Search Results for: cogeco

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco Data Services partners with TDSB

TORONTO – Cogeco Data Services has signed a 10 year deal with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) worth $39 million. The agreement calls for Cogeco Data Services to provide the TDSB with a wide area network connection to approximately 600 schools and administrative buildings serving over 300,000 students and 30,000 educators and administrators. Cogeco Data Services will “increase the reach and capabilities of the (existing) fibre backbone” by constructing additional fibre optic cable throughout the city, and providing a “substantially higher capacity connection for each location”, the press release said. CDS is the former Toronto Hydro Telecom. "The TDSB… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco Cable feels insulated against cooling economy, says CEO Audet

TORONTO – Even in bad economic times, consumers will keep paying for cable, Internet and phone services, and choose to compromise in other purchase areas instead, according to Cogeco Cable’s president and CEO, Louis Audet. “This has been our experience for the last 36 years – people tend to keep their television service (during difficult economic times),” Audet said. “And the Internet, of course, has become a necessity for households…and, of course, the phone. “But on the other hand, what you do see is a slower rate of growth, or you might see a bit higher bad debt come… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

One day left to nominate a young engineer

TORONTO – Nominations close Wednesday, December 10th for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) brand new Young Canadian Engineering Professional of the Year Award. The SCTE, along with Aurora Networks as the primary sponsor and Cartt.ca as the publishing partner, last month announced the development and launch of a new award that annually will recognize a young cable telecommunications engineering professional in Canada who is already making his or her mark on the industry. The Young Canadian Engineering Professional of the Year Award will debut as part of the inaugural SCTE Canadian Summit, which is set for Tuesday… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco adds three channels in Quebec

MONTREAL – Cogeco has added TSN2 and one of Canal Indigo channels to its HD lineup, and Teletoon Retro in SD to its digital platform in Quebec. "By adding these three new channels to our digital and HD television line-ups, we are giving our customers the choice to watch even more of what they want," said Ron Perrotta, vice-president of marketing and strategic planning in a press release. www.cogeco.ca Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Dave to lead DAVE, says report

TORONTO – Dave Dobbin, the former president and CEO of Toronto Hydro Telecom, now known as Cogeco Data Services after the cable company bought it for $200 million this year, has been hired by John Bitove to run DAVE, the entrepreneur’s nascent wireless company, reports the Financial Post. Bitove’s DAVE (Data and Audio-Visual Enterprises) Wireless spent about $243 million to acquire spectrum during this summer’s auction in several areas, such as Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and pieces of Ontario. Click here for the full story. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Angry Asper warns of further CRTC battles: Wants local obligations cut; fee-for-carriage re-visited

TORONTO – Canwest Global CEO Leonard Asper said today that the changes in the media world and the slumping overall economy means that his company has only just begun the fight for structural changes on the regulatory front. In leading off his comments this morning in a conference call with financial analysts over his company’s quarterly results – including a billion-dollar write down – Asper sounded angry about the new policies on specialty channels and broadcast distribution undertakings released October 30th by the CRTC. Specifically, the part of the decision that denied his company’s request for a… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

OPINION: Broadcasters association faces uncertain future

ON THE SURFACE, the 2008 Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention went off with nary a hitch. Speeches and panels were mostly interesting, attendance was stable compared to last year and the country’s broadcasters did their usual good job in celebrating their best and brightest while we were all entertained by various musical acts over about a 42-hour span at the Westin Hotel. Behind the scenes though, it’s a much different story. Now, while no one would go on the record with me about any of this, it became quite clear while talking to many people on the show floor… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Commission raps Shaw over treatment of Outtv

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cable drives growth at Cogeco

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… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco’s Collins acts promoted

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… Continue Reading