By Ahmad Hathout
Bell is challenging a decision by the CRTC that ruled the telco was not in the right to disconnect service to Iristel for failing to pay late charges on top of amounts owed to it.
While the CRTC ruled in December that Iristel was required to pay the amounts it owed to Bell, it also said that the telco could not disconnect services when Iristel failed to pony up late payment charges (LPC) because those are non-tariffed amounts.
Bell, which said the regulator didn’t spend time explaining that decision, claims this is a grave error because…
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APTN announced Tuesday its spring programming lineup includes an expanded slate of original indigenous-language content and youth-focused programming, which it calls “an investment in the next generation and the future of Indigenous storytelling”.
Reaffirming its commitment to revitalizing and preserving indigenous languages, APTN this spring is debuting new shows featuring the Cree, Dakota and Innu languages.
Premiering May 4 on the APTN Languages channel, Rabbit Soup features Davey Gott and his mom, Melva, chatting in Cree and embarking on a series of hilarious adventures around the world, without ever leaving their couch.
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By Ahmad Hathout
The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) has been approved Monday for a three-cent increase in the price broadcasters must pay to carry the service, despite the CRTC suspending that application months earlier until after it implemented changes to the regulatory system.
Broadcasters will now pay 16 cents per subscriber, per month to carry the channel, which is required of them under the Broadcasting Act’s 9.1(1)(h) rule. The new rate, which is what the not-for-profit asked for, will take effect on September 1, which is the start of the new broadcasting year.
“The Commission is of the…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Effective next year, the CRTC is mandating additional notifications to customers that it says will prevent bill shock and improve the wireless and internet codes.
The CRTC is requiring service providers to send their customers a hyperlink to a list of plans available for purchase 90 days before the expiration of customer contracts; will require that they notify customers – both on their monthly bills and directly – 90 days before the end date of a time-limited discount or promotion that lasts longer than three months; and require that they notify international travelers when they reach $50 in…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Corus on Friday reported lower revenue but higher profit in its fiscal second quarter, and said its programming has picked up pace following the Olympics.
“The winter Olympics, as expected, resulted in a delayed start to our global winter and spring schedule, along with audience and financial impacts consistent with prior Olympic years,” Corus CEO John Gossling said in an earnings conference call Friday. “These included shifts in the timing of programming and marketing costs as well as temporary disruption to typical advertising investment and viewing patterns.”
But Gossling said the media company’s programming picked up viewership pace after…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Thursday launched its fourth call for money from the Broadband Fund, with this round focused exclusively on fixed broadband and satellite service that must deliver at least the universal service objective of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds.
The applicants must show that they are building new or upgrading existing infrastructure and satellite operators must show they are delivering service in satellite-dependent communities (areas without traditional networks), the commission outlined in the call.
Projects with a transport component must propose rates, terms and conditions to offer that part of the network to other service…
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By Connie Thiessen
Colette Watson is set to retire as president of Rogers Sports & Media.
Watson will depart the company in mid-May, but will continue to serve in an advisory capacity through this fall.
She had been in the role since 2022, following Jordan Bank’s exit from the company.
“Colette has been a part of the Rogers fabric for over 35 years,” said Sarah Schmidt, vice president of communications, in a statement supplied to Cartt’s sister publication Broadcast Dialogue. “She has helped shape everything from content and channel line-up to the policies that govern them. She’s led Rogers Sports & Media making blockbuster deals…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled as premature a leave application challenging the CRTC’s determination that 20 per cent control over copyright is sufficient for Canadians to exploit their works.
The court said that determination, which emerged from a CRTC decision in November, has not yet been finalized, accepting the argument of the attorney general representing the regulator. The court made a similar ruling last week regarding compliants from Apple and the Canadian affiliate of the Motion Picture Association (MPA-C) about another aspect of the November decision for the same reason.
The…
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TekSavvy says regulator lacking teeth on the matter
By Ahmad Hathout
Despite CRTC letters asking them to maintain access, Cogeco and Eastlink have told the regulator they intend to move forward with decommissioning legacy facilities that will affect their wholesale customers.
In two recent letters, CRTC staff had asked Cogeco and Eastlink, who are converting their coaxial networks to fibre, to maintain those older facilities for TekSavvy and Fibernetics, respectively, and that it will embark on a review of decommissioning practices. The CRTC staff had asked the cablecos to confirm that access will be preserved.
But the…
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Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is asking the CRTC to deregister seven of its FAST channels as online undertakings — which it says were registered in error — or it may be forced to pull the channels from the Canadian market, it says.
The FAST channels include six from SPE affiliate Game Show Network LLC — Game Show Network, GET Comedy, Cinevault, Cinevault Westerns, Cinevault Classics and Crunchyroll (FAST channel) — and Culver Max Entertainment’s Sony KAL.
In a Part 1 application dated March 5 and made public Tuesday, SPE says the seven FAST channels are…
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