TORONTO – After securing carriage on Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Cogeco Cable, Teletoon Retro, a digital channel launched less than two months ago, already has over 4 million subscribers.
That’s within anvil-tossing distance of some analog stations, like BNN, which has just over five million, for example.
The rapid build-up can likely be traced to the channel’s decision, as we reported here, to request digital basic carriage in exchange for very low wholesale rates (free for a year, six cents the following year and five cents for the next three years). So for the BDUs that carry…
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MONTREAL – Seems as though in the burgeoning new media world, holding a broadcast license is less of “a license to print money.”
Quebec broadcaster TQS today said it has “obtained an order by Québec Superior Court under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act with a view to protecting TQS and its subsidiaries from claims by creditors and allow it to reorganize its operations,” in the official press release.
In other words, TQS – a broadcaster 60%-owned by Cogeco Inc, and 40% by CTVglobemedia, is now under bankruptcy protection.
Issued for a period of 30 days, the order also applies…
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IN 2003, WHEN THE HOUSE of Commons Heritage Committee issued the “Our Cultural Sovereignty” report (better known as the Lincoln Report) it recommended that “the existing foreign ownership limits for broadcasting and telecommunications be maintained a current levels.”
At that time, the then Canadian Alliance Party, whose leader was Stephen Harper, put out the following dissenting opinion: “The Canadian Alliance disagrees with (this recommendation). The Canadian Alliance supports relaxing foreign ownership rules on Canadian industry, including telecommunications and broadcast distribution. We suggest conducting an immediate review to determine whether to reduce or completely remove these rules.” Those very same…
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TORONTO – If you’re a hockey fan with a high definition television set, you want to see as many games as possible in crisp, clear HD.
And if your favorite regional National Hockey League team is playing on Rogers Sportsnet, you don’t want to hear the technical and league reasons why there is poker on Sportsnet HD (shot in standard definition) while the game (shot in HD) appears in fuzzier analog on the SD Sportsnet channel.
The reasons why that was, was confusing enough for those of us in the industry, let alone a regular hockey fan.
Years ago,…
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TORONTO – At 9 a.m. EST this morning, Playhouse Disney began broadcasting its neat-o educational and entertaining programming for young children.
Owned and launched by Family Channel in Canada, the company flew Mickey Mouse in for the official launch as they flipped the switch on the channel this morning, first on Bell ExpressVu and then next on Mountain Cable. According to Family execs, Cogeco Cable is next.
Family and Playhouse Disney held an industry event last night and a public event this morning in Toronto with Mickey and some pals to celebrate the launch.
Playhouse Disney is a commercial-free,…
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TORONTO – CTAM Canada is hosting a seminar on “How to Market Television Services in a Multi-product World” on November 22 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Velma Rogers Theater (333 Bloor Street East).
The moderator is Harris Boyd (Solaracom) and the panelists are David Purdy (Rogers Cable), Gary Pelletier (Cogeco Cable), John Piercy (Mountain Cablevision), Domenic Vivolo (Astral Television Networks), Andrew Eddy (Corus) and Cal Millar (Channel Zero).
There will be time for questions and comments from audience members.
The event is free for CTAM Canada members, and registration will be available at the door for new…
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TORONTO – Join CTAM Canada and a panel of experts for a new seminar entitled: "How to Market Television Services in a Multi-product World."
When: Thursday, November 22, 2007
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Velma Rogers Theatre, 333 Bloor St. E.
Cost: Free to all CTAM Canada Members (To become a CTAM Canada Member visit www.ctam.ca for details)
Registration: RSVP to Kirsten McKernan at kirsten.mckernan@chumtv.com or by calling 416-591-7400 ext. 2587
Moderator: Harris Boyd (Solaracom)
Panelists: David Purdy (Rogers Cable), Gary Pelletier (Cogeco Cable), John Piercy (Mountain Cablevision), Domenic Vivolo (Astral Television Networks), Chris Fuoco (Alliance Atlantis…
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MONTREAL – In an effort to reduce operating costs, Quebec private TV network TQS has abolished 40 jobs across the province, just as 60% owner Cogeco and its minority partner CTVglobemedia are embarking upon a review of their investment in the broadcaster.
Employees learned of the cuts from TQS president and CEO René Guimond.
“It saddens us to make this decision,” Guimond said. “We chose to act now to reduce our operating costs so that we can protect our programming schedule. If we hadn’t, the company could have been forced to take more drastic action.”
He laid part…
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TORONTO – They don’t say so directly, but The Movie Network’s upcoming marketing campaign meant to support its upcoming free preview weekend will also likely swallow up the launch of its new competitor, Super Channel.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 9 and running until Sunday, November 11, the pay channel’s free preview event will showcase the network’s Hollywood-hit movies, HBO and Showtime programming as well highlight its on-demand and high-definition features.
“There is no better way for a potential subscriber to experience the value and entertainment of The Movie Network than to sample it for themselves and…
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SOME FILED REAMS of digital paper with the Commission (Rogers Communications’ submission was 132 pdf pages and a few appendices), while others were more concise (Shaw’s was just nine pages, plus a couple of research reports)
Anyway, we’ve read more than a few thousand words and identified what appear to be the primary issues facing the CRTC with its review of the policies governing broadcast distribution undertakings (all licensed video providers) and specialty services. The hearing is set for February 4 in Gatineau.
Below is a bit of a synopsis of what the BDUs are asking for and what…
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