offers innovative… Continue Reading