OTTAWA – The CRTC has agreed to a request by CBC to amend the broadcasting licences for its Espace Musique and Radio 2 networks and stations, tweaking the conditions of licence pertaining to advertising.
CBC was given the green light to introduce advertising on its Radio 2 and Espace musique properties in May 2013, but only for three years.
In the current applications, the CBC proposed to amend the conditions related to sponsored programming and embedded advertising. The Commission approved those demands on Tuesday.
www.crtc.gc.ca
www.cbc.radio-canada.ca
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has pushed back the deadline for comments on amendments to certain rules pertaining to the implementation of the national emergency alerting system.
After calling for feedback last month due March 31, the Commission said Tuesday that the deadline for receipt of comments has been extended to April 17, 2014.
The move comes at the behest of BCE, Cogeco Cable, Corus Entertainment, Newcap, Quebecor Media, Rogers Media, Shaw Communications, and Vista Radio which sent a joint letter to the Commission requesting the extension to provide comments in the proceeding.
The CRTC reiterated that the amended deadline does not…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC is welcoming spring with a fresh new look: to its website, that is.
The new site, unveiled Monday is now organized by themes and topics, designed to make it easier to find information. The new pages can also be viewed on mobile devices.
“Due to the size of our website, we are rolling out our new look in a phased approach”, reads a Commission-issued news release. “You may notice the old look as you delve deeper into the site, but don’t worry we will be continuing our improvements throughout the year.”
The CRTC reminded frequent visitors to the…
Continue Reading
DARTMOUTH, NS – Newfoundland Capital Corporation subsidiary Newcap Inc. received CRTC approval Friday to proceed with its purchase of CHNI-FM in Saint John, NB from Rogers Broadcasting.
The Commission also approved Newcap’s request to delete conditions of licence relating to the station’s programming, allowing it to move from a News/Talk to a music format, and approved changes to the authorized contours of CHNI-FM.
"This licence is a great fit for our company as it expands our presence in New Brunswick and represents our entry into the Saint John market”, said president and CEO Rob Steele, in a statement. “We are…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canada’s public broadcaster is not immune to the impacts of new viewing habits and Internet-based platforms, but rather than trying to turn back the clock, CBC/Radio-Canada is embracing new devices and technologies to remain relevant to Canadians, according to the CRTC.
Scott Hutton, executive director of broadcasting at the Regulator, noted during an appearance before the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Communications that one only needs to look at CBC’s coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics (and its multi-platform efforts), its content licensing agreements with Netflix and its Tou.tv French-language online video on-demand…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has scheduled a hearing next month which will hear a corporate reorganization request from Channel Zero, but it said Wednesday in announcing the hearing, that it will also determine whether four television services operated by the independent broadcaster have failed to comply with their conditions of licence or the specialty services regulations.
The Commission said Wednesday that it “calls the licensees to this public hearing, given the severity and frequency of the instances of apparent non-compliance observed and given the relationship between these licensees." For example, some of the adult services in question may not have shown…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has shot down a request by DiversityCanada Foundation to amend a section of its three-month old wireless code of conduct.
In an application last September, DiversityCanada Foundation, on its own behalf and on behalf of the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation, asked the Commission to review and vary Section J of the Wireless Code regarding prepaid cards.
DiversityCanada submitted that the Commission erred in fact and in law when it determined that prepaid card services provide access to a wireless service provider’s network, subject to both time and usage limitations, and that it would not be…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC on Friday fined four telemarketers a total of $38,000 for various violations to the country’s telemarketing rules.
Lev Olevson, carrying on business as Capital Windows and Doors and Advantage Pro, was fined $8,000 for initiating telemarketing telecommunications to consumers whose numbers were registered on the national do not call list (DNCL), for doing so when he was not a registered subscriber of the national DNCL, and had not paid all applicable fees to the national DNCL operator.
Advantage Pro Portes et Fenêtres was fined $6,000 for initiating telemarketing telecommunications to consumers whose telecommunications numbers were…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments on amendments to certain rules pertaining to the implementation of the national emergency alerting system.
The Commission said Thursday that the rules in question relate to the Radio Regulations, 1986, the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, the standard conditions of licence for video-on-demand undertakings, and exemption orders governing the operation of certain types of undertakings.
The proposed amendments would implement the mandatory distribution of emergency alert messages by December 31, 2014, thereby ensuring that Canadians receive timely warnings of imminent perils. The Commission also wants input on certain policy considerations…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments on amendments to its regulations around standard non-disclosure clauses and the auditing of subscriber information.
The Commission said Tuesday that the amendments would require licensed broadcasting undertakings engaged in a distribution arrangement or entering into carriage negotiations to sign agreements that include safeguards against the misuse of competitively sensitive information, thus providing a conducive environment for the negotiation of reasonable terms for the distribution, packaging and retailing of programming services.
A further amendment would introduce changes to the Commission’s audit requirements to clarify how audits of subscriber information held by broadcasting distribution undertakings…
Continue Reading
