WINNIPEG – MTS said Wednesday that it has received a final order from the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench approving its proposed $3.9 billion acquisition by BCE.
The transaction, expected to close in late 2016 or early 2017, remains subject to regulatory approvals from the CRTC, the Competition Bureau, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.
"We are pleased to receive the approval of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench for our proposed transaction with BCE," said MTS president and CEO Jay Forbes, in a statement. "This builds…
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OTTAWA – The federal government has finally kicked off its search for a new vice-chairperson of broadcasting, some seven months after former chair Tom Pentefountas vacated the role.
According to the posting, the incumbent is responsible for assisting the CRTC chairperson in providing effective leadership to the Commission, assuming responsibility for broadcasting issues, and for providing support to the management of the administrative tribunal.
Candidates must apply online by July 19, 2016 via the Governor in Council website.
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Clearcable Summit
HAMILTON – The CRTC’s basic service obligation hearing often bogged down in consumer minutiae centering on what those in rural areas “should” be using with a bigger/better broadband connection potentially funded by the public purse or funds pulled from contributions by network owners (which, of course, come from the monthly bills paid by all of us).
Are we talking about rolling out deeper, faster connectivity just so that everyone down every last country road can stream the new season of Orange Is The New Black in 4K? My answer (in my head anyway) was: “Who cares? That’s censorship. People…
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Office culture needs repair
WITH BOTH THE 2016 NBA and NHL drafts happening this week, sports fans know that among all the “mock drafts” and other analyses about the brand new about-to-be-pros, there are a smattering of additional stories which speculate what the draft will look like next year, in 2017, despite the fact anything can happen in a year and the pure conjecture involved to write a piece like that relies on a great many moving parts falling into place – and not a small amount of gossip and guesswork.
So it is in that spirit I’m going to look…
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GATINEAU and TORONTO – The federal government has relieved Raj Shoan of his duties as CRTC commissioner for Ontario. This is believed to be the first time a commissioner’s appointment was rescinded mid-term.
The Order-in-Council says the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Mélanie Joly, wrote to Shoan “informing him that certain of his actions brought to her attention called into question his capacity to continue serving as a Commissioner of the CRTC, providing him with information regarding these concerns including the documentation upon which they were based, and inviting him to make any representations that he wished…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – A drop in advertising revenue helped slow the pace of growth at Canada’s specialty, pay, PPV and VoD television services in the broadcast year ending August 31, 2015, according to the CRTC’s statistical and financial report for this sector released Thursday.
Pay, Pay-per-View, Video-On-Demand and Specialty Services – Statistical and Financial Summaries 2011-2015 said that the sector generated revenues of $4.3 billion in 2015, a modest 0.5% increase over the $4.2 billion earned the previous year, which was hampered by a $19 million decline in advertising revenue, which was offset by a $30.6 million increase in subscription revenues.
The report…
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WINNIPEG – MTS shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed $3.9 billion acquisition by BCE.
The deal was approved Thursday by 99.66% of the 43,098,172 votes cast by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting of shareholders held in Winnipeg.
"MTS shareholders have overwhelmingly supported the BCE transaction," said MTS president and CEO Jay Forbes, in a statement. "This strong support reflects the meaningful value that shareholders will receive as a result of this transaction, which also provides compelling benefits to MTS customers, employees and to the province of Manitoba. With these shareholder approvals…
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BANFF – Canada has a long history of playing catch-up when it comes to setting policy for electronic media, starting with radio in the early part of last century and then with conventional television and cable TV through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. We can’t afford that any more.
The U.S. generally pushed the envelope in launching new media, Canadians adopted the technology and governments here played regulatory catch-up, often preferring early monopolies in radio or TV over competition in the marketplace.
“By first delaying the introduction of television, and then delaying the introduction of competing services, government policy almost guaranteed…
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TORONTO – Ontario CRTC Commissioner Raj Shoan got his day in court Tuesday in his attempt to quash a finding of workplace harassment levelled against him last year.
That complaint, brought by former executive director of communications Amanda Cliff against Shoan over seven different email threads sent over seven months in 2014, was investigated by an outside third party firm hired by the CRTC. After conducting multiple interviews with Commission staff, commissioners and chairman Jean-Pierre Blais (and uncovering a workplace seemingly in turmoil, with plenty of blame to go around, if you read the report, as…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital Group is buying music video channels MuchLoud, MuchRetro, MuchVibe and Juicebox from Bell Media, the companies announced early Tuesday morning. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stingray called the four specialty services a “valuable addition” to its slate of TV music services that already includes Stingray Ambiance, Stingray Lite TV, Stingray Concerts plus the recently acquired Brava and Djazz. Upon completion of the transaction, expected in the third quarter of this year, the channels will be rebranded and relaunched under the Stingray brand.
“In an industry where consolidation is the watchword, and where growth and…
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