TORONTO, MONTREAL and OTTAWA – Three of Canada’s largest BDUs were quick to express their mutual disappointment with Monday’s CRTC decision, and hinted that it will be the consumer who will be hit the hardest.
Rogers said that the introduction of the “major new consumer TV taxes” should have Canadian consumers “very worried”, and vice-chair Phil Lind predicted that the new fees could cost its customers an additional $50 – $100 per year depending on their cable package.
“Today’s CRTC announcement says that, not withstanding earlier rulings by the CRTC and notwithstanding the lack of support by the Canadian…
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GATINEAU – Earlier this week, the CBC attempted to give the CRTC a little advice before the Regulator releases its public notice announcing the September hearing into an overhaul of the regulation of the TV business in Canada this coming Monday.
As reported by Cartt.ca, this past Monday the CBC offered up a proposed new distribution order which would govern new fee-for-carriage negotiations between broadcasters and cable and satellite companies (actually, the broadcasters are trying to “re-brand” the fee-for-carriage battle to one entitled value for signal, but we digress…)
Together, Shaw Communications, Telus, Rogers Communications, Cogeco and Bell…
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MONTREAL – Tony Ciciretto has been hired as president of Cogeco Data Services, the company announced today.
Prior to joining Cogeco Data Services, Ciciretto was president of the TVN Group, a private investment firm he co-founded in 2008. From 2003 to 2007, he held a leadership role at Rogers Communications as vice-president, Rogers Business Solutions. Prior to that, he worked at Bell Canada for 15 years in various increasingly senior roles culminating with the position of senior vice president, business sales and operations at Bell Nexxia in 2003.
In partnership with the management team, Ciciretto will be responsible for…
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HAMILTON – Clearcable Networks will hold the 2009 Clearcable Technology Summit for mid-market cable service providers on July 9-10, 2009 near the Cogeco Ontario headquarters in Burlington, ON.
With sessions ranging from Multi-homing, to DOCSIS 3.0/RFoG, and SIP, the Summit will emphasize growth of existing residential voice and data services, and showcase Clearcable’s development of commercial and small business services.
Contact Clearcable at 1-866-679-0737 or via e-mail at info@clearcable.ca for details.
www.clearcable.ca
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TORONTO – National radio sales fell 13.9% in the third quarter of 2009, according to data from Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS).
Over 82% of the shortfall occurred in four major categories – the Government sector was down by 54%; alcoholic beverages dropped by 32.5%; the financial services category was down 25%; and telecommunications dipped 20%. The retail and restaurant categories captured almost 30% of the total revenue spent.
“On the bright side, the consumer economy appears to be showing positive signs in these trying economic times,” said CBS president Patrick Grierson, in the press release. “National Retail increased revenue share to…
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MARKHAM, ON – Telecom veterans John Piercy and Ian Collins are joining Atria Networks as CEO and president, respectively.
Piercy joins Atria from Mountain Cable in Hamilton, ON, where he has been president for the past five years. He brings 26 years of telecom industry experience to the position, through stints at BCE Capital, Onsite Access Canada, Leitch Technologies and AT&T Canada.
Collins was previously the acting president at Cogeco Data Services (formerly Toronto Hydro Telecom Inc.). He has also worked at Hamilton Hydro, its FiberWired telecom services division, and Ontario Hydro.
Piercy and Collins will start July 6, replacing…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable has announced a public debt offering of senior secured debentures series ‘1’ worth up to $300 million.
The Canadian and Portuguese cable company set the interest rate at 5.95% with a maturity date in June, 2014. The debentures will only be available in Canada, and proceeds will go towards reducing its debt.
The company announced last month that it would issue up to $500 million in new debt.
www.cogeco.ca
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MONTREAL – Acting president of Cogeco Data Services, Ian Collins, announced his resignation effective June 24, 2009 in order “to pursue new career goals”.
President and CEO Louis Audet will assume the role temporarily while the company searches for a successor.
"Cogeco Data Services is a solid and promising business and we will work with the team in place to continue to develop our service offering”, Audet said in the statement announcing Collins’ departure. “The Company continues to deliver results and consistently meet the critical needs of its customers. I want to thank Mr. Collins for his contribution to Cogeco…
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TORONTO – Rogers, Bell, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) have banded together to file a complaint with the CRTC alleging that CTV has violated the Broadcasting Act by airing a “one-sided and unbalanced coverage” of its own advocacy campaign.
As reported by Cartt.ca, CTV has been promoting its ‘Save Local TV’ campaign across its television properties in an apparent attempt to pressure the government and the CRTC for fee-for-carriage. But incorporating the campaign into their local newscasts violates the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters own Code of Ethics, say the group of BDUs.
"While we…
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TORONTO – CTV has, predictably, refuted the allegations made by Rogers and other BDUs regarding its ‘Save Local TV’ public advocacy campaign.
In a statement sent late on Friday afternoon, the network said it has remained in “full compliance” with both the Broadcasting Act and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Code of Ethics, and called the complaint by the BDUs an “underhanded move by cable and satellite companies” and “an abuse of process designed to suppress freedom of speech and mislead the public”.
"The fact that the first we’re hearing about this is through a Rogers’ press release and still…
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