Search Results for: cogeco

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco unveils new Quebec operations facility

TROIS-RIVIERES – Cogeco officially opened its new operations centre in Trois-Rivieres on Monday. The multi-functional $18 million facility consolidates Cogeco Cable's Quebec telecommunications nerve centre in the Mauricie region.  In addition to bringing together some 500 employees under one roof and creating nearly 100 direct and indirect jobs, the new 79,000 square foot building houses a modern work environment and cutting-edge hi-tech equipment. "Inaugurating this new centre demonstrates Cogeco's commitment to the region and our recognition for the people who live here, who have supported us for over 50 years”, said president and CEO Louis Audet at the ceremony (seen below,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco sells off two Quebec City area FM stations, renews $100M credit facility

MONTREAL – Cogeco Diffusion said Wednesday that it has sold two of its four Québec City region FM radio stations to Leclerc Communication Inc.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The sale of CJEC-FM and CFEL-FM comes at the behest of the CRTC which required Cogeco to sell off some of the stations that it acquired from Corus in order to comply with the common ownership policy in the Québec City and Sherbrooke markets.  The company said in a statement that proceedings for the sale of CJTS-FM in Sherbrooke are continuing. In other company news, Cogeco Inc. has renewed its… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco reportedly seeking to sell Portuguese cable unit

MONTREAL – Cogeco Inc. may be trying to unload its flagging Portuguese subsidiary Cabovisao. According to a report by telecommunications market research and consulting firm TeleGeography, Cogeco is shopping the cableco to various Portuguese and international telecom operators and private equity funds. A Cogeco spokesperson at the company’s Montreal headquarters declined to confirm the report, noting in an email to Cartt.ca that it is the company’s policy not to comment on rumours. But a second report by TeleGeography quoted officials at Portugal Telecom and Optimus during the Congress of the Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications, who declined interest in buying… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Cogeco on side with new musical montage regulations

MONTREAL – Cogeco Diffusion Inc. (CDI) has agreed to comply with CRTC requirements around the use of musical montages in the programming of its French-language radio stations and take part in discussions about French-language vocal music requirements. The Commission said Thursday that CDI-owned CKOI-FM and Astral’s CKTF-FM were found to be airing up to 18% of long montages composed almost exclusively of popular English-language and non-Canadian music, contrary to regulations, and imposed conditions of licence. While pledging to adhere to the CRTC’s new requirement, CDI pointed out that CKOI-FM was still owned by Corus during the period in question, and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

New players poised to crack Montreal radio market as Commission jams Cogeco’s traffic plan

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Bell Media won its desired 690 kHz spot on the dial in the Montreal radio market, while Cogeco Diffusion was shut out by a newcomer for the 940 kHz location. The CRTC issued its decision Monday, granting Bell Media’s request for a frequency change for its TSN radio station from 990 kHz to 690 kHz.  As Cartt.ca reported, Cogeco had applied for an English-language all-traffic station on AM 940 to accompany its French-language service Radio Circulation 730 that launched this fall. The Commission also awarded two new AM radio licences for the market, which is currently served by 34 stations, 21… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco raises $35 M

MONTREAL – Cogeco Inc. has completed a private placement issue senior unsecured notes for a total of $35 million. The company said Monday that net proceeds will be used to reduceCogeco’s bank debt. Interest on these Notes, which mature November 7, 2021, is payable semi-annually in arrears on November 7 and May 7 of each year starting May 7, 2012. www.cogeco.ca Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco offers Sun News a permanent home

MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable is adding Sun News to its lineup in Ontario starting Tuesday. For the past six months, Cogeco Ontario customers have been able to watch the channel via the old over-the-air Sun TV signal that is scheduled to cease operation at midnight on October 31.  The channel, a joint venture between Quebecor’s TVA Group and Sun Media Corporation, will be available on channel 195 (SD) and 705 (HD), plus be added to Cogeco’s ‘Digital Select’ theme package. “We always strive to provide the most interesting and relevant offering on the market”, said Ron Perrotta, Cogeco’s VP of marketing… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

More channel choice is the future of cable, says Cogeco’s Audet

MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable CEO Louis Audet said yesterday that the existing subscription TV model of providing large multi-channel programming packages to customers will soon be a thing of the past as companies evolve towards a model of more choice and flexibility. Speaking to financial analysts after the company’s release of its strong fourth quarter results, Audet said irrespective of the CRTC’s demand for a report on providing more choice to the consumer (as the Commission has demanded as part of its Vertical Integration Policy), the overall video market will push cable in that direction. “It’s… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

“Organic and external growth” boost profits at Cogeco

MONTREAL  – Surging fourth quarter profits helped drive Cogeco’s “strong” year-end results, the cable and media company said Thursday. For the fiscal year ended August 31, Cogeco Inc. reported a 9.2% increase in consolidated revenue to reach $1.44 billion, while fourth-quarter consolidated revenue grew 12.5% year-over-year to $375.4 million. Quarterly net income was $21.1 million, up almost 72% from $12.3 million in the same period last year, though the company recorded a $9 million net loss for the year due in large part to an $225.9 million impairment loss of recorded on its investment in its Cabovisao subsidiary in Portugal.   "Cogeco posted… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco beefs up on-demand content in Quebec

MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable has added almost 100 hours a month to its on-demand content in Quebec, aimed at women, cooking and home decor enthusiasts, and movie fans. The new content includes Mlle Sur Demande, CASA Sur Demande, addikTV Sur Demande plus Cinepop Sur Demande, a Cogeco Cable exclusive.  It is available now to Quebec-based customers who subscribe to one of these channels and have access to Cogeco On Demand. "Our customers are real fans of the shows offered by Mlle, CASA, addikTV and Cinepop, but sometimes their schedules just don't allow them to tune in right at broadcast time, and they'd… Continue Reading