Search Results for: cogeco

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco adds WGN HD

MONTREAL – Cogeco Cable has launched WGN HD, a U.S. digital specialty channel from Chicago, the company announced today. "As we continue to invest in our state-of-the-art cable network, we will continue to launch new HD channels as they become available," said Ron Perrotta, vice-president, marketing of Cogeco Cable. WGN HD (channel 293) will be available for free to the majority of Cogeco digital cable subscribers who are paying the $6 HD access fee and who also subscribe to its movies package. "Our digital cable service has been gaining popularity with more than 43,000 new subscribers in the three… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco upgrades guidance thanks to hot cable performance

MONTREAL – Over the third quarter of fiscal 2007, ended May 31st, revenue at Cogeco Inc. increased by 46.2% reaching $277.4 million and operating income before amortization improved by 44.4%, to stand at $95.5 million. While Cogeco operates a number of radio stations and has majority control of Quebec conventional broadcaster TQS, it’s the cable side – in Quebec, Ontario and Portugal, that’s really driving the company. “The cable subsidiary continued to exceed the last financial projections. Revenue generating units (RGUs) are up as well as overall financial results. The media sector improved its revenue mainly due to the performance of… Continue Reading

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

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

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

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco’s Pelletier headed to CTAM U

TORONTO – Cogeco Cable’s Gary Pelletier will head to Harvard in June as the recipient of the CTAM Canada Fellowship Award to attend the 10th annual Executive Management Program. Known as CTAM U, The Executive Management Program is a week-long intensive learning program at the Harvard Business School (HBS). The program focuses on strategic marketing and business principles through a detailed case study curriculum administered by HBS professors and key industry leaders. Pelletier is director, product marketing (CATV and Broadband) at Cogeco Cable. He is responsible for acquisition, retention, pricing, promotions, packaging and product definition for analog and digital television… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Cogeco, Cogeco Cable up minimum share ownership for executives

MONTREAL – Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Cable Inc. are expecting their senior executive officers to own more of the two companies. “To reflect best corporate governance practices in Canada,” Cogeco announced Monday it was upping the minimum share ownership levels for people such as Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Cable President and CEO Louis Audet. Audet is expected to acquire shares equaling at least five times – previously it was three – his base salary. He will have until October 2011 to reach that level. The minimum share ownership level to be held by Audet may be comprised of multiple… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telephony, basic TV and Internet growth on rise at Cogeco

MONTREAL – All of Cogeco Cable’s services, except digital TV, grew faster in the second quarter ended February 28 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to financial results released Wednesday. Cogeco Cable added 13,961 net digital TV customers in the second quarter of 2007 compared with 24,547 in the same period last year. Cogeco said the digital TV slowdown reflects a maturing of the digital TV segment following a period of robust growth. As well, the company adjusted the service offering and price gap differential between analog TV services and digital TV services in the second… Continue Reading