Search Results for: cogeco

Cable / Telecom News

Germain leaving Cogeco

BURLINGTON – Gaston Germain announced today he is stepping down from his position as vice-president, Ontario. On October 15 he will start as president and COO of a Canadian programming service, which was not named in the press release. Until then he will remain at the head of Cogeco Cable’s Ontario operating unit. "I wish to express my gratitude to Cogeco’s management for giving me the leeway to contribute to the evolution of a great company and establish, for all Cogeco employees in Ontario, a solid ground to perform," said Germain in the press release. Company president and CEO… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

SNAP JUDGMENT: Hard to envision Bellus happening

By Greg O’Brien IF THERE WERE NO big bogeymen around to scare the federal government into re-jigging an open wireless spectrum auction to favour such things as spectrum caps, or spectrum set-asides – and then mandated roaming – there is now, with the announcement that Telus is an active participant in the expected sale of Bell Canada Enterprises. The press release arrived just after 8 p.m. last night and even though it means little right now, you’ve got to believe that the folks in Ottawa at Industry Canada who are deciding on the rules for the advanced wireless spectrum auction… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

The TUESDAY INTERVIEW: CPAC president Colette Watson

LAST WEEK THE Cable Public Affairs Channel celebrated its 15th anniversary of bringing Canadians the nitty gritty of politics. As the only place where you find federal Parliamentary debates, committee meetings, inquiry hearings, political talk shows, some international flavour and of course, Question Period, it’s also just about the only Paris Hilton-free media outlet in the world, which perhaps explains why it’s often on in our house… But, just because Canadian cable companies created it, own it, and politicians on the Hill love it, CPAC still, like any other traditional media outlet, has its challenges. While it was a… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Responding to “a concern“, CTF defers bylaw decision

BANFF – The Canadian Television Fund, saying it was responding to “a concern” but declining to name whose concern, said it would put off any changes to its bylaws until the CRTC is finished its review of the fund. Two weeks ago, Shaw Communications CEO Jim Shaw sent a blistering letter to the CTF saying the fact the organization was planning to alter its bylaws at the same time the CRTC is examining the fund and its operations “flies in the face of common sense.” Today, buried in a press release of the CTF’s report to stakeholders, the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco adds to Quebec HD lineup; expands VOIP coverage

MONTREAL – Six new high definition channels have been added to Cogeco Cable’s Québec channel line-up, including two French Québec channels, the company announced Tuesday. “Our customers are increasingly interested in our HD television service as they discover the outstanding quality this technology offers. As the number of available high definition programs and channels increases, Cogeco Cable strives to continuously provide the best possible HD experience” said Ron Perrotta, vice-president, marketing of Cogeco Cable in a press release. The new channels are: • TQS-CFJP (channel 502) • TVA-CTM (channel 503) • ABC-WXYZ (channel 530) • CBS-WWJ (channel 531) •… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Commentary: List of “scallywags” a long one in spectrum auction battle

OTTAWA – Quebecor and MTS Allstream are not alone among telecom and cable firms in their desire for a wireless spectrum auction that would shackle the "big three" mobile phone companies in Canada. Among those aligned with the Quebec and Manitoba companies that have been leading the charge to have spectrum in the auction set aside for new entrants – and who have also proposed other rules like mandated roaming and tower sharing – include: Cogeco Cable, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance, Shaw Communications, EastLink, the Assembly of First Nations and Toronto Hydro Telecom, among others. The list… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

More ad time won’t help Quebec ‘casters

MONTREAL – Like every other conventional television broadcaster in English Canada, Quebec’s Télévision Quatre-Saisons (TQS) had argued for the CRTC’s acceptance of carriage fees to help OTAs compete with fee-supported speciality channels. “We’re very disappointed,” said TQS President & CEO René Guimond, after the CRTC rejected the idea Thursday. “For us, it’s the continuation of the old model, a model in need of adjustments.” “I thought we had made the clear demonstration that there is inequity between conventional broadcasters and the speciality channels. And the reason number one for the inequity is the issue of fees,” Guimond told… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco eyeing PT Multimedia, says report

LISBON – Cogeco Cable may be looking to dramatically expand its Portuguese operations by purchasing the piece of the country’s main telecom company which owns the largest cable operator there, according to a newspaper report this week. Cogeco already owns Cabovisao, the second-largest cable company in the country (approx. 280,000 basic subs) and a business newspaper there called Diario Economico said the Canadian company’s executives have met with Portugal Telecom to inquire about purchasing PT Multimedia. According to U.K. investors’ web site Hoovers, PT Multimedia holds a number of assets for its parent company, Portugal Telecom. "TV Cabo offers… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Corus and Cogeco force change in Quebec radio sales

MONTREAL – Corus Québec and Cogeco Radio Television today announced the creation of Groupe Force Radio, a consolidated national sales team that will form a single company which will be the largest radio sales organization in Quebec. It will begin operation on June 4. "Our aim in combining the Corus Québec and Cogeco Radio Television Inc. sales teams into Groupe Force Radio is to increase radio usage in Quebec and build on the undeniable marketing strength of 18 stations with complementary formats," said Corus Radio Montreal vice-president of operations Mario Cecchini and Cogeco Radio Television CEO René Guimond in… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco extends digital phone service to Amherstburg, Belle River

MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable announced Wednesday it had extended its digital phone service to Amherstburg and Belle River, ON. “Since its initial launch, the digital phone service has had a snowball effect on the number of subscriptions to other Cogeco Cable services and its deployment has been enthusiastically welcomed in the markets where it was introduced,” the cableco said in a statement. The digital phone service costs as little as $44.99 per month, if customers also subscribe to the company’s high-speed Internet and cable TV services. The cableco is currently running a promotion that gives up to $15 off… Continue Reading