Search Results for: crtc

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

CRTC streamlines website

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

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

ANALYSIS: Sochi was a demonstration of CBC’s “app-ified” future

THE EIGHT HOUR DIFFERENCE between the eastern time zone and Sochi, Russia meant many of us who wanted to see Winter Olympics action live had to tune in at work using our PCs, smartphones and tablets. By most accounts, the CBC ran a splendid Olympics broadcast, on regular TV and digitally. While some quibbled with the ad load on its Apple, Android and Windows smartphone apps, for most viewers, the live streams and video highlights ran seamlessly. I watched many hours of the CBC’s coverage on my Android phone and it worked very well, every single time. Two taps and… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

UPDATED: Newcap’s purchase of Bell radio stations in Toronto, Vancouver approved

OTTAWA – Newcap may officially proceed with its purchase of five radio properties formally owned by Bell after receiving CRTC approval of the deal Wednesday. As Cartt.ca reported, Bell Media agreed to sell five of 10 radio properties as part of a list of conditions  set by the CRTC pending its approval last June of BCE Inc.’s acquisition of Astral Media for $3.2 billion.  Newfoundland Capital Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Newcap Inc. agreed to buy the stations for $112 million.  For Newcap, which already owns 90 radio stations across Canada, the deal marks the company’s foray into two of Canada’s largest radio… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATED: Text with 9-1-1 services begins in B.C., though not without controversy

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Hearing or speech impaired persons in Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas may now communicate with emergency services using Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1). On Tuesday, E-Comm, the emergency communication centre that provides 9-1-1 service to the region, became the first Canadian public safety answering point to introduce T9-1-1 service for the deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired (DHHSI) community.  DHHSI members in E-Comm's service area must first register with their wireless service provider in order to access the service.  When a DHHSI person requires 9-1-1 services, they dial 9-1-1 on their cell phone. There is no need… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Canadians want more choice and control – but will pay for the TV channels they want

TORONTO – Almost eight in 10 Canadians think it’s a good, even excellent, idea to be able to choose TV channels a-la-carte, according to a recent survey by Toronto firm Solutions Research Group. Not only do Canadians want more choice and control in what they watch on television, they say they’re willing to pay more on a per-channel basis to get it, says the company’s recent Digital Life Canada Quarterly Study, which followed the federal government’s request that the CRTC study ways to have TV providers provide more options (something the CRTC had already started to do). SRG’s survey shows that… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CRTC approves Newcap’s purchase of CHNI-FM from Rogers

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

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

COMMENTARY: Set-top-box viewing data has not been mined – and that failure is now damaging the Canadian TV business

MOST AGREE THE PRIMARY reasons why Netflix – and for that matter all web-based media – has a growing advantage over traditional media are the streams of data they gather and use to make real-time decisions. It’s the so-called Big Data that web-based companies gather to make magic and produce profits. At Thursday’s Content Industry Connect event hosted by the Banff Media Festival organizers, one attendee (we’re told it was a fellow named Ahmad Iqbal from a company called Atendy) asked what is the best question I’ve heard put to a panel of broadcasters in a very long time, saying:… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Many don’t want edgy; tech produces hits; next Terms of Trade looks like a battle; and the industry must work together to beat Netflix

TORONTO – Many folks love to tell Canadian TV executives what they should – or should not – be doing. Really, anyone with a TV set does that regularly. But when it comes to those with a keyboard and a national platform, or with a famous name or job, their gripes often offend and are taken to heart. At Thursday’s Content Industry Connect day put on by the Banff Media Festival, broadcast executive, investor and producer Peter Sussman kicked off the industry leaders panel by quoting noted thorn-in-the-Canadian-TV-industry’s-side, Globe and Mail TV critic John Doyle. In a fall 2013 column… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Do not call numbers continue to climb in February

OTTAWA – More than 20,000 new numbers were added to Canada’s national do not call list (DNCL) registry between January 31 and February 28, 2014, the CRTC revealed Monday. According to the Commission’s latest status report, the official number of telephone and fax numbers on the list stands at 12,181,253. The number of telemarketing complaints increased to 12,442. Since the DNCL’s 2008 launch, 781,008 telemarketing complaints have been logged. Six new investigations were opened in February, bringing the number of active investigations to 172.  No new notices of violation were issued during this period, so the total issued to date remains at… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC is meeting challenges of new viewing environment head on, says CRTC

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