The viewer rules
By Greg O’Brien
WHILE THE NEW DIGITAL GIZMOS and software used for TV newsgathering, dissemination and consumption has undergone wholesale, massive change, the way TV stations construct their evening news shows still looks very familiar.
Reporters spend the day gathering stories, editing video, voicing and so on and then anchors hit the air at six and 11 introducing those stories and throwing things over to the sports anchor, weather specialists and bantering with each other, live. While the reporters stories run and commercials air, anchors generally still sit and wait for that red light to go back on, the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has turned down a request by VMedia Inc. to add U.S.-based cable television shopping service QVC to the list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution north of the border.
In its decision on Monday, the Commission concluded that if authorized, QVC would be carrying on a broadcasting undertaking in whole or in part in Canada, a move that is contingent upon it either obtaining a broadcasting licence or being otherwise authorized pursuant to a valid exemption order. The CRTC added that it is unable to issue a broadcasting licence to QVC and that the…
Continue Reading
CHATHAM, ON – TekSavvy Solutions is applauding the CRTC’s decision that determined that wholesale telecom rates paid by competitive telecom providers are neither just nor reasonable.
In a statement responding to Telecom Decision CRTC 2016-117, the independent telco said that lower wholesale rates will allow it, and others, the chance to bring new services like video competition to the marketplace.
“The CRTC found that Internet traffic grows much faster than 20 percent annually, and that the cost of routing a gigabit falls by much more than 10 percent each year,” said TekSavvy chief legal & regulatory officer…
Continue Reading
Dear Editor,
The commentary published on March 30, “An unrepresentative survey,” fails to take into account important details of the public opinion research on telecom services. As a result, claiming that the study “missed speaking to Canadians who don’t have home Internet” could not be further from the truth.
Our objective was to hear from a broad diversity of Canadians, including those in rural or remote areas who have limited or no access to broadband Internet services. The survey was designed using a methodology that is recognized as an industry best practice. It included a representative sample…
Continue Reading
Canadians are receiving the broadband speeds they're paying for
OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The majority of broadband Internet services in Canada are as fast or faster than their advertised download and upload speeds, says a CRTC report on Internet services.
The preliminary report, released Thursday, found that most services from the country's major Internet service providers delivered between 109% and 122% of the advertised download speed, and that performance was largely consistent across all geographic regions of Canada in a mix of urban and rural settings.
Services using fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technologies delivered 119% of advertised download speed on average, while cable/hybrid-fibre co-axial (HFC) delivered 103%,…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Cord-cutters or -nevers missing their live sports now have the option to buy Sportsnet Now, a direct-to-consumer service, without a pay-television subscription.
Launching nationally on Friday, the live streaming service (including the regular TV ad load) of the six Sportsnet linear channels promises select NHL, MLB, NBA, soccer and tennis events, as well as original programming like Tim & Sid and Sportsnet Central. Sportsnet Now will be available on tablet, mobile and online for a monthly subscription of $24.99 with no contract and a 7-day trial period. It remains included for existing Sportsnet TV distributors such as Shaw, Telus, Bell,…
Continue Reading
WEDNESDAY, THE CRTC released a report by EKOS Research as part of its so-called Talk Broadband initiative.
“EKOS Research Associates conducted two types of public opinion research on telecommunication services in Canada and prepared a report for the CRTC. The first part of the report presents results gathered through a questionnaire that was completed by more than 30,000 Canadians. Between January 14 and February 29, 2016, close to 29,000 individuals completed the questionnaire. EKOS also administered the questionnaire with a separate sample group of over 1,600 Canadians representative of the population as…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – While seven in ten Canadians say that they are satisfied with the speed and reliability of their home Internet service, only one in three report being happy with the cost, according to a public opinion research report unveiled Wednesday by the CRTC.
The EKOS Research Associates report, prepared for the CRTC, comes two weeks before the Commission kicks off the public hearing related to its review of basic telecommunication services. The first part of the report presents results gathered through a questionnaire that was completed by more than 30,000 Canadians, and EKOS said that it also administered the…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – With some 80% of Canadians now owning a mobile device, the CRTC is asking for feedback on the participation of wireless service providers in Canada’s National Public Alerting System.
The Commission said Tuesday that its consultation builds on efforts to ensure Canadians are notified in a timely manner of emergency situations, as well as to ensure that the telecommunications system safeguards them. Comments are due by May 30, 2016.
Unlike 911 services which allow Canadians to contact emergency services, wireless public alerting would allow emergency management officials to “push” messages to Canadians through their cellular services. Issued by emergency…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – The CRTC has kicked off a public consultation as it seeks to establish a regulatory framework for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) emergency services in Canada.
NG 9-1-1 is a term used to describe more technologically advanced 9-1-1 services, such as the ability to send text messages, photos and videos to 9-1-1 operators, as well as dialing.
The CRTC has scheduled a public meeting in Gatineau starting January 16, 2017 that will cover issues such as NG9-1-1 services; NG9-1-1 architecture and responsibilities; transition steps and timelines; funding; confidentiality; and reporting and monitoring. Canadians have until May 20, 2016 to send…
Continue Reading
