OTTAWA – In a move that seems dangerously close to stepping on the CRTC’s toes, the Competition Bureau has kicked off a new market study to examine broadband competition and consumer habits in purchasing internet services.
The Bureau said Thursday that the study will focus on the state of competition in Canada’s broadband sector plus seeks “to identify positive steps that regulators or policymakers could take to further support competition among broadband providers”.
The study will address four broad themes: the ability of broadband providers to deploy competitive service offers, consumer reactions to new competitive alternatives, the impact of existing regulation…
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COVERING THIS INDUSTRY for as long as we have has meant that on a few occasions, folks we know have asked us to please send a letter to the CRTC to support this or that application.
Each time, we’ve said no. Not because certain applications don’t have merit, but because it’s not Cartt.ca’s role to file an official letter of intervention on something we are also trying to objectively cover.
That said, we do of course publish opinion or commentary pieces (like this one) that most definitely take a stand, whether ours or another’s (some of which we may not…
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LAST WEEK’S 9(1)(h) renewal hearing was the fourth such one for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and each one has been a new test for APTN’s leadership.
“The challenge we face every time for APTN is to justify its existence – and obviously it generates a fair amount of reaction from the rest of the industry, especially the BDUs,” said CEO Jean La Rose in an interview last week.
“Many are supportive of the network, but it has an impact on their bottom lines and they would rather not have that… We are asked the same questions…
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VANCOUVER – Independent Vancouver radio station Roundhouse Radio will go off the air Sunday.
The community-focused talk/interview with some music station launched in October of 2015 and has let the community know of late that it is struggling financially. It’s at 98.3 FM and is a low power station available only in the city of Vancouver and the North Shore.
In a media release today (May 4), the station did confirm it had an offer to take over operations, but that it needs CRTC approval to change owners, which can’t be done…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC said today the wholesale pricing structure offered by Rogers for NFL Sunday Ticket and NHL Centre Ice pay-per-view packages does not violate the Commission’s TV wholesale code of conduct.
Vidéotron had alleged its affiliation agreements with Rogers for NHL Centre Ice for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 NHL seasons, as well as NFL Sunday Ticket for the 2016 NFL season, included a minimum revenue guarantee, which runs contrary to section 4(g) of the Code Conduct, recounts the decision. (Ed note: Rogers no longer controls the rights to Sunday Ticket, which was purchased by OTT provider DAZN prior to…
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GATINEAU – This month the CRTC will provide a report to help the Government figure out the future of video consumption by Canadians, but our CRTC chairman started this week’s hearing by invoking the ghosts of hearings past.
Lots may have changed but issues and attitudes remain entrenched. To guess the outcome of a this hearing, you don’t need to look ahead, but back.
Not all CRTC hearings are created equal. Some attract national media and generate multiple stories. Others, not so much. The hearing held this week was of primary importance…
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MONTREAL and DARTMOUTH, N.S. – Stingray Digital Group, until now known mostly as a global, multiplatform provider of music channels to subscription TV companies and their customers, has made a significant move into a more traditional music format: broadcast radio.
The company announced today after the close of trading it has acquired Newfoundland Capital Corporation (NCC, or as it’s more commonly referred in the radio business, Newcap), one of Canada’s largest radio broadcasters with 101 licences (82 FM and 19 AM) across the country in a deal valued at $506 million.
According to Stingray, this move will significantly strengthen its position…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC announced two numbered companies operating as 514-BILLETS, whose main business is concert and sporting event ticket resale, agreed to resolve their alleged violations of Canada's anti-spam legislation for $100,000.
An investigation launched by the CRTC's chief compliance and enforcement officer alleged that the companies failed to comply with various requirements of the legislation between July 2014 and January 2016, reads the Commission’s release. “During this period, the company allegedly sent text messages without the recipient's consent, without information identifying the person who sent the messages, and without information enabling the recipient to readily contact the…
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MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group today announced an agreement to buy the Serdy Media and Serdy Video group of companies for $24 million.
The acquisition, which requires CRTC approval of its broadcasting assets, would see TVA add the Évasion (french language travel and adventure) and Zeste (food and cooking) specialty channels. According to CRTC filings, Evasion had 1.8 million subscribers as of August 31 2016 (latest figures available), $12.4 million in revenue and $2.3 million in pre-tax profit. As a category B Zeste does not have to file subscriber or profitability numbers but did report revenue of $6.6 million…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance announced Monday voting is now open for the 2018 edition of Tuned-in Canada: the CCSA Awards. (And, FYI, the CCSA officially becomes the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance on Tuesday. More on that later.)
The awards are a nation-wide, annual competition highlighting the excellent work performed by independent, local providers of internet, television and telephone services across Canada.
Canadians are invited to visit Tuned-in Canada 2018 to cast a vote for nominees in the following five categories:
1. Best content: community channel programming
2. Best people: on-camera community channel…
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