GATINEAU – Shaw Cable must change the way it treats and markets Canada’s gay and lesbian category one digital specialty service Outtv, the CRTC ruled today.
The specialty service and Shaw have had a long and rocky history, dating to its launch in 2001 as Pridevision, back when it was owned by Score Media. Ownership of the channel has changed a couple of times since and the most recent owners, extremely frustrated at how the big western cableco has treated the channel, went to the Commission earlier this year for help.
Tuesday’s decision found that Shaw has subjected the…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco reported today that growth and acquisitions in the cable sector helped to drive up their consolidated revenue by 16.5% to $292.9 million for their fourth quarter, and by 14.4% to $1.1 billion for their fiscal year end.
Revenue-generating units (RGU) in the cable sector grew by 41,100 for the quarter and 231,209 net additions for the year, for a total of 2,716,874 RGU at August 31, 2008, the company’s press release said. FYI – one subscriber with voice, Internet, analog and digital cable TV equals four RGUs.
"Our fourth-quarter was marked by the entry of Cogeco…
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MONTREAL – Ian Collins has been named acting president of Cogeco Data Services, the company announced today.
He was president of FibreWired Hamilton prior to joining Cogeco Data Services as vice-president, operations in the fall of 2005. Collins has been responsible for leading the technical direction, planning, construction and maintenance of the Cogeco Data Services fibre network.
In partnership with the management team, Collins will be responsible for leading the market growth and development of Cogeco Data Services, with operational responsibilities for business strategy, sales, marketing, network operations, product development and customer care in his new role as acting…
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TORONTO – Facing a "moderate recession" in Canada, our cable and media companies seem well positioned to weather a deteriorating economy, says a recent analyst’s research report.
BMO Capital Markets financial analyst Tim Casey – who covers cable and media in Canada – admitted that while he was lowering his overall earnings forecasts “for the second time in three weeks” based on an “underlying thesis” of a “moderate recession in Canada” like the one we endured in the early 1990s, most companies seem well positioned to ride it out.
On the radio side, which is of course tied to…
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MONTREAL – Dave Dobbin, president of Cogeco Data Services has resigned, the company announced today.
He has decided “to pursue new career goals” with a new telecommunications start up, effective November 28, 2008, says the Cogeco press release.
Dobbin was president and CEO of Toronto Hydro Telecom and stayed with its new owners, Cogeco, when the municipal telecom firm was purchased earlier this year for $200 million.
"Cogeco Data Services is a solid business and we will work with the team in place to continue to develop our service offering. We are in a position to continue to…
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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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