GATINEAU – The CRTC said Tuesday it will publicly disclose the aggregate financial data of large broadcast distribution undertakings (cable and satellite companies) and large conventional television and radio broadcasters.
“Although it was set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-6 as its preliminary view, the Commission is now convinced, based on the comments received at the proceedings on the Diversity of Voices and the BDU regulatory frameworks, that the public disclosure of the aggregate financial data of both large BDUs and/or MSOs and large OTA television and radio broadcasters by ownership group would serve the public interest and would…
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EXTON, Pa. – Organization for the inaugural SCTE Canadian Summit is well under way and registration is now open for the event which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 3-4, 2009, at the Toronto Congress Centre.
SCTE Canadian Summit 2009 is designed to facilitate an exchange of technical information for Canadian engineering professionals to help them maximize opportunities and overcome challenges specific to the cable telecommunications industry in Canada both now and in the near future.
The program committee organizing it are senior technical executives from the big five multiple system operators in Canada. SCTE board of directors…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable added TSN HD and TSN2 to its channel lineups in Quebec.
"As digital and HD television become increasingly mainstream, Cogeco Cable continues to invest in the technology to ensure its customers have access to the most interesting and relevant programming in the market," said Ron Perrotta, Cogeco’s vice-president, marketing and strategic planning.
TSN2 (channel 156) is included in the Destination Sports package in Quebec ($6.99 per month). TSN HD (channel 541) is offered at no extra charge for all digital television customers in Quebec who also subscribe to the HD Access Package ($2.99 per month)….
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MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable announced today that it has completed – pursuant to a private placement – the issue of 7% series A senior secured notes for US$190 million, maturing October 1, 2015, and 7.6% series B senior secured notes for C$55 million maturing October 1, 2018.
Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year commencing April 1, 2009. The aggregate gross proceeds from the issue of these notes amount to approximately C$257 million. Net proceeds of approximately C$255 million, after underwriters’ fees and other expenses, will be applied…
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IN LESS THAN FIVE months, all American full power television broadcasters are required to shut off their analog transmitters.
In Canadian border regions, this could present an opportunity as those remaining Canadian viewers who have resisted cable or satellite TV for so long, instead picking up a number of American TV stations with their rabbit ears. Unless they invest in some digital rabbit ears and a new television, they’ll need help getting the programming they are used to.
For example, in Windsor there are 22 stations available off-air, most from the other side of the border Detroit, Mich., and…
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LOUISVILLE, Colo. – Dr. Richard Green told the CableLabs executive committee last week in New York that he intends to retire as CEO when his current contract expires in December 2009, the organization announced today.
The committee agreed to begin a search for a successor immediately in order to complete an orderly transition prior to Green’s departure. The group also reaffirmed a strong industry commitment to the work and program of CableLabs.
“The entire industry is indebted to Dick for building and managing one of the most successful development laboratories in the country. CableLabs has and will continue to…
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MONTREAL – Former TQS head Rene Guimond has been appointed vice-president, development, new media for Cogeco Cable.
The cable company’s parent, Cogeco Inc., was the fomer controlling shareholder of TQS, until it was sold earlier this year.
In his new role, Guimond “will investigate the best opportunities for Cogeco Cable’s growth in the new media field. He will act as an internal advisor, collaborating at various levels within the company towards proposing new avenues to the corporation’s management committee,” says the press release.
Guimond was president and CEO of Cogeco Radio-Television Inc. and TQS from 2005-2008, “where he demonstrated his…
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TORONTO – While Bell TV announced on the weekend it has added TSN2 to its channel roster, watch for more pressure to come on a couple of other Canadian carriers from their local football fans later this week.
Bell TV (formerly ExpressVu) is the first of the “big four” carriers (Shaw/Star Choice, Rogers and Videotron being the others) to begin carrying TSN’s secondary channel. TSN2 will air live games when the main network has something of a higher priority scheduled, as well as some taped shows and tape-delayed games.
As reported earlier this week by Cartt.ca, TSN has been…
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TORONTO – They’ll probably crack eventually, but so far, the big four of Canadian video distribution, Shaw Communications, Rogers Communications, Bell TV and Videotron have resisted adding the new TSN2 to their channel lineups.
As usual, it’s a fight over money (that and to a lesser extent, packaging and capacity).
TSN2 was the “alternate feed” of the main TSN network, a sometimes on, sometimes off, dumping ground that the sports network used when it had conflicts with two live events. Most of the carriers had it somewhere on the dial and didn’t mind making space for that channel since…
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OTTAWA – Despite complaints about the CRTC’s decision to allow the new owners of Quebec private conventional TV broadcaster to dramatically cut local programming, Minister of Canadian Heritage Josee Verner said late Friday she’s not going to get involved.
The TQS union and the opposition Liberals had demanded the decision to let Remstar Diffusion take over the broadcaster while cutting local news to the bone be referred back to the CRTC for a re-think.
Without Remstar’s bid to purchase, it’s thought that former co-owners Cogeco Inc. and CTVglobemedia were tired of losing money with the station and were considering shutting…
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