GATINEAU – There are always some interesting figures which emerge with the publishing of the annual aggregate returns of the large carriers and broadcasters by the CRTC.
Below are a few highlights from the data filed by Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV companies (we’ll look at the conventional TV, pay and specialty and radio numbers later) for the broadcast year ended August 31, 2014.
Of the subscriber losses suffered by the large, established TV carriers (cable and satellite brands Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct, Videotron, Bell Satellite TV, Cogeco Cable and Eastlink) almost all went to…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The score is Rogers – 1, Bell – 0, after the CRTC dismissed Bell’s complaint Monday that Rogers’ GamePlus online hockey viewing app provides that company with an “anticompetitive advantage.”
GamePlus is a feature within GameCentre Live. GameCentre Live is Rogers’ online platform that allows fans to stream over 1,000 NHL regular season and playoff games online and to whatever device they like for $200 a season, a subscription which is open to anyone. GamePlus offers different camera angles, exclusive interviews, highlights and advanced stats, and is exclusive to Rogers’ TV, Internet, home phone and wireless customers who…
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OTTAWA–GATINEAU – Canadian-made content can hold its own among the best in the world, and therefore no longer requires “certain” regulatory protections, CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said Thursday while releasing the third round of decisions from the Let’s Talk TV proceeding.
The Commission is cutting the Canadian content quota for local TV stations during the day from 55% to zero, but will keep the weekday prime time requirement that 50% of programming aired between 6:00 and 11:00 PM. Specialty channels, which currently have quotas that range from 15% to 85%, will see their Cancon requirements harmonized at 35% overall with…
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OTTAWA – A group representing distributors of Canadian feature films believes Canada’s broadcast regulator should do more to help foster the growth of Canada’s movie industry.
The Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters (CAFDE) and one of its members, Elevation Pictures, told a House of Commons committee Monday that there is a role for the CRTC to play to spur demand for Canadian feature films, possibly through a quota system imposed on broadcasters or by bringing so-called over-the-top (OTT) content providers under the regulator’s jurisdiction.
“One of the most difficult challenges we face is that these OTT services…
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OTTAWA – Kevin Crull, president of Bell Media, took to the pulpit at the Canadian Media Production Association’s annual Prime Time conference on Friday to criticize the CRTC for creating a regulatory environment that in fact hurts the Canadian system and to call for the banning of American OTA TV signals from Canadian cable, satellite and IPTV carriers.
During his nearly 25-minute speech, Crull spoke about a number of problems facing Canadian broadcasters, rights owners and distributors as a result of the commission’s current trajectory. This ranges from the advantage U.S. specialty channels enjoy, subscriber fees, geographic rights…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC issued its first fine under the country’s new anti-spam laws Thursday, handing out a whopping $1.1 million penalty to Quebec-based Compu-Finder.
The Commission said that its investigation found that Compu-Finder sent commercial electronic messages without the recipient’s consent, as well as emails in which the unsubscribe mechanisms did not function properly. The four alleged violations occurred between July 2, 2014 and September 16, 2014, and included emails promoting training courses to businesses, often related to topics such as management, social media and professional development.
The CRTC added that it conducted a number of information sessions across the…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Some of Northwestel’s Internet customers will see their monthly bills drop this spring after the CRTC ordered the telecom provider to cut its rates for certain residential Internet services.
The Commission said Wednesday that Northwestel must reduce rates for residential low-speed Internet connections over a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), named ‘DSL Internet Lite’ and ‘DSL Internet 2’, by 10%, and that its rates for residential DSL Internet services with download speeds of 5 and 15 megabits per second, known as ‘DSL Internet 5’ and ‘DSL Internet 15’, must come down by 30%. In addition, Northwestel will not be able to increase…
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TORONTO and OTTAWA – The XLIX Super Bowl may have been decided over a month ago, but the matter of American Super Bowl ads coming to Canadian television is still front and centre for Bell Media, the current Canadian rightsholder of the big game.
On Monday, the broadcaster filed a motion with the Federal Court of Appeal seeking to appeal BRP CRTC 2015-25, the CRTC’s January 29th decision prohibiting the practice of simultaneous substitution in Super Bowl games starting in 2017. Bell Media spokesperson Scott Henderson said in a statement that in making that decision, “the CRTC erred in…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Public payphones still have a role in Canadian society, and telcos must follow a new series of measures before removing the last public phone in a community, the CRTC said Thursday.
Despite their dwindling usage, payphones are important because of their accessibility, their one-time per-use cost, and unlimited time for local and toll-free calls, the Commission said. It is calling for public input on a proposal that all incumbent telephone companies be obligated to notify communities affected, including municipalities and First Nations, before removing the last public telephone. Telcos would also have to notify communities before removing…
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OTTAWA – Bracebridge and Gravenhurst , ON could soon have a new radio station after the CRTC issued a call for comments on market capacity and on the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve those areas.
The Commission said Tuesday that it issued the call after receiving an application from Owen Sound-based Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation for a new commercial mainstream music station in that market. The Bracebridge and Gravenhurst area is currently served by CFBG-FM Bracebridge, an English-language commercial radio station operated by Vista Radio Ltd.
Interventions are due by March 26 and the deadline to file replies…
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