OTTAWA – Canada’s publicly traded television service providers combined lost almost six times more TV subscribers in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, and almost double what they lost in all of 2014, according to new research released Wednesday.
Ottawa-based research and consulting firm Boon Dog Professional Services also found that BCE, Rogers, Shaw/Shaw Direct, Vidéotron, Cogeco, Telus, and MTS (IPTV subscribers only) combined lost approximately 113,700 TV subscribers in their respective fiscal 2015 first and second quarters, up significantly from the 19,200 lost in the same quarters in 2014, and almost double…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – In its first financial report since becoming a public company, Stingray Digital said that it has started its new fiscal year “on a solid note” despite posting a $1.77 million net loss.
For the first quarter ended June 30, 2015, Stingray said that the loss was due primarily to costs related to the one-time IPO expenses and CRTC tangible benefits, and the related income tax impact. On an adjusted basis, net income increased 33.2% to $4.8 million, up from $3.6 million a year ago, as a result of its recent acquisitions combined with the signing of new international contracts,…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Corus Entertainment has announced that Teletoon Retro will cease to exist as of September 1st.
The company's Cartoon Network Canada will be shifted into its place for those TV providers who don’t already carry that channel, two carrier sources have told Cartt.ca. Both sources asked not to be named as they do not have permission to speak publicly on the matter but have been told by Corus representatives that is the plan.
While some had assumed that the channel would be rebranded as a Disney service, since Corus now owns the rights to that programming going forward and will…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU — Two duct-cleaning services companies that were notified previously in February of being in violation of Canada’s unsolicited telecommunications rules have still not paid the monetary penalties imposed by the CRTC.
The CRTC issued on Friday compliance and enforcement decisions against the two duct-cleaners who the Commission had previously determined had arranged for a telemarketer to make unsolicited telemarketing calls on their behalf, while they were not registered with or a paid subscriber of the National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
The two companies — N. Bro Transport Inc. and Goodlife Home Services Inc. — are listed as being…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The CRTC is amending its Rules of Practice and Procedure to remove the requirement to publish notices of consultation for broadcast licence renewal applications. The amendments also take into account amendments made to the Telecommunications Act and clarify that the Rules of Procedure do not apply to the Canadian anti-spam legislation.
These amendments will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and will come into force on the date of their registration, the CRTC said in its Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-357 decision on Thursday.
The proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure would make…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU — After months of public consultation, the CRTC has put the finishing touches on its regulatory policy concerning so-called hybrid video-on-demand (hybrid VOD or HVOD) services, issuing today a revised exemption order for VOD undertakings that takes effect immediately.
In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-355, the CRTC defines the newly created HVOD service category and outlines the rules that apply to HVOD services, explaining how they will be exempt from having to meet the specific regulatory requirements relating to financial contributions to and library space for Canadian programming that are applicable to traditional licensed VOD services.
To qualify for…
Continue Reading
“WHY IS OUR PM SHILLING for Netflix during the first week of our federal election campaign?” I wondered when I saw this video of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
We learned in the video tweeted early yesterday evening that one of his all-time favourite TV shows is Breaking Bad, reminding us it “is even available on some online streaming services, if you’ve never seen it.” Well, it’s only available for streaming online from Netflix (not some), unless you want to purchase individual episodes for download from Google Play or iTunes.
Oh, it’s also available on demand from our…
Continue Reading
TORONTO and OTTAWA-GATINEAU — Canadian Network Operators Consortium Inc. (CNOC) is asking the CRTC to mandate both Full Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) national wholesale access services and wholesale tower and site sharing services.
CNOC made the request in an application it submitted Monday to the CRTC to “review and vary” the Commission’s Regulatory framework for wholesale mobile wireless services, (Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-177). In its policy decision, issued in May, the Commission chose to regulate wholesale roaming services but continued to forbear from the regulation of MVNO and tower and site sharing services.
In its “review and vary”…
Continue Reading
QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – We may be in the dog days of summer right now, but it’s already less than seven weeks to the only Canadian cable show, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance’s Connect Conference and AGM set for September 20-22 at Mont Tremblant, Que. (right)
A few hundred cable company, programming supplier and technical vendor representatives will make their way to this popular resort north of Montreal to network, deal-make (and commiserate), as well as learn best practices from each other. “Our focus this year is on members learning from members – a lot of ‘best practices’,” said…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU — With the federal election campaign officially underway, the CRTC announced Monday it is now accepting registrations via the Voter Contact Registry from anyone who will be using calling service providers or robocall systems to call voters during the election.
In the wake of the robocall scandal that emerged during the 2011 federal election, when the Fair Elections Act was enacted in June 2014, new provisions were introduced for the regulation of voter contact calling services through the Voter Contact Registry. The registry is intended to protect Canadian voters from rogue and misleading telephone calls during federal elections, and…
Continue Reading
